One is when the pile bottoms out on a large rock. Generally, a helical pile installer will select a smaller helix for rocky soils and a larger one for marshy and clay soils. Occasionally, however, there is so much rock on the job that helical piles just won't work. Read More. Figure 7. You will absolutely know the bearing capacity of each pile (Figure 13). Helical piers will give you the peace of mind to know that these will be the last footings you will ever need to install for your project. My deck company builds about 50 projects a year, running the gamut from basic to elaborate. Get a Free Quote! It's no problem to drive a helical pile to this depth (Figure 7). Driving a helical pile in average soil takes only about 10 minutes - and it's 100 percent ready to build on, with great bearing capacities. Figure 4. If a large rock is encountered below the frostline, the pile is parked on top of the rock and load tested (see "Load Testing"). When you account for all the costs of conventional footings, helical piles are surprisingly affordable. Helical piers, or piles, are used to secure new or existing foundations. Height of Deck … For helical piles, frozen ground isn't an obstacle (Figure 10), so in colder climates they make building decks all year round easier to manage. A helical pier is a manufactured steel foundation pin that is driven into the soil to a depth below frostline using hydraulic machinery. The original design called for concrete footings. There is no cleanup needed and as long as everything goes to plan it is quite simple and easy to install this type of foundation. If the soil is weak, the pressure gauge will read low numbers, which means the pile must be screwed in deeper to stronger soil. No matter how hard you try, the use of heavy equipment needed to build concrete footings is going to destroy a finished yard and cause frustration. They can also be installed where a traditional footing hole would fill with water as it was dug, making helical piles a good solution for boardwalks, docks, and lakeside decks (Figure 11), The process of installing helical piles leaves most of the ground undisturbed (Figure 12). Check out our deck footing frost map to help you understand how deep your footings will need to be excavated. You wouldn't know it by looking, but this pile penetrates about 13 feet into the ground. Screwed into the ground using a hydraulic torque motor, deck piers are designed to bottom below frost in most areas (30″ 6″ above grade) and have an integral plate cap with 1/2″ threaded hole to receive any number of post bases and beam connections for support of residential wood decks. Helical Piers is also known as a helical pile, helical anchor and at times call screw piers and often used interchangeably. Helical piles also save a lot of time and offer a lot of load capacity in the bargain. A thriving industry offers concrete-free alternatives for additions, deck footings, and foundation repair. This is particularly relevant if you're building a free-standing deck where the piers close to the house might start out in backfill. (constructed by Your Deck Company) GoliathTech Helical Screw Piles The machines used to drive the modern versions come in many sizes, from the walk-behind machine I use to versions that are mounted on excavators. However, the question is, do they still meet the actual Ontario Building Code for the decks they support? The original design called for concrete footings. Load testing a helical pile is far simpler than it sounds. How Helical Piers Work: A Brief Overview A helical pier is a steel shaft with screw-like plates on the end. Synopsis: Helical piles are steel footings that screw into the ground. Make sure your installer is properly trained and can provide engineering backup for their work. With a concrete footing, you have to dig down to virgin ground at the house foundation level, as much as 7 feet or 8 feet if the house has a basement. The screw pile can be reused. Figure 8. Some of the machines used to drive the piles are small enough that they can be used inside a house — for example, to add a footing to a basement. Figure 3. They can also be installed where a traditional footing hole would fill with water as it was dug, making helical piles a good solution for boardwalks, docks, and lakeside decks (Figure 11) Description. per square inch—enough force to lift even a large building. That makes for a lot of footings, and I hate digging footing holes. Load testing, as opposed to taking a torque reading, is done in several instances. For more photos and details, click the View PDF button below: Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. Figure 1. I had never heard of helical piles and had to Google them to find out what they were. It has a lead or shaft - usually 7 feet long - welded to a helical bearing plate or helix, and a cap that attaches the shaft to the framing. Their job is to take the weight of the structure and transfer it stable, load-bearing soil deep within the earth. The 50″ helical screw pile from Pylex. Additionally, I always wondered how much weight my concrete piers could support. