Helical piles are large steel shafts that are twisted into deep stable soil conditions to provide maximum structural support.
Residential Helical Piles
The Benefits
Helical piles are a smart foundation solution for your home projects, offering year-round installation, a long lifespan, and enhanced load-bearing capacity.
They’re an efficient choice with minimal site disruption, no need for soil removal or concrete curing delays, helping homeowners like you save time and money.
Designed for durability and stability, helical piles provide high-quality construction while meeting all residential building code requirements.
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Residential Helical Piles
The Process
Design
With over 10 years of experience, the PFS team is here to help bring your residential project to life. We work closely with expert engineers in the helical pile industry to ensure a strong and reliable foundation for your home. Whether you have a rough idea or detailed plans, we’ll guide you through the process and help finalize your design with confidence.
Layout
Placement of helical piles in your home is one of the most important steps of any new foundation construction project. At Power Foundation Systems, we work closely with customers and contractors throughout the entire planning phase to ensure that your residential helical pile project is completed effectively and efficiently.
Installation
As the helical pile is installed, torque is applied to rotate the shaft, allowing the helix plates to bite into the ground like a corkscrew. For residential projects, we carefully monitor the torque and resistance in real time to ensure the piles reach stable soil conditions, providing a strong and reliable foundation for your home.
Residential Helical Piles
Use Cases
Use Cases
House Additions
Our intermediate helical pile is a cost-effective alternative to traditional concrete footings. There is minimal disturbance and no excavation required.
Use Cases
Decks
With higher load capacities and life spans, and no waiting time, our standard deck pile is a budget-friendly alternative to sonotubes and concrete.
Use Cases
Hot Tubs
We offer a helical pile with a load capacity of up to 25,000 lbs. A great cost-effective option to add support for your hot tub!
Use Cases
Boat House & Docks
Water friendly, galvanized helical piles are the best option when dealing with high water tables or building over water. They won’t corrode or rust.
Use Cases
Gazebo / Sunrooms
Build a gazebo or sunroom with minimal clean-up required. Helical piles offer a load capacity of up to 25,000 lbs.
Commercial Helical Piles
What Are They
Large diameter helical piles are a type of deep foundation system that consists of steel shafts with helix-shaped plates (also known as “blades”) welded to them.
These piles are screwed into the ground to provide support for structures, making them ideal for situations where other types of foundation systems may be less effective.
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Commercial Helical Piles
A Closer Look
Applications
They are typically used in construction projects where soil conditions are challenging, such as in areas with expansive soils, loose or highly compressible soils, or sites with significant ground movement.
They can support heavy loads and are used for commercial, industrial, and residential structures, as well as utility installations, communication towers, and bridges.
Design
Large Diameter: These piles usually have diameters ranging from 5” to 36 inches, depending on the load requirements of the project. Larger diameters allow them to transfer more load to the soil, making them suitable for supporting larger structures.
Helical Shape: The helical plates on the pile shaft work like screws, which help the pile to be easily driven into the ground. The blades also reduce soil disturbance and make installation faster than traditional piling methods.
Cost & Maintenance
These piles can often be more cost-effective as they eliminate the need for large drilling rigs or pile-driving equipment. They also require less excavation and are less affected by weather conditions, leading to faster project timelines.
Additionally, their durability is enhanced by steel construction, which is resistant to corrosion, especially when treated, ensuring minimal maintenance once installed.
Environmental Impact
Since the piles are installed with little to no soil disturbance and eliminate the need for concrete or grout, they have a low environmental impact.
These piles significantly promote sustainable construction practices by lowering carbon emissions associated with traditional foundation methods. Their eco-friendly design helps preserve natural landscapes while providing a strong and reliable foundation solution.
Commercial Helical Piles
Advantages
Quick Install
Since they are screwed into the ground, installation is faster and less disruptive than driven piles.
Low Vibration
Unlike other methods like driven piles or drilled shafts, helical piles cause minimal vibrations, which is beneficial in areas with existing structures or sensitive equipment.
