Knowledge Guide: Key Questions About Screw Piers

Screw piers, piles or helical piers have been in use in the construction process since 1800. These are long steel tubes with a screw head on one end that is screwed into the ground to make up the piers. The other end, which protrudes, is crowned with a circular platform on which the house structure is supported. Screw piers are quick and easy to install because they don't require pre-digging holes or concrete, so you can put the frame up as soon as the piers are capped. This can save time and money during installation, and it also makes it easier to alter the piers once they're in place.

Screw piers are made of what?

These are typically made of high-tensile steel. They must be extremely robust to support the home and prevent them from buckling or twisting during installation.

Are there any different varieties of screw piers?

Although the basic design of screw piers is rather consistent across the construction industry, there are differences in pier types that you can find in the market. They're usually all placed in the same way and serve the same fundamental purpose.

Places where Screw piers are utilised?

It may be utilised almost everywhere an excavator can fit because of the variety of soil types they can be utilised in, the ease and speed with which they can be installed, and the resulting stability. They're especially popular with prefab steel frame houses because of how simple they are to build and how little cleanup is required.

Screw piers are erected in a variety of ways

The installation process is extremely quick, with most standard-sized tasks taking only 4 to 5 hours to complete. The site is first identified according to the location of each post. A hydraulic drive motor attached to an excavator is then used to drill the pier into the ground. The pier's screw head is a displacement screw, and it disturbs the soil very little. As a result, the surrounding earth presses tightly on the pier, stabilising it.

It's crucial to remember that the screw head won't work in bedrock, but it'll work in almost any other sort of soil. After being installed, the screw piers are levelled with a laser, trimmed to size, and finished with a little circular platform cover affixed to the pier. The frame can then be lowered onto the piers, allowing it to sit on top to be bolted. A slab can be put over the ground at the foot of the piers if additional stability and moisture protection are necessary.

What are some of the benefits of screw piers over other forms of foundations?

1. The majority of jobs are completed in four to five hours and are ready to use right away.
2. Since they are made of steel, they are resistant to termite, rot, and fire
3. After installation, only minor cleanup is required.

What are some of the drawbacks of screw piers over other forms of foundations?

1. They can't be drilled into bedrock, but they can go through most forms of stone.
2. Installation necessitates ample space for an excavator to maneuver.

How long do you think screw pier lasts?

A variety of things determines the length of the screw pier’s life. Although Helical Piers can be galvanised to prevent corrosion, life expectancy is affected by the soil conditions. In normal soil conditions, piers are expected to last more than 150 years.

What is the maximum weight that a screw pier can support?

The screw piers can handle more than 500 tons or 1,000,000 pounds, depending on the work. On a ten-story building, similar loads would be encountered.

Conclusion

These have been employed to support lighthouses since the mid-nineteenth century. Since then, their popularity has expanded, and the approach has been to standardise their use for modern-day foundations. We believe it is past time for foundations to catch up to how other residential building systems are employed. To attain quality and speed in building, today's builders are turning to screw piers.

Daisy Andrew is a knowledgeable and qualified blogger. She adores blogging on many topics, like Home Improvement, Pet, Food, Automotive, Business, Health, Lifestyle etc.