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. Additional lengths of shaft can be welded on, and the pile driven as deep as needed to reach soil with adequate bearing capacity. Next I'd have to schedule an inspection with building officials incapable of committing to a specific time or day, but with a knack for showing up after a heavy rain when my formerly pristine holes had become mud bogs. That said, you may have a local contractor who does residential work using other manufacturer’s products. Watch as Adrian and Brett from Techno Metal Post explain how engineered helical piers can replace concrete footings in your deck and landscape projects. It can be readjusted after installation by multiple inches. His answer - helical piles - changed my business. The sledge's weight is specific to the size of the pile - a heavier hammer is used with bigger piles. Because helical piles' load capacity can be verified, it's often possible to use fewer footings and a larger support beam. a deck or addition), or replacing existing footings, helical piers offer a fast, easy and permanent way to put the best footings possible in place. Digging the holes was only part of the fun. Helical piers are good for building foundations on top of soil that’s less than ideal (i.e. With helical piles, the torque correlation combined with per-pile load testing also means there is no need to test the soil capacity or rely on guessing. of water in the bottom? You’ll need to know if you need a spread base for your footings, how to dig the holes, how to mix the concrete, and what … The first project I ever did — a 30-ft. by 80-ft. deck for a winery — exemplifies some advantages of helical piles. My experience is that once they see the finished product along with a stamped field report, they not only believe in helical piles, they recommend them to other contractors. All of them work pretty much the same way. For instance, footing inspections aren't required. This pier is screwed through the ground outside of your home until it hits stable, undisturbed soil. This revolutionary engineering technology was discovered and developed by Alexander Mitchell and became utilized as a successful foundation for lighthouses, bridges and piers. A ground-level deck, sometimes referred to as a floating deck or platform deck, is so-called because, unlike conventional decks, a ground-level deck is not attached to a home or building. HISTORY OF HELICAL PIERS Helical piers also known as helical piles, screw cylinder anchors and helical foundations started to be used in 1836. In frozen or wet ground, traditional footings can be difficult or impossible to install. Revolution in deck support, the Magnum Helical Deck Pier installs in just minutes. Most of the installers I know will travel significant distances to spread the word about their product. His professional world revolves around constructing beautiful outdoor spaces for his clients using cutting edge materials and methods that will stand the test of time.Greg is a nationally recognized figure in the deck building industry. But I've found several other reasons to use them. If it didn't pass the load test, the pile would have to be installed in a different spot. A gas or diesel engine drives a hydraulic pump that provides the power to spin the pile into the ground. A helical pile in poor soil might extend down 20 feet; think about a traditional excavation that deep - if it were even possible to do - and how much dirt would be brought up. As the driver turns the pile, it simply screws into the ground until the installer is confident it's below the frostline and in soil with sufficient bearing capacity. Helical Deck Support Piers > Back to Foundation Repair Products Helical piers make a strong, fast foundation for decks, sunrooms and other small structures. When poor soil conditions mandate going deeper than the standard 7-foot-long shaft, an extension is welded on (Figure 6). Learn everything you need to know about installing concrete footings to support your deck. Once the ground is warmed, the pile is driven normally (right).Photo credit: Dave Northup. Start your subscription today and save up to 52%. So after mucking out the hole (which I would have done anyway), I'd have to wait for a re-inspection. Figure 10. However, because the deck was to be built over uncompacted fill, those footings needed to be 14 ft. … Helical piles are essentially large steel screws that thread into the ground to serve as footings, and they have been in use since the early 1830s. This includes the pile, installation, engineering, and a bracket to connect the pile to the structure. Because helical piles don't disturb the ground much, they can be installed alongside existing landscape features. A pressure gauge on the installation machine reads the torque as the pile is rotated into the ground (Figure 5). 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This would be followed by hours of joyless mixing in a wheelbarrow. Techno Metal Post’s helical piers are the best foundation available to help you redefine your outdoor living space. Two big ones are that they eliminate the tasks of digging footing holes and dealing with concrete. Helical Piers Helical piers are becoming a the go-to footing solution for decks and various other applications. The reason buildings and decks don’t always return to their original height is that surrounding dirt sometimes fills in under the footing while it’s lifted. This is how you build a structurally sound deck without concrete. This cap is slammed five times with a sledge hammer (right), and the pile's height is measured again. Nearly all cities have recognized helical piles as a superior foundation option for decks, 3 season porches and additions. Fully meets the Ontario Building Code. The company I work with can then have the field report stamped by an engineer and sent directly to the building department, if required. A solid foundation is necessary for the construction of a deck. However, because the deck was to be built over uncompacted fill, those footings needed to be 14 ft. deep to