Versatility
They can be used in a wide range of soil types and conditions, including soft or dense soils, as well as in both residential and large commercial applications.
Load Capacity
Large diameter helical piles provide a higher load capacity than standard smaller helical piles, making them suitable for more substantial projects.
Commercial Helical Piles
Installation
1.
Site Assessment and Planning
Soil Investigation: A thorough site analysis is conducted to assess the soil conditions before installation. This might involve soil testing (e.g., geotechnical borehole sampling) to determine the load-bearing capacity and to select the appropriate pile size and configuration.
Design and Load Calculation: An engineer will design the pile system and select the correct diameter and number of helical plates based on the soil conditions, the required load capacity, and structural demands.
2.
Equipment Mobilization
The required equipment is brought to the site. This typically includes a torque motor (or hydraulic drive motor) attached to a **drill rig** or excavator. The rig is specially designed to rotate and screw the helical pile into the ground.
3.
Pile Assembly
The required equipment is brought to the site. This typically includes a torque motor (or hydraulic drive motor) attached to a **drill rig** or excavator. The rig is specially designed to rotate and screw the helical pile into the ground.
4.
Pile Installation
The rig is positioned at the desired pile location, and the pile is placed vertically into the ground. The installation is done by rotating the shaft of the pile, which causes the helical plates to “screw” into the soil.
Helical Action: The helical plates create a continuous downward force as the pile is rotated, pulling it deeper into the ground. The blades essentially help the pile cut through the soil layers and grip the surrounding material to anchor the pile.
Monitoring Torque: Throughout the installation, the torque (rotational resistance) is continuously monitored. The amount of torque indicates how much resistance is being encountered from the soil. The pile installation continues until the required torque is achieved, which typically correlates with the expected load-bearing capacity of the pile.
5.
Depth and Load Testing
Once the pile reaches the desired depth, it’s checked to ensure it meets the design requirements. If needed, load tests (either static or dynamic) may be performed on one or more piles to confirm their capacity and that they will provide the necessary support for the structure.
The depth of installation is based on the soil conditions and load requirements. In some cases, the helical pile may need to be extended deeper if harder soil or rock layers are encountered.
6.
Connection to Superstructure
After the helical pile has been installed and confirmed to meet load requirements, a steel bracket or cap is attached to the top of the pile. This bracket provides a connection point for the structure above, such as a foundation or support beams.
The structure is then connected to the pile foundation using a variety of connection systems, depending on the project needs (e.g., concrete foundation or steel beams).
7.
Final Checks
The installation is carefully checked to ensure all piles are installed to the correct depth, orientation, and torque values.
Cleanup: Any excess materials, such as cuttings or soil displaced during installation, are cleared from the site.
Commercial Helical Piles
Use Cases
Use Cases
Engineered Concrete Pads/Grade Beams
Easily add an extra layer of strength to concrete pads with our helical piles, a perfect solution for unstable and non-cohesive soils.
Use Cases
Pole Barns
Our helical piles are a quick and efficient way to avoid the disturbance caused by installing large diameter sonotubes required for pole barns.
Use Cases
Solar Panels
Often placed in remote locations, solar panels would benefit from a weather-proof helical pile foundation for peace-of-mind stability.
Use Cases
Communication Towers and Transmission Line Towers
Helical piles ensure stable, quick-to-install foundations for communication and transmission towers, even in challenging soil.
Use Cases
School Structures
An added benefit to helical piles is their ability to be removed easily if needed. This makes them a great option for temporary structures.
Helical Piles
Higher Load Capacity
Build Immediately
Can Be Removed
Year Round Installations
No Soil To Remove
Concrete Footings
Limited
Wait for Concrete
Increased time/labour
Permit restrictions/inspection
Permanent Install
Frost Permitting
Customer Cleanup
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Let the experts at Power Foundation Systems guide you in your next project and help you “start off on the right footing.”
