While push piers can be used in various soil conditions, they are often less effective than helical piers when dealing with the aggressive expansive clay soils common in regions like the Colorado Front Range.

Key considerations for using push piers in clay include:

• Installation Method: Push piers are hydraulically driven into the ground until they reach a stable bearing strata or bedrock. In expansive clay, this process typically requires more intrusive equipment and significant excavation compared to other methods.
• Soil Disturbance: The installation of push piers relies on hydraulic force and often requires soil removal, which can further destabilize already problematic or expansive ground.
• Performance Issues: Industry benchmarks suggest that push piers may not perform as well as helical piers in loose or expansive soils. Additionally, very soft surface soils may have difficulty supporting the weight of the pier during the installation process.
• Reaction Force: Installing push piers requires a substantial reaction force from the existing structure to drive the pipe into the ground, which may be a factor in variable clay strata.

In contrast, helical piers are often preferred for clay environments because they are screwed into the ground with minimal soil disturbance, provide immediate load-bearing capacity, and do not require the removal of soil.