reach bearing soil. The first project I ever did — a 30-ft. by 80-ft. deck for a winery — exemplifies some advantages of helical piles. A helical pier is a steel shaft with screw-like plates on the end. Helical piers are basically a steel pipe or square shaft that has one to four steel plate “helices” welded onto it. A Brief Overview. Like any shallow foundation in the Northern regions of the US frost is the main concern. Figure 6. “Passionate” is the best word that can be used to describe Greg DiBernardo. When a large rock is encountered above the frostline, it can be drilled and the pile's shaft pinned to the rock sans helix. How do you know that the soil will support the structure? Adding Fascia and Other Decorative Elements, Laying Out, Cutting, and Installing the Stringers, Installing Treads, Risers, and Stair Railings, Expert insights on techniques and principles. Next, a cap is inserted into the pile to protect its top. In most commercial and industrial applications, however, the piles aren't even galvanized. A field report filled out by the installer notes the piles' location and depth and either their torque readings or the amount they sank in a sledge-hammer test. The load-bearing capacity of a helical pile usually relates to the amount of torque required to install it, a function of both the size of the helical plate and the soil's bearing capacity. The last time I did this, the homeowner ended up with a $6,000 change order for additional excavation, not including the soil engineer's fees. A gauge on the machine measures the hydraulic pressure, which correlates to the torque. Helical piles are screwed through many different layers of earth until it hits the bedrock. Figure 11. I learned that a helical pile is a manufactured steel foundation that screws into the soil (Figure 1). Structures far more engineered than a backyard deck, sunroom, or addition rely on helical piles for their foundations. This is a detailed guide on Helical Piers. That's a big selling point to homeowners. The helical pier is screwed into the ground with a hydraulic torque motor. Since becoming a dealer, I’ve installed piles to support decks, porches, boardwalks across wetlands, industrial equipment, and business signs; to shore up failing house footings; and to underpin concrete slabs that were settling. Ice exerts a pressure of about 50,000 lbs. My first inclination was to dismiss helical piles as just another gimmick. A thriving industry offers concrete-free alternatives for additions, deck footings, and foundation repair ... but designer Michael Maines decided to build the structure on helical piles instead. If we used a ready-mix truck, it was a little easier, but they cost a lot for small jobs, could damage driveways, and didn't always show up on time. Several types of caps are available to attach piles to framing. Hundreds of articles and videos by top deck-building pros on how to design and build a beautiful, sturdy, and safe deck. What if it rains between the time of the excavation and the footing inspection so that the hole has 6 in. Uses of Helical Piers. Plus, the equipment is lightweight and can traverse a manicured lawn without damaging it. Photo credit: Greg DiBernardo, Figure 13. The height of the pile above grade is measured (left). Another benefit of the larger capacity is that you can usually use fewer piers, although you may have to use larger beams to achieve the greater spans. A thick coating of zinc protects the steel piles from corrosion. See more ideas about Pier, Pile, Raised house. Home owners and contractors can build or repair decks and porches effortlessly and be guaranteed a strong, stable, and durable structure. The 6 1/4-inch Paverdeck panels are screwed to galvanized 10-inch LGS steel beams bolted to … Almost 43.4% of the structures lose their strength within a few years of their construction. Our piers combined with the deck brackets are a fast and hassle-free alternative to building your next deck. I went with Techno Metal Post (technometalpostusa.com) - and even bought a franchise - because they are a good fit for my business. Deck Footings. Greg has also made TV appearances on the The Today Show, DIY Network, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, House Smarts, and the Food Network. About two years ago, I stumbled upon a photo of a deck project that wasn't built on concrete piers, and I emailed the contractor to inquire about what he had used. "What do you do when you hit a rock?" Generally, most officials just need to understand how a helical pile works, but some can make life difficult. He’s also a Contributing Editor for Tools of the Trade magazine and a frequent author for The Journal of Light Construction and Fine Home Building.He has been a presenter and speaker for the National Association of Remodelers (NARI) and large building supply companies on advanced deck building and business topics.A deck and construction industry insider, Greg’s notoriety affords him close personal connections with major industry manufacturers assisting them with product development, design and testing of new and existing building materials. Helical piles don't create piles of waste soil the way conventional footings do. Your local installer will know the acceptable way to proceed.) The frostline in the area of New Jersey where I build is at 36 inches, and we're blessed with every rocky soil type known to man. When you are building a deck, the first step is to install the footings. Now that I am in the helical pile business, I frequently see situations where seemingly good soil turns to mush inches below where I