What are Helical Piers? Helical Piers for Decks |Helical Piers New Construction | Helical Vs Push Piers

What are Helical Piers? Uses of Helical Piers for Decks & New Construction | Helical Vs Push Piers | Helical Piers Spacing | Helical Piers Cost

What are Helical Piers?

Helical piers are a structural element used to steady the soil under a building foundation.

They are made of reinforced concrete, steel, or welded steel piping and typically take the form of a pier with a screw thread on the outside edge.

A helical pier is a pier that has a screw thread on the outside edge. This screw thread is what steadies the soil under a building foundation.

Helical piers are piers that are used to either secure slabs to the rest of the building, or to support structures in general.

A helical pier is a vertical column or pier that is either made of steel or concrete. They are strong enough to support heavy weight, and they have sloping sides like a helix.

There are two uses for helical piers, and these are either to attach a slab to the rest of a structure, or to support structures in general.

Helical Piers Applications

Helical piers are a foundation repair solution for buildings. These rods are created from structural steel and are used to support building structures that have issues with their foundation, and they are typically installed in a way that is meant to imitate a staircase

Helical piers are most often used at the exterior of the building, and are typically inserted into the ground by drilling.

These rods are long, slender, and have vertical connections and horizontal sections. The main use for helical piers is to resolve structural issues when the foundation of a building has been compromised.

The foundation of a building is typically compromised due to shifting soil, natural disasters, or age.

When the foundation of a building is compromised, the structure above it begins to crack and weaken, which can cause serious safety concerns.

Helical piers are one of the many solutions to resolve such issues, and they are relatively economical compared to other foundation repair methods.

Helical piers solve structural issues associated with a building’s foundation by transferring the load from a structure to a more stable ground plane.

It performs this function by acting as an inclined plane that is placed underground diagonally from where the weight is being applied onto it.

Helical Piers for Decks

Helical piers are used to support decks that have a cantilever. As there is a great deal of weight being applied to this structure, it is important to invest in a pier that is substantial enough to handle it.

In order to prevent the pier from sinking into the ground, there are several factors that need to be considered.

• The weight of the deck.
• The type of ground material.
• The size of the pier.

In order for the pier to support the deck, it needs to be able to handle the weight of the deck and the good ground material that it is on.

If the pier is too small, it will sink into the ground, and if it is too large, the deck will not be stable. When picking the pier, it is best to have a pier that has a diameter of 2/3 of the span.

A general rule is that they should be spaced 3 to 4 diameters on the center. Typical Helical Pile spacing is 5 ft – 10 ft.

Helical piers have many uses outside of residential repair as well. Helical piers are used in a variety of situations for different purposes.

For example, helical piers are used in agriculture to support buildings used for livestock and crop storage that may be located on unstable and soft ground.

Helical Piers New Construction

Helical piers are used in new construction when some soil below the bearing capacity of the ground cannot support a load.

The helical pier is constructed in a spiral shape and is driven into the ground until it reaches the desired depth.

The helical pier supports the weight of the foundation through a bearing on a metal plate that is attached to the bottom of the pier.

Helical piers are driven into the soil at the base of the foundation until they have reached the desired depth.

Benefits Of Helical Piers in New Construction

One of the most common pier designs for new construction is the helical pier. These piers are designed to carry loads of up to 500 tons in compression.

They can be installed to provide improved lateral stability to a new foundation or wall. The helical pier is also designed to allow the secondary reinforcement to be installed on the outside of the pier, which can lessen the interference with other construction.

Finally, this type of pier is attractive because it will not have to be removed when the concrete is replaced. Helical piers are strong and durable and can be used in new construction.

They can carry large loads in compression and lateral stability. They are also designed to allow for secondary reinforcement to be installed on the outside, which decreases interference.

Helical Piers Vs Helical Piles

There are many different types of piers that can be used to support a structure. Helical piers are the most used type of pier because they are strong and economical.

These piers are typically made from structural steel that is coated with epoxy, which increases their strength and durability.

The helical pier is a great choice for many different types of piers. They are strong enough to support heavy loads and they are relatively cheap to purchase.

The main difference between the helical pier and helical pile is that the helical pile can be produced with no secondary reinforcement necessary, whereas the helical pier must also have secondary reinforcing placed on it.

Helical Piers Vs Push Piers

Push piers

Push piers are essentially a collection of hollow pipes that are fitted together and pushed into the earth, hence the name.

Piers are pushed into place using a hydraulic ram until they reach the load-bearing stratum. Pier brackets are used to secure them to the structure.

The structure’s weight serves as the resistance mass required to push against the piers. This resistance holds them in place while also providing stability, lift, and leveling to the foundation.

The lateral stability of these hollow pipes can be increased by reinforcing them with non-shrink grout and rebar.

When the requisite capacity is attained and/or the foundation begins to shift, push piers are completed.

