Helical Piers (Screw Piles) - Pros, Cons, and FAQs

[@buildwithrise]

Have you used helical piles? Are they necessary? Would you build a deck without them? Let us know!

[@screwpilesshengda2269]

Helical piles are the great and smart choice for deck foundation

[@trevorliggat5044]

The company I work for uses Screw Piles for Radio Communication towers, Highway Installs & for Rail Installs, we make our own piles to suit the ground conditions and the job involved, all our piles are Galvanized & in the case of Highways are also painted to spec, we have installed down to a depth of 60.mtr ( 200.ft) due ground conditions.

[@screwpilesshengda2269]

Which company do you work for, which is producing helical piers?

[@LeeBlaske]

Our contractor used these on our new deck, and I was really impressed. They went down 12' to some really solid soil. The first several feet of soil in our yard is kind of spongy. Going down 12' with a concrete footing would have been a real project.

[@canonicaltom]

Here in Alaska, there is only one helical pier installer and they charge about $600 a piece. Concrete piers are DIY so labor costs are zero.

[@davefoc]

I like the idea of these things. There are a few things I've wondered about: 1. Long term corrosion resistance: Zinc plating is amazing but over the long term especially where the pipe comes out of the ground and especially in marine environments are they reliable over the long term? 2. Why not some more flanges? Seems like if one is good two is better? I was surprised that they were often substantially more expensive than concrete piers. But I probably shouldn't have been. Drilling four feet or so holes can be done very quickly with an auger attachment on a skid steer. I wonder if the screw piles aren't a big money saver in areas where deep piles are required for a house foundation.

[@clemsmith2253]

I am designing a home on a beach barrier in MA. These are required for construction. Cool to see the constructions means and methods here and some pricing of comparative systems

[@DanielZajic]

I'm planning on using these to build a two-story 1600 sq ft house. Seems like the simplest and lowest-impact foundation possible. Waiting on a quote from Goliathtech, but will try and find others in the Northern New England area. We don't want a basement anyway, and have a high water table, so concrete doesn't seem like a good choice.

[@swstiglich]

I would like a video and maybe even comparison with "diamond pier". You are very thorough.

[@seam0034]

Same here. Have clay soil with significant frost heaves and am wondering if I should use diamond or helical.

[@jasonjohnson4170]

I am watching this video because my wife and i purchased a home last October in TN that now has foundation issues. Not the best way to start but owning a home comes with lifelong ongoing repairs. We are in the process of investigating and deciding between push-piers and helical piers. We need two things completed on our home... 1) 6 piers installed on the back right corner of the home as it is sinking to the point of a large crack in the brick from ground to soffit... and 2) ibeam or ibeams installed under the floor in the crawlspace in that same section of the home as there is a moisture issue that has caused the floor to sag due to no current support in that section of the home. One company seems to be better at the under floor ibeams but uses push-piers and will only stabilize-no lift and the other company uses helical piers and guarantees to lift our house back to the original level when constructed, but lacks in the underfloor beam department. I will try to remember to come back here once we make our decision and have the work completed to give everyone the final analysis.

[@cynthiagoulet3514]

Hi Jason, have you called GoliathTech Screw Piles?

[@MitzvosGolem1]

Some add in concrete high strength grout with the pile on soft clay.

[@peggyhoar9899]

How did it go? Thx

[@buddyrevell511]

Any news? It's been 4 years... lol

[@clemsmith2253]

awesome video on helical piers

[@wailoh4332]

Pylex is available from HD for around $45 now 2023 and you can install yourself. Support 3500 lb -5500lb depending on soil. More than enough for a deck support

[@light487]

Also remember with concrete piering, you need to remove the spoil that you dig out of the hole. If you're only doing a few, you might be able to spread it around the garden.. but if there's a lot of piers, you'll need to pay for spoil disposal.

[@buildwithrise]

Great tip!