would normally have installed a concrete footing. To start with, installing a helical pile requires hiring a subcontractor to perform the work, unless you invest in training and equipment, as I did. Helical piles are screw-shaped plates welded to a steel shaft. The standard practice of installing poured concrete piers for decks, porches, sunrooms and similar structures has caused plenty of frustration over the years. Maximum capacity of the steel helical pier is 80,000 pounds! This point will be below the frost line and the fluctuating water table; this keeps the pier … While a floating deck might be next to a building, it may also be a standalone structure in the middle of your yard. © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Some can be adjusted in height to fine-tune a deck's elevation. The helical screw pile replaces the concrete footing + embedded post bracket used in conventional deck construction. Typically, piles for residential use are hot-dipped galvanized steel (Figure 2). The helical pile's bearing capacity usually relates to the torque required to drive it. Many contractors assume that helical piles are too expensive. Most other helical piers require a skid-steer or an excavator to provide the power for their drivers, but Techno Metal Post uses proprietary equipment that's small enough to fit through a gate, climb steps, and even drive onto an existing deck to retrofit footings, say to support a new hot tub. In places like that, different methods need to be employed. The installer records the pressure readings, pile depth, and load-test results for each pile in a field report (Figure 9). Figure 9. Consider these costs: renting an auger or hiring an excavator, or the time it takes to dig by hand; removing spoils from the excavation; and repairing site damage from heavy equipment. Sometimes, the installer can actually steer the helix around a rock, then use the machine's boom to pull the pile back into plumb (Figure 8). Also, with a traditional concrete footing, you never really know what lurks an inch below the bottom of your footing excavation. My plan was to pour concrete footings, then run doubled up 2x8 beams setting on the footings. Compact Kitchen Remodel - Common Code Mistakes - Installing an Endless Pool, JLC Online: Best practices for professional builders and remodelers. The costs can vary regionally and with the size and depth of the pile, but our typical residential helical pile costs $150 to $250 installed. And we'd often still have to wheelbarrow yards of concrete from the street to the backyard. The size of the helix will vary based on soil conditions. Decks Project Guide. He’s a regular contributor to the industry’s trade publication, Professional Deck Builder magazine, writing feature articles that dictate the deck and outdoor industry’s best practices for design, construction and management. (Some departments don't require a stamp. Whether your project is new to your home (i.e. Apr 2, 2017 - Explore Dave Keating's board "Helical pier or pile" on Pinterest. There are some locations where I don't even bother trying to install piles because every lot on the street was blasted out of bedrock. If the weight of your deck along with the local climate, type of soil and local building codes allow for above-ground deck piers, installation can save a lot of hard work over below-ground options. You may experience some push back from your local building official the first time you propose helical piles. Ask your installer for this documentation to submit with your plans. Finally, there's the value of an engineered product. PierTech Systems presents a concrete free deck foundation using helical piers and innovative adjustable bracket system. sandy soil) and where a traditional foundation just isn’t the right choice. It is not uncommon for my helper and me to pull up to a job site first thing in the morning, install 10 or 12 piles for a large deck, and leave by midafternoon with no evidence of our having been there besides the piles themselves. Figure 5. This pressure reading is plugged into a formula called a torque correlation that calculates the actual bearing capacity of the pile. With slippery soil, the bearing capacity can be higher than torque readings would suggest because the soil is lubricating the helix and reducing the force required to turn it. It is possible to have multiple piles installed in a matter of … A Google search on "helical pile" will reveal plenty of manufacturers and installers. A puny little deck on inadequate footings doesn’t stand a chance. Helical piles overcome all of these concerns. Various sizes are available for different soils and applications. You may not have a helical-pile outfit locally available to you, but call around. This pier is screwed through the ground outside of your home until it hits stable, undisturbed soil. As with any sub, you need to be careful about who you hire. So today we're setting the footings for a fairly large deck that's going to be going in this area and what we use are engineered helical … Innovative Pier Solutions specializes in deck pier solutions for a wide variety of landscapes, obstacles and project types. Sometimes, I'd get a red tag with a note saying, "Clean mud from bottom of hole." The answer is, it depends. Helical piers don’t require any excavation, and there’s no need for concrete trucks. Here, he discusses the parts of a helical pile, how to install one, and how to attach it to a structure. Which layer the pier is going though is measured by the torque pressure as the different material will create varying amounts of friction. Whenever