diy helical piers for decks

The helical screw pile replaces the concrete footing + embedded post bracket used in conventional deck construction. The standard practice of installing poured concrete piers for decks, porches, sunrooms and similar structures has caused plenty of frustration over the years. Next, a cap is inserted into the pile to protect its top. Helical piles are screwed through many different layers of earth until it hits the bedrock. Also, some installers are used to doing heavier commercial work and may charge commercial pricing, even for residential work. Ice exerts a pressure of about 50,000 lbs. 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. Total height of low level ground level deck. My first inclination was to dismiss helical piles as just another gimmick. The amount that the pile sinks indicates the soil bearing capacity, which an engineer will verify. As the pier is screwed into the ground different sections are added. 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. He resides in Canton, GA with his wife and daughter. As with any sub, you need to be careful about who you hire. Helical Piers Helical piers are becoming a the go-to footing solution for decks and various other applications. You may not have a helical-pile outfit locally available to you, but call around. This is a detailed guide on Helical Piers. However, many of them don't have small enough equipment to do residential installations, or the contractors are so used to doing heavy-duty work that they may not bother with small residential projects. When poor soil conditions mandate going deeper than the standard 7-foot-long shaft, an extension is welded on (Figure 6). Figure 2. Helical piles are screwed into the ground to below the frostline using hydraulic machinery (Figure 4). The report is sent to an engineer for review and stamping. Various sizes are available for different soils and applications. How do you know that the soil will support the structure? Helical Piers is also known as a helical pile, helical anchor and at times call screw piers and often used interchangeably. The answer is, it depends. The original design called for concrete footings. 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. Watch as Adrian and Brett from Techno Metal Post explain how engineered helical piers can replace concrete footings in your deck and landscape projects. Our piers combined with the deck brackets are a fast and hassle-free alternative to building your next deck. This cap is slammed five times with a sledge hammer (right), and the pile's height is measured again. Occasionally, however, there is so much rock on the job that helical piles just won't work. I had never heard of helical piles and had to Google them to find out what they were. 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. Generally, most officials just need to understand how a helical pile works, but some can make life difficult. Start your subscription today and save up to 52%. If a large rock is encountered below the frostline, the pile is parked on top of the rock and load tested (see "Load Testing"). A Google search on "helical pile" will reveal plenty of manufacturers and installers. Once the obstruction is passed, the boom pulls the shaft plumb again. Structures far more engineered than a backyard deck, sunroom, or addition rely on helical piles for their foundations. If your soil is firm and the climate is suitable, you can place the piers directly on level ground to support your deck. It would have been impossible to dig a traditional footing in this ground without it filling with water. 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. However, because the deck was to be built over uncompacted fill, those footings needed to be 14 ft. deep to reach bearing soil. They can be used to support a foundation frame, deck, patio, second addition, or whatever you need to support! 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) This includes the pile, installation, engineering, and a bracket to connect the pile to the structure. Finally, there's the value of an engineered product. A gas or diesel engine drives a hydraulic pump that provides the power to spin the pile into the ground. © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. 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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. Driving a helical pile in frozen ground begins with inserting a proprietary heating rod in a hole drilled with a rotary hammer (above). Figure 5. 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. When you are building a deck, the first step is to install the footings. Penetrates about 13 feet into the ground different sections are added of manufacturers and.. Ontario building Code for the first project I ever did — a 30-ft. by 80-ft. deck for a.! Piles offer a number of advantages over traditional footings can be used than the pipe from! May have a local contractor who does residential work by moving the driver 's boom rains between the of. Couple of days and build a structurally sound deck without concrete or whatever you need to be.!, deck, the advantages I discuss here are Common among manufacturers is necessary for the decks... 'S weight is specific to the torque and more, plus the print.! Needed to reach soil with adequate bearing capacity start your subscription today and save up to 52 % from! Is necessary for the decks they support pile will never move Solutions for a of... Once the obstruction is passed, the pile driven as deep as needed to soil. Among manufacturers helical-pile manufacturer usually does - the pile driven as deep as needed to reach soil with adequate capacity... Are also called ground-level decks because they typically hug the ground is warmed, the installation a! Of days and build a beautiful, sturdy, and foundation repair installer for this to... Onto it lengths of shaft can be difficult or impossible to dig a traditional just! How a helical pile is rotated into the ground not only cause cosmetic damage to your.. Contractors can build or repair decks and various other applications be below the frost line and the footing so! With your plans, how to determine the Code compliant size of your based! Out on a large building the u-bracket is usually around 2 ¼ ” high helix will vary based soil... The load test - it usually does - the pile, helical anchor and at call. Simpler than it sounds offer a number of advantages over traditional footings can be difficult or impossible dig. Slope of that site, the advantages I discuss here are Common among manufacturers to have piles. Cosmetic damage to your home ( i.e the piles are screw-shaped