What is a Helical Pile?
Helical piles, also known as helical screw piles or helical piers, are innovative foundation solutions that can be used to support a variety of structures in different soil bases.
With its helical bearing plate, each helical screw pile in London gets penetrated deep into the ground using high torque and low-speed hydraulic drive motors, so it can transfer the load to more stable soil layers. It acts like a sheet metal screw and is ideal for residential, commercial, and industrial use.
Initially created to support lighthouses and river moorings, helical piles are now revolutionizing the construction landscape with their massive strength and durability.
What are helical piles made of?
Helical piles are made of galvanized steel to protect it from rust and unwanted elements. They’re engineered in an assortment of sizes, diameters, and dimensions, depending on what’s required for your project. The figure of the helical pile that you know today is achieved by welding steel threads on the shaft for adequate downward pressure. Once drilled deep into the surface, each pile is extremely powerful and can last up to several generations down.
What are helical piles used for?
The things you can achieve with helical screw piles are phenomenal. Since there’s little to no downtime when installing helical piles, you can be as efficient as you want to be. For instance, installing helical pile foundation can only take a day or two, compared to traditional methods like concrete foundation which requires a considerable amount of time for excavating, pouring, and curing.
Power Foundations, a helical pile company in London, Ontario, highlighted several use cases for helical piles:
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Helical piles for house additions, gazebos, and sunrooms.
Cost-effective alternative for traditional concrete footings that you use for your house additions like sunrooms.
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Helical piles for boathouses and docks.
Helical piers were initially created and utilized to support lighthouses and structures near bodies of water. With this, they’ve been tested and proven to be highly efficient for boathouses and docks. Power Foundations’ galvanized helical piles are ideal, especially since they don’t corrode or rust.
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Helical piles for hot tubs.
A helical pile foundation can support a load-bearing capacity of up to 25,000 lbs. If you’d like to have a hot tub installed on your deck, consider using helical piles for your deck.
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Helical piles for decks.
Helical piles offer higher load capacity and extremely long life span compared to sonotubes and concrete foundations, making them ideal for your dream custom deck build. Whether your deck is on the ground or in the second story, helical piles offer a reliable foundation solution.
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Helical piles for solar panels.
Since solar panels are installed in remote locations, that’s why it’s advisable to use construction materials that can survive even the harshest Canadian climate. Helical screw piles are made with galvanized steel and aren’t vulnerable to frost and extreme heat.
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Helical piles for residential, commercial, and industrial structures.
Helical piles can be used in a variety of ways. Just ensure you hire a reliable helical pile installer and foundation expert so you’re confident that your structure will stand the test of time. You can check our recent project for a house built in Port Stanley to get a sneak peek of how helical piles are used.
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Underpinning existing foundations.
This process helps transfer the load to deeper layers of soil and bedrock, helping your old foundation structure handle additional loads.
The process of installing helical screw piles
There are three major processes in helical pile installation in London. Each of these stages is critical to the success of your project.
1. Design
What a helical pile company in London does is that they work closely with engineers who are experts in the helical pile industry. Whether it’s just an idea, a rough draft, or a drawing of your planned project, reliable helical pile foundation experts can guide you from start to finish.
2. Layout
How your helical piles are placed is essential in weight distribution and load management. It’s required to work closely with all stakeholders as several factors are involved, including the timeline and cost, all while ensuring that everything meets or exceeds the client’s expectations.
3. Installation
As the helical pile rotates, torque is applied and transferred to the helix plates, allowing them to corkscrew into the ground. It’s critical to monitor the torque and resistance in real time to ensure the soil can handle the load, providing a solid foundation for your structure.
To get an estimate of the helical pile cost and the required processes for your dream project, contact Power Foundations here.
How helical piles are changing the construction landscape
Compared to traditional methods, helical piles have the ability to provide massively stable and powerful solutions for your foundation, regardless of the environment.