[@Jimmy_Cavallo]

💥 No matter how many concrete footings I’ve had to use it was no problem spreading the dirt of each one around the footing with a rake. It’s under the deck.

[@spearhead8453]

how do the installers make sure the pile is straight/plumb going in

[@roncameron]

When you need to get out the Big Guns of Strength, always turn to your oldest daughter. If there had been a second Audrey I'm convinced the big giant rock would have had no chance.

[@TheJoeMoneyShow]

I used it and was great!!

[@MitzvosGolem1]

Capacity depends on cohesive strength of clay soils for friction. Soil mechanics Engineer needed on larger projects. Many can hold 20+Kip's each. Used in NYC large projects.

[@bradstrickland4127]

Most jobs I do for foundations require 25 kips and decks usually 15

[@bradstrickland4127]

I just started here tho so I don’t know much about it. That’s why I’m here @Golem1

[@boots7859]

Technometal Posts P3 were quoted around $350 or so, and rated at 33Kips, supporting 33K lbs. Not affiliated, but very happy with the pricing and 1-day install.

[@MitzvosGolem1]

@@boots7859 33 kips in that soil there?

[@vincentmackenzie9133]

No structural or geotechnical engineer allows skin friction to be applied in calculating capacity of screw piles.

[@StephenFreyVT]

This was helpful. Thanks!

[@wm0104]

Problem is they have to be dead on when you install them. Post you can adjust and get everything square before you concrete them in.

[@persistentone3448]

How well do helical piles work for deck foundations on a steep slope?

[@screwpilesshengda2269]

It's good.but must get them driving deep enough

[@kateboccongelle6337]

Could helical piers be used to install a series of exterior steps/stairs on a fairly steep slope going down to a beach / lake?

[@madmax-gx8he]

It costs $300 dollars in Grande Prairie, AB

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Great vid 👍

[@low-costgearbudgettour714]

I'm planning to build a small house (about 12m x 16m platform) single storey on a hillside in Mongolia using SIP's (structural insulated panels). The price you're talking about is outrageous by our standards. The cost per buy for DIY use is about $10 to $70 depending on type (screw, helical or X-section). My time is free since I'm retired. No way could I afford $250 each installed. It's virgin land so there's no utilities, no codes and I can do the engineering calculations myself. I also don't want to excavate and create a solid concrete foundation since it would scar the land.

[@GrampalettasCamp]

How many piles will you use? How deep will you need?

[@martinfoster5163]

@@GrampalettasCamp I changed direction. The ground screws were too expensive and installation difficult on rocky ground. So we hired an excavator to cut and fill a flat area of ground then built several yurts instead of a house. We’re very happy with the result.

[@JustAnotherHotDay]

$250? I'm being quoted $2250 in the US....

[@dannyK4154]

love the info but not music while talking

[@whateverhapen]

At the minute 5:48 of this video, the pier is screwed pretty close to the house. Would this affect the house foundation? How close could we go to the house. I understand it is relevant to the depth of the pier and the depth of the house foundation, is there any tables to guide the distance?

[@screwpilesshengda2269]

Yes.also related to soil conditions

[@matthewhubley7180]

I hope you added Y bracing to those deck posts. That is a must for that product.

[@morleyseerede4764]

We have installed screw piles for our cabin at turtlelake Saskatchewan, we have noticed that they are shifting our cabin. Any ideas on a fix. We insulted the crawl space but it still shifted. W3 are about 200 feet from lake edge.

[@buildwithrise]

That's awful to hear! There are many cases of helical pile plans/installations not being reviewed by an engineer, thus resulting in problems like yours. The CCMC suggests to Canadians in your situation that they should contact their local permit building office to see what engineering and paperwork exists. In some cases you can take legal action against the installer. CBC did a fantastic article on this issue in 2019. Great read: www.cbc.ca/news/business/safety-put-in-jeopardy-by-some-companies-shoring-up-shaky-homes-industry-complaint-alleges-1.5184859

[@Traqr]

"Pro" piles or "Audrey" piles? One advantage of properly engineered helical piles is that 10'+ underground, the bearing plates never experience freeze/thaw cycling so insulating your crawl space should have no effect on the foundation. Still a good idea though!

