The Helical Pile Installation Process

If you’re building a new home, you may have heard about helical piles when discussing the foundation. You need something that will be quick and effective without needing too much heavy machinery. Helical piles might be on your list of options, but you may still have some questions about the helical pile installation process. 

Helical piles can be a great option for new home construction, and they are installed quickly and easily without the fuss of traditional foundations. They can work in any environment and provide long-lasting support and stability for your home.

What Is a Helical Pile?

A screw pile, also called a helical pile, is one of several options for laying a building foundation. As the name implies, these galvanized steel poles have a helix on one end that screws into the ground. They have several advantages over traditional concrete foundations.

Helical piles can be used in almost any type of soil, even soil that can’t support concrete or other foundation options. They are easy to install and can be installed year-round. These piles are very versatile and suitable for all sizes and types of construction, including homes, greenhouses, decks, and sheds.

Installing helical piles saves time on construction and offers a practical, non-invasive, lightweight, environmentally-friendly foundation option. No topsoil needs to be excavated and disposed of, and they won’t impact the water supply in areas with high water tables. You can even reuse them for projects that aren’t completed or if a building with a screw pile foundation is torn down. 

Before you start planning your helical pile installation, you must have your construction project fully planned out. Helical piles are an excellent option for home construction, but there are some circumstances where another type of foundation may be better, such as locations that have shallow bedrock. You also need to have details about the space and time available for construction and your total budget before getting helical piles installed.

How Helical Piles Are Installed

Once you gather all this information, you’re ready to find a company to install your helical piles. You want to look for a reputable company that employs certified installers, such as GoliathTech, to do the work. It shouldn’t be surprising that you need high-quality screw piles for the best results, but your foundation can still have issues even with the best materials if they aren’t installed correctly. 

The installation company will use information about the soil and landscape, as well as information you provide about the construction plans, to create a tailor-made solution and estimated product cost. The calculations used are intended to be precise and ensure that the screw piles will properly support the weight of your construction.

Once a solution is designed, and the estimate approved, installation can begin. The company will bring in the helical piles and appropriate machinery. Since no topsoil needs to be removed, installation can begin as soon as the installer arrives as long as there are no adverse conditions.

While helical piles can’t be installed in all weather conditions, they can be installed at any temperature since they don’t have to be cured or set. Slightly damp soil won’t be a problem, but too muddy conditions may cause machinery to slip, making it difficult to place the helical piles accurately. 

Hydraulic machinery equipped with a drive head is used to install the piles. Different sizes of machinery are available for this task, and the size used is determined by the specific project's needs. Small excavators are typically used for constructing houses, and many are small enough to fit through a fence gate, making helical pile installation possible for almost any location. 

Once attached to the drive head, the pile is moved to its predetermined location and carefully positioned to ensure you can properly install it. Next, the drive head begins to apply torque to turn the pile, driving it into the soil the same way a drill drives a normal screw into wood or metal. Finally, pressure is applied to the pile to help move it into the ground at an appropriate rate. 

The angle and orientation are monitored while the pile is being installed to ensure it will match the planned placement. Then, the piles are screwed down to a depth that will allow them to bear a load safely and securely without sinking or shifting. Once the piles are driven deep enough, any excess is cut from the top to provide a uniform height for later construction, and installation is done. 

Changes to the original plan may be made as needed during the installation process. While every effort is made to have a plan to address every potential concern, any plan might need to be altered.. For example, you may need extensions added to the helical piles to reach the proper torque, or the number and placement of helical piles may need to be adjusted to provide better stability or adapt to unexpected conditions. However, even with changes, the helical pile installation process is typically only a day or two once the installer arrives on site. 

It also has a minimal impact on the surrounding landscape. The machinery is small and light enough that it won’t damage the lawn, and helical piles are designed to avoid augering soil out of the ground when they’re screwed in. They produce minimal vibrations that may agitate nearby areas, and any noise is predominantly due to the small excavator's engine and hydraulics. 

After Helical Pile Installation

Once your helical pile foundation is installed, you’re ready to proceed with construction. The only cleanup is removing any unused helical piles and driving the excavator out of the construction site. This can significantly shorten construction time compared to other types of foundations, and high-quality screw piles will last many, many years when properly installed. 

With quick, minimally invasive installation, helical piles are a great foundation option for all types of construction. Be sure to use a reputable installer, such as GoliathTech, to ensure you receive high-quality service and a foundation that will last for years to come.