For some foundation restoration tasks, push piers are a feasible alternative. The fact that these piers may be placed in small places is particularly noteworthy.

All of the necessary equipment is handheld, and piers are fitted together as needed to reach the load-bearing stratum.

As a result, the necessary area might be as little as 3’x3′ with a 6′ overhead clearance.

Push piers are also useful for rebuilding the foundation of a large structure. The heavier structure works well with this method because the piers are “pushed” into the ground by the weight of the building.

The required resistant mass is provided by two-story houses, brick structures, and commercial buildings.

Push piers have restrictions that put them at a disadvantage when compared to helical piers. The most significant disadvantage is the weight requirement.

Push piers are not recommended for lighter weights. If the mass is light, such as a one-story house or garage, it will not offer enough resistance to drive the pier to its maximum capacity.

Because of the weight, some foundation firms choose to utilize this method for commercial structures rather than residences.

Helical piers

Helical piers are steel pipes with helices or screw-like plates attached to the end. The helices pull the pier into position rather than pushing it. It does not rely on a large structure to attain capacity. Instead, they are outfitted with a portable hydraulic engine that transforms the pier into a high density stratum.

Following that, steel brackets are installed, and the weight of your house is transmitted to the pier. Helical piers support your home in the same way as screws support a shelf.

Helical pier installation is a speedier and more efficient procedure than push pier installation. There will be little excavation, no noise pollution, and the system may be placed inside or outside the property.

What is the distinction between helical and push piers?

Push piers are massive tubes that are hydraulically pushed through the bracket into the earth’s surface until they reach the target location.

Helical piers are shafts with helical plates that are screwed into the ground rather than driven into the earth.

Helical Piers  FAQs

What is a helical pier?

A helical pier is a pier that has a screw thread on the outside edge. This screw thread is what steadies the soil under a building foundation.

What are helical piers used for?

Helical piers are used to support structures, and they also transfer the load from a structure to a more stable ground plane.

Helical piers have long been a reliable solution for a wide range of restoration tasks on existing properties.

Helical piers provide accurate and dependable deep foundation anchoring in a wide range of adverse soil conditions, allowing builders to securely construct new buildings everywhere.

How do I build helical piers for a residential deck?

Helical piers are erected by drilling them deep into the beneath the earth. As each pile’s shaft is dug far under the surface, more extension segments are linked into the bolted couplers and drilled into the earth, culminating in a single pile capable of extending hundreds of feet deep into the ground.

What are the prices of helical piers?

The cost of a helical pier is determined by the structure’s design, size, and weight, as well as the surrounding soil conditions.

Because of these numerous factors, the cost of a helical pier installation might range from $15 to $30 per foot.

As a result, a standard 20-foot helical pier might cost between $300 and $600 per unit.

There are various factors involved while deciding the cost of helical piers. Those factors are:

• Site location
• Type of structure
• Type of work (repair or new structure)
• Condition of foundation
• Depth of pile installation

 What is the lifespan of helical piers?

Though Helical Piers can be galvanized to avoid corrosion, the varied soil conditions might shorten their life. In typical soil conditions, piers are expected to last more than 100 years.

Are helical piers better than concrete pillars?

Concrete pillars have long been the standard for builders and homeowners, but as the benefits of helical piers and helical screw piles become more well recognized, an increasing number of individuals are choosing to utilize them.

Helical piers need less labor and can be less expensive than concrete piers.

Are helical piers prone to failure?

Helical pier failure is uncommon since they are driven into load-bearing soil with a driving head drill attached to a small excavator.

When the helical pier achieves a particular pressure, we know the helical pier shaft and helical plates are ready for any and all situations.

How far apart should the piers of a house be?

Although 5 to 10 feet apart is a suitable distance for foundation piers to sustain most structures that would sit atop a post and pier foundation, if the building is exceptionally tall or constructed of heavy materials such as brick or metal, it’s fairly uncommon to position the foundation piers even closer together.How much weight can helical pier support?

Because each installation is unique, each bespoke helical pier has a distinct load-bearing capacity. A single helical pier can support up to 500 tons of weight, but when combined in a foundation atop a network of helical piers, the figure may be much greater.

How do you install helical piers?

Drilling deep into the soil is used to install helical piers. As each pier’s shaft is dug far under the surface, more extension segments are linked into the bolted couplers and drilled into the earth, resulting in a single pier capable of extending hundreds of feet deep into the ground.

Which is advantageous: push piers or helical piers?

The helical pier is superior to the push pier for the following reasons:

• It makes no noise
• It is inexpensive
• It is simple to install
• It creates no disruption

What is the purpose of helical piers in a structure?

In the following scenarios, you would require a helical pier to reinforce your foundation and restore the structure:

• Repairing cracks in the internal plaster walls.
• Repair the slanted floor.
• To fix the huge gap that has created between the door and window frames.
• When a barrier is created when shutting and opening the doors.
• To fix basement wall cracks.