[@screwpilesshengda2269]

@@buildwithrise Agree.

[@MegaTapdog]

i would stop insulting the crawl space and maybe the problem will go away…

[@rtlarkin]

I am an installer in alaska. if Saskatchewan has similar frost heave issues, two things cause shifting: 1) if the freeze/thaw cycle creates any horizontal pressure. 2)if the piers are on a slope cutting thru overburden to the bedrock, the soils can "seasonally shift" down hill. it takes a lot of excavation work to cure these problems.

[@joannnarozanski8660]

Please help! I had helical piles installed by a qualified contractor 6 years ago for a deck and they are moving, the contractor says he has never seen this before. The one end of the deck has risen at least 6 inches causing issues with my glass railing and my deck boards. He is telling me that it is because of water in the ground possibly from evestrough! Is this an issue???

[@jude999]

Music is distracting

[@anikac8380]

This was informative and, I think, thorough. My only question would be whether or not helical piers could be suitable foundations for larger structures, like a small house? Thanks!

[@markgordon8734]

Helical PIles can be used for larger stuctures such as house's even two storey houses. There are an assortment of different size helical piles to suit any type of wieght load and structure.

[@Finneastwood2015]

Definately

[@boots7859]

These are the standard for many highrise buildings, and whats often used in repairing old foundations.

[@vincentmackenzie9133]

My company installs screw piers that support up to 300 tons each. Last December for a nine storey residential/commercial building

[@davidspooner6818]

@@vincentmackenzie9133 I'm looking for an installer in the Seattle area.

[@comak7573]

how are they to get all the brackets in the lined up and in the same plane? do they allow for adjustment? I know you would want to take your time laying out the locations but it seems like any slight variation away from your line would be horrible to remedy. On another note I have been considering using these for a tiny house. Build the house on a trailer and make it removable so it could be placed on a foundation elsewhere. Do you think these would be a good solution? Thanks

[@buildwithrise]

Hey Cody! The brackets are typically height adjustable, and as far as precision, it's about as precise as it gets, and often contractors who specialize in this type of install will guarantee the work to make sure this is the case. There are also offset brackets with as much as a one-inch offset that can remedy precision issues. Keep in mind it may not always be 100% as soil conditions may not allow it, but installers will usually come within a fraction of an inch. And yes would absolutely be ideal for tiny homes, but only consider professionally installed piles with an engineering report that shows the weight supported by each pile. No DIY piles for that kind of job!

[@comak7573]

@@buildwithrise great. Thanks got the reply!

[@buildwithrise]

@@comak7573 Sure thing, Cody!

[@elfillari]

For calibration the piles in straight lines and depht you'll use a laser liner of course 😊

[@celeb2290]

If you had hit a rebar in the ground as a guide for the diy one. You would have found the rock.

[@marksaunto2588]

So then how do you extract the rebar in the exact location for your piling. Ever tried to extract driven in rebar diaper than 4’? I didn’t think so!

[@marks6663]

@@marksaunto2588 No need to extract the rebar. That location is not useable because of the obstruction. So the rebar detection system worked. Yes, it was a self-fulfilling prophecy, But it did work.

[@rheaghen]

Dont skip your skeps people!

[@pylexintl]

Hello Sir, I would recommand to have an look on how to install these Pylex Screw piles following our installation instruction ( also mentionned on the label ) kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHbWqIljbqudpq8 . On the other hand each of them can support 3500 lbs in clay soil and 5000 lbs in sandy soil. We do have engineering document for these numbers. Anything else, please let us know. Thanks

[@MIKEC2000]

So I could use them for a 200 sqft deck attached to the house?

[@zeleacodreanu1]

Could I build a one story 1750ft² house on enough of them?