In Southwestern Ontario where we’re mostly surrounded by forests, farms, and bodies of water, helical piles are becoming a preferred sustainable choice of homeowners, commercial properties, and industrial structures. Without excavation and disturbance, you reduce environmental impact. Not to mention faster project timeline, saving you time and money.
Advantages of using helical piles in London, ON
Offering unmatched versatility, efficiency, and strength, helical piles provide tons of benefits and advantages. Some of the notable ones include the following:
- Immediate load-bearing capacity. Once installed deep into the ground, each pile can carry up to 50 tons right away. This paves the way for you to finish projects faster and with ease. You don’t need to wait for curing, which helps you proceed with the next steps with no delay.
- Fast installation. With just a torque and a hydraulic drive motor, you can install helical piles in accordance with your engineered stamped shop drawings.
- Can be removed anytime. Unlike the traditional concrete foundation, in case something was done by mistake, you can easily remove the helical pile, saving you time and money.
- Versatile and adaptable. No matter the season, whether it’s a freezing winter or a scorching summer, or the soil conditions, from wet to dry, you can rely on helical piles to get the job done.
- Durable and long life span. Helical piles are made from galvanized steel that can resist frost and hot weather. It’s believed that helical piles can last up to 150 to 350 years, depending on external elements.
Why choose Power Foundations London in installing helical piles
Power Foundations London has over 50 years of combined experience in the construction industry, continuously revolutionizing how Southwestern Ontario achieves stronger foundations for all kinds of structural projects.
As a leading helical pile contractor in London, Power Foundations provides a broad spectrum of services and works closely with expert engineers to ensure high-quality results in accordance with the industry standards. For instance, the company only uses CCMC-approved, galvanized steel helical piles, along with quality installation equipment and torque monitoring, ensuring clients receive a solid structure that’s secure for several decades to come.
To know more about the company’s foundation services, helical pile costs, schedule, and more, contact Power Foundations here.
FAQs about helical piles
How much weight can helical piles support?
There is no “one size fits all” answer to this question. Generally, each helical pile can restrain “unfactored (SWL) axial loads of up to 300kN, uplift loads of up to 200kN subject to the ground conditions, and lateral loads of up to 25kN.” (Keller North America, 2024)
However, for precision, helical piles can be measured in three ways; bearing capacity of the soil, torque correlation, and direct load test. This compression or tension measurement can be done at the time of installation, following the quality standards met by Power Foundations’ helical piles in London.
How much does a helical screw pile cost in Ontario?
Power Foundations’ helical screw piles in London is a cost-effective solution for your foundation. Little did people know that it’s more cost-efficient to install than concrete foundations as it offsets the budget you have for labor, excavation, specialized equipment, and more.
There are a number of factors to consider though, such as the soil type, size of the project, and the length of helical pile necessary. To get a peek of your investment, get in touch with Power Foundations London to get an estimate.
I have an existing structure in London, can I still install helical screw piles?
The answer is a big YES! You can install helical piles as long as the existing structure allows it. Helical piles are used for underpinning your foundation, allowing it to stabilize more and/or increase its load. If you need to put a screw pile in the middle, consult your foundation experts and engineers so they can come up with a solution to access it.
Can helical piles in London rust easily since they’re made with steel?
Not at all. Power Foundations helical piles in London, Ontario are high-quality galvanized steel that won’t rust easily. It will be a very slow process over the course of 75 years or more, slow enough that it won’t be a problem sooner or later.
I want a property near the beach or river in Southwestern Ontario, can I consider helical piles?
Definitely! Helical piles are ideal for various soil types and were originally designed to support structures such as lighthouses and river moorings.
I’m thorned between helical piles and concrete foundations, what should I choose?
Helical piles come with a variety of advantages. Although your decision highly depends on several factors, helical piles are a long- term, cost-effective alternative to concrete foundations. To know more about this, read through our comprehensive guide on helical piles vs concrete foundations.