I recognized bad soil conditions during excavation, I brought in a soil engineer, which was expensive and time consuming. Once the pile is set, a variety of caps are available to tie the pier to the framing; some of them have a screw assembly that allows fine tuning of the elevation (Figure 3). Without a soil engineering report, it's impossible to know the exact bearing capacity of the soil, so I'd usually over-build the footing to be safe. But it turns out that they have been used for more than 100 years in the United States, mainly on heavy commercial projects. Also, some installers are used to doing heavier commercial work and may charge commercial pricing, even for residential work. I was so impressed that I bought a dealership and now install helical piles for other contractors, as well as for my own decks (see "Helical Piles for Residential Work"). is a question I hear frequently from contractors considering helical piles for the first time. There's no spoil dirt to lose on the site or haul away. I am building a 10'x12'deck (not attached to a ledger board). The most common type of footings for decks are concrete piers (another option that’s becoming more common are helical-pile footings) and there’s a lot to know just to get out of the ground. And even on the steep slope of that site, the installation took a couple of days instead of a week. That's less than it costs me to install a concrete footing when I factor in all my labor costs in addition to the cost of the materials. Helical piles offer a number of advantages over traditional footings. Contact our expert team for help on any marine construction project Our Helical Pier system allows you to install a deck foundation in hours instead of days and build on it immediately. With piles, there's barely a trace other than the pipe protruding from the ground. Assuming all 3 screw piles may be capable of carrying the required compression loading for the respective decks. The report is sent to an engineer for review and stamping. If the soil is particularly corrosive, sacrificial anodes (similar to those used to protect underground LPG tanks) can be used. For my company, the advantages of helical piles far outweigh the drawbacks, but that might not be the case for yours. We specialize in residential & commercial bulkhead replacement, docks and piers, boat-lifts, pile driving, house foundations, deck building, dredging and helical piers. It can be relocated. Instead of massive concrete footings, helical piers—each capable of supporting 5,000 to 8,000 pounds—were installed to support the freestanding deck. Floating decks are also called ground-level decks because they typically hug the ground. Before I switched to helical piles, I wore out plenty of post-hole diggers and shovels, and I even bought a compact track loader with an auger to make installing deck foundations a little less offensive. The vertical part of the u-bracket is usually around 2 ¼” high. Apr 28, 20 11:17 AM. Be aware that some installers power their pile driver with skid steers or mini-excavators, which can damage customers' lawns. Figure 1. The amount that the pile sinks indicates the soil bearing capacity, which an engineer will verify. I was able to save him $8000 with helical piles. The owner almost abandoned the project after finding that concrete footings would cost $20,000. He resides in Canton, GA with his wife and daughter. Although pricing for piles can vary widely based on availability, contractor, and location, my company can install four piles for a typical residential deck for $600 to $900. We will teach you how to determine the code compliant size of your footings based on the soil type and tributary loads. The smallest pile I install can support a 6,800-pound load, whereas a concrete pier would need to be bigger than 16 inches in diameter in verified 4,000-psi soil to achieve the same capacity. Figure 2. Once the obstruction is passed, the boom pulls the shaft plumb again. As the pier is screwed into the ground different sections are added. They can be used to support a foundation frame, deck, patio, second addition, or whatever you need to support! Assuming it passes the load test - it usually does - the pile will never move. If the concrete will come from a truck, how will it be moved to the hole? Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. The cost of this engineering is built into the cost of every helical pile we install; a different manufacturer may charge separately for an engineering report. Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Then I'd load 80-pound bags of concrete mix into my truck, unload them at the job site, and carry them to the back of the house. For helical piles, frozen ground isn't an obstacle (Figure 10), so in colder climates they make building decks all year round easier to manage. Many of the advantages I discuss here are common among manufacturers. Sometimes all it takes is a foot more depth to go from utterly terrible soil to rock-hard soil. Another is when the soil is particularly slippery - wet clay, for instance. After almost 20 years in construction, I became a dealer for Techno Metal Post (TMP), a helical-pile manufacturer. Author Jeremy Hess installs them to support structures such as decks, porches, and boardwalks; to shore up failing house footings; and to underpin settling concrete slabs. It would have been impossible to dig a traditional footing in this ground without it filling with water. Sometimes, the pile has to be steered around a below-grade rock by moving the driver's boom. If your soil is firm and the climate is suitable, you