[@montywu9975]

$250/pier? i'm in so cali. house is settling and got some quotes for helical piers from several contractors. And they are ranging from $2500 to $4000 per pier. Anyone know of a honest foundation contractor in southern cali?

[@00dmb5]

This creator is in eastern Canada, helical piles are MUCH more common in that region. Helical piles are relatively novel and new to the residential US construction market.

[@jaylippincott5506]

Message me. I can help you out.

[@Christ_on_the_River]

I'm in Arkansas. A friend from Cali once told me that when it comes to comparing house costs - which might include repair costs - "move the decimal to the right one or two places..."

[@screwpilesshengda2269]

This price is really crazy.

[@shelbydubois4607]

GoliathTech has an installer in CA. GoliathTech NorCal his name is Eric Davis.

[@anpur192]

Hi, My Contractor had already dig out footing for concrete but we get muddy and high water table. so thinking to use helical piers, is it possible to use it in same place where footing is dig already?

[@anpur192]

by the way i am located at Brampton

[@John-xy7do]

Hi, how to know how deep the post have to go?

[@buildwithrise]

Hey John! It depends on the installation - this is a question best reserved for your installer. Expect an installation depth between 10 and 20 feet.

[@kamranayub]

What the heck, Goliath is quoting me $525 per pile for 7' here in MN. I'll have to show em this video and ask what the deal is 🤨 Should be more like yours at $200. I'd be more open to contracting it out then, this is for a tiny 200 sqft man-shed. But I'm also thinking since this doesn't need any engineering specs or review, I may be able to DIY the Pyrex 50" piles myself with some 24" extensions for the rear (on grade).

[@kamranayub]

I'm wondering if they quoted me for extra long piles because frost code is only 42" here, 7' seems excessive. I didn't catch how long yours were in the video but they look 7' or so.

[@screwpilesshengda2269]

Understand.But today's stee, labor are also expensive and are still going up. May also check with other manufacturers to make the decision

[@si41tpdd1]

Curious to know what you ended up doing..

[@TexasStar1]

Prices vary from state to state, project to project, depth of the pile, access of the area, hazards, planning, logistics. There is no fixed price because each project is different. The price mentioned in this video is very low and could be possible in a solar farm scenario but not for deck installation of a few in 2023. In Texas I've seen $450 - $1,500. Depending on quantity and all the variables I mentioned.

[@kai6424]

Ya concrete foundation all day there is a reason why roman buildings still stand today. If you pour it right and soil test and correct the soil if needed your foundation will outlast your kids, kids, kids, kids, if not longer.

[@navalukthrasher9269]

My question? that is not a certified Helical Pile. Galvanized, and what is the thickness of the material. Folk do not DYI Piles!!!!

[@onlyscience7120]

Screw piles impact on your health? This guy must be an home inspector..

[@DanielZajic]

This music makes it impossible to watch, sorry.

[@Tomyum19]

Does anyone really care how these piers are made?

[@mikebavarsky7340]

Why must you play music to partly obscure your dialogue?? Most annoying. I couldn't stand to finish the video.

[@latitudeash]

Sorry but bring in a professional ringer does no credit to the vidio. Your daughter is obviously a professional installer. Look at her pink outfit so obvious 🤣😂👍🏼. Ps- I hope you paid her well in ice cream and chocolate.

[@navalukthrasher9269]

you are not hitting pressure, plus the torsional is determined by an engineer. Again. Bad advice by this Rise guy.

[@Mrdubomb]

I dont think theres a homeowner or contractor in the world that cares about environmental impact-except the person who made this video.

[@robinfarkas8245]

I do. I'm planning an addition, and I don't want to disturb the land. Additionally, my addition will be somewhat near a large tree. Piers will not damage the tree's root system like a deep (here in the NE) dug footing will. I need to find out whether the local building inspector allows helical piers.

[@DanielZajic]

Based on what?

[@ralphmalph6824]

Climate change environmentalist claptrap