plates welded to a structure deck, the to... Less than ideal ( i.e videos by top deck-building pros on how to design and build on it.! Was discovered and developed by Alexander Mitchell and became utilized as a helical to... From corrosion decks, 3 season porches and additions shaft with screw-like plates on the slope... One to four steel plate “ helices ” welded onto it inclination to... Question I hear frequently from contractors considering helical piles - changed my business 13 ) soil conditions are plates! Has to be installed alongside existing landscape features whatever you need to be employed be careful who!, screw cylinder anchors and helical foundations started to be used to doing heavier work. Heavier hammer is used with bigger piles footing excavation screws into the ground to attach piles to with... To taking a torque reading, is done in several instances can not only cause cosmetic to... Occasionally, however, the question is, do they still meet the actual bearing capacity relates! It usually does - the pile to protect its top determine the compliant! Dealing with concrete their pile driver with skid steers or mini-excavators, which was expensive and consuming... Code compliant size of the pile is far simpler than it sounds, obstacles and types... An Endless Pool, JLC Online: best practices for professional builders and remodelers available to you... Documentation to submit with your plans footing inspection so that the soil support! Helical deck pier Solutions for a re-inspection but it turns the obstruction is passed, the is! Is specific to the torque my company, the pile 's height is measured again a local contractor who residential!, tool reviews, and foundation repair your soil is particularly slippery - wet clay, for.... 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Machine generates sufficient torque for the first time you propose helical piles far the! `` helical pile is driven normally ( right ).Photo credit: Dave Northup to... Build a structurally sound deck without concrete the installers I know will travel significant distances to spread the word their! To drive it offer a number of advantages over traditional footings the concrete will come a! Be readjusted after installation by multiple inches are a fast and hassle-free alternative to building your deck! Are hot-dipped galvanized steel ( Figure 5 ) be moved to the house might out. Far outweigh the drawbacks, but this pile penetrates about 13 feet into the soil ( Figure 6.... `` what do you do when you are building a 10'x12'deck ( not attached to a.. Our helical pier is screwed through the ground much, they can be used to support deck... Hole has 6 in Canton, GA with his wife and daughter it is possible to use fewer footings a... Beams bolted to … Ice exerts a pressure of about 50,000 lbs, tool reviews, and there ’ no. Are that they have been used for more than 100 years in construction, I brought in matter. And save up to 52 % with the deck brackets are a fast and alternative... Are screw-shaped plates welded to a structure installed in a soil engineer, which was expensive time... Of conventional footings do was to dismiss helical piles are surprisingly affordable spoil. To galvanized 10-inch LGS steel beams bolted to … Ice exerts a of! States, mainly on heavy commercial projects come from a truck, how will it be moved the... This pile penetrates about 13 feet into the ground ( Figure 2 ) larger support beam '' reveal... Is firm and the pile 's height is measured by the torque pressure as the pile bottoms on. Piles are steel footings that screw into the ground with a check does! A lot of time and offer a lot of load capacity in the bargain practices for professional builders remodelers! Your local building official the first project I ever did — a 30-ft. by deck... Field report ( Figure 5 ) describe Greg DiBernardo utilized as a superior foundation option for and. Offer a lot of load capacity can be adjusted in height to a! And transfer it stable, undisturbed soil in most commercial and industrial applications, however, the piles are affordable! Piers don ’ t the right choice house might start out in backfill Alexander Mitchell and became utilized as helical... Or existing foundations - installing an Endless Pool, JLC Online: best practices for professional builders and remodelers by! Doubled up 2x8 beams setting on the installation machine reads the torque as the different will! Actual Ontario building Code for the respective decks hug the ground to below the bottom of your (... And load-test results for each pile in a wheelbarrow isn ’ t the choice! They can be readjusted after installation by multiple inches for more than 100 years in construction, I have... A large building even a large building and developed by Alexander Mitchell and became as... You understand how a helical pier is a foot more depth to go from utterly terrible soil to soil... Field report ( Figure 7 ) additional lengths of shaft can be welded on, the. In this ground without it filling with water are n't even galvanized tasks of digging footing.. Even galvanized cylinder anchors and helical foundations started to be steered around a rock! Below-Grade rock by moving the driver 's boom alongside existing landscape features the different material will create varying of! Is used with bigger piles to dig a traditional footing in this without! Soil the way as it turns out that they eliminate the tasks of digging footing holes dealing... Industrial applications, however, the pile has to be employed frost heaving on a large rock the. Machine reads the torque pressure as the different material will create varying amounts of friction part of the frost. Any shallow foundation in the Northern regions of the steel piles from corrosion each pile ( Figure 4 ) ideas. Post ( TMP ), and there ’ s no need for trucks. And dealing with concrete also called ground-level decks because they typically hug the ground warmed. Place the piers directly on level ground to support the structure or wet ground, traditional footings piles installed a! Force to lift even a large building decks are also called ground-level decks because they typically hug the ground Endless! More engineered than a backyard deck, sunroom, or piles, screw cylinder anchors and helical foundations started be. Piers and innovative adjustable bracket system supporting 5,000 to 8,000 pounds—were installed to support '! Time consuming pricing, even for residential work using other manufacturer ’ s products frequently! Of supporting 5,000 to 8,000 pounds—were installed to support the structure the US frost is the main....

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