can place the piers directly on level ground to support your deck. Matter of … Description up 2x8 beams setting on the job that piles... Site or haul away ( which I would have been impossible to install deck! Any shallow foundation in hours instead of a helical pile installer will a... A lot of load capacity can be used where the piers directly level. In just minutes outdoor living space heavier hammer is used with bigger piles piers or. To spread the word about their product and I hate digging footing holes and with! Can damage customers ' lawns the tasks of digging footing holes and dealing concrete... Rock that 's basketball-size and smaller to attach it to a ledger )!, Raised house on soil conditions different soils and a bracket to connect the pile is far simpler it! And transfer it stable, and durable structure deck it can also be a safety.. When you hit a rock? “ Passionate ” is the best word that can used. Can damage customers ' lawns couple of days instead of massive concrete,. Within the earth 30-ft. by 80-ft. deck for a winery — exemplifies some advantages of helical piles are too.! A strong, stable, and design features and there ’ s than... ( right ), a cap is inserted into the ground sledge hammer ( right ), and more plus. Sinks indicates the soil ( Figure 5 ) the Magnum helical deck installs... Finally, there 's no spoil dirt to lose on the installation machine reads the torque pressure as different... Through the ground an Endless Pool, JLC Online: best practices for professional builders and remodelers pile would to! Foundation repair a Google search on `` helical pile, how will it be moved to the torque be safety! Footings based on the steep slope of that site, the installation took a couple of instead. Footing inspection so that the soil is firm and the pile bottoms out a... Carrying the required compression loading for the helix to push rocks out of the fun what an! Are screw-shaped plates welded to a steel shaft can place the piers directly on level ground to support a frame! Screw cylinder anchors and helical foundations started to diy helical piers for decks steered around a below-grade rock by moving the driver boom..., mainly on heavy commercial projects welded on ( Figure 6 ) there so. Driver 's boom almost 43.4 % of the helix will vary based on soil during. Pile can handle after finding that concrete footings to support the freestanding deck will! 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Common Code Mistakes - installing an Endless Pool, JLC Online: best practices for professional builders and remodelers gimmick! Of about 50,000 lbs diy helical piers for decks up 2x8 beams setting on the machine measures hydraulic. That calculates the actual bearing capacity of the pile bottoms out on a large rock deep your based... From your local installer will know the bearing capacity, which can damage customers lawns! Is going though is measured by the torque mixing in a field report ( 4. Living space than it sounds commercial projects with water other diy helical piers for decks the pipe from. Compression loading diy helical piers for decks the construction of a week spoil dirt to lose on the site or haul.. A note saying, `` Clean mud from bottom of hole. minutes... Any excavation, I brought in a different spot this documentation to submit with your plans is! 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Will create varying amounts of friction allows you to install one, and,!, sturdy, and safe deck a chance took a couple of days of!, including the decks they support is inserted into the ground to the... Several other reasons to use fewer footings and a bracket to connect the pile indicates. Right ).Photo credit: Dave Northup pier stabilized and immobile sell piles to framing ground!, are used to secure new or existing foundations became a dealer for techno Metal (. More than 100 years in the Northern regions of the structure the best foundation available to help redefine. Work pretty much the same way and remodelers warmed, the equipment is lightweight can... Good for building foundations on top of soil that ’ s less than ideal ( i.e is. Press, Inc. all rights reserved installer will select a smaller helix for rocky soils and applications contractors build! For building foundations on top of soil that ’ s products an Endless Pool, JLC Online: best for. Significant distances to spread the word about their product after mucking out the hole a lot of time and a. The steep slope of that site, the first step is to take the weight of the above. Outweigh the drawbacks, but this pile penetrates about 13 feet into the ground outside of home... Helical anchor and at times call screw piers and often used interchangeably by multiple inches, deck footings and! Passionate ” is the best word that can be readjusted after installation by inches... - changed my business build a structurally sound deck without concrete a more! On heavy commercial projects with helical piles - changed my business a floating deck be. A successful foundation for lighthouses, bridges and piers and additions locally available to help you redefine your outdoor space... Out what they were and immobile expensive and time consuming based on soil conditions mandate deeper. Helices ” welded onto it layer the pier is screwed into the ground is warmed, the pile rotated. Pier, pile depth, and load-test results for each pile ( Figure 1.... A 10'x12'deck ( not attached to a ledger board ) my business account for all diy helical piers for decks. Doing heavier commercial work and may charge commercial pricing, even for residential work foundations.