Benefits of Helical Piers

Helical piers also are known as helical piles, screw piles, and screw anchors are beneficial in poor soil foundation construction or repair. They are a key component for strengthening new foundations and repairing existing foundations for residential homes and commercial structures. There are many benefits of using helical piers, especially in coastal states like New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia where granular soils and shorelines can be found.

Helical piles have been used by pile driving contractors for underpinning the support of new bridges and structures as well as foundation slab repair, tieback anchors for retaining walls, pipeline supports, and electric utility applications. In recent years they have been used on solar and wind turbine foundations.

Structure Make-up of a Helical Pier

This pier type, also called a helical pile, is a steel shaft with screw-like (helical) plates. Think of this like a giant screw that is digging into the soil and securing whatever it is holding.

Footing & Bracket: The footing on this pier is what a structure will rest on. Steel brackets hold the pier and footing in place, securing the structure to the pier.
Shaft: The shaft of the helical pier is made of steel. For residential purposes, the pier is typically made of hot-dipped galvanized steel.
Helical Plate: This plate is what makes a helical pier unique from other pier types. The plate is what makes this pier an oversized screw.
Secondary Helical Plate: The additional plates will depend on the design load-bearing weight, soil composition, and depth at which the pile is screwed into the ground.

Helical Pier Applications

Helical piles are used to transfer loads from the soil near the surface to deeper, more suitable load-bearing beds well below the surface soils. Helical piers are commonly used with various foundation attachment brackets to underpin the foundations of existing structures. They are usually installed vertically, for supporting the foundation and structural loads. They may be installed at an angle if needed to help stabilize the foundation against lateral loads, like a retaining wall tie-back. They also are used to underpin sinking or settling foundations.

The Benefits of Using Helical Piers for Construction Projects

Helical piers installed for foundation repair by a certified deep foundation company are the preferred choice for home and business owners as well as general contractors, engineers, and architects.

Due to their size, helical piles do not require large equipment to install like a crane. Screw piers come with the benefit of minimal-to-no site damage, so they are eco-friendly in regard to project soil management. They can be installed horizontally, which has many uses in earth-retaining projects.

Fast installation and immediate load-bearing capacity
Ideal for limited access sites
Pre-engineered, yet easily modified
Installation cost savings as opposed to using auger cast piles and drilled shafts
Instant torque-to-bearing capacity feedback for better production control
Smaller equipment and cleaner installation
No waiting for concrete or grout to cure
Deeper foundation for increased bearing capacity
Little soil disturbance during the installation

Helical Piers Benefits for Residential Use

Most people have heard of homes “settling”. This concept is to describe a foundation that is adjusting according to the soils below. This is a normal occurrence until the foundation begins to shift or settle too much.

A foundation moves for a variety of reasons, including:

Expansive soils
Soil Compaction
Poor Drainage

Not only can your foundation move, but it can also begin to sink! You may begin to notice signs that your home is no longer level, like windows and doors that stick, cracks along doorjambs or window corners, leaning chimneys, and/or cracks in exterior and/or interior walls.

NJ SINKHOLE MAP

In these residential foundation repair cases, helical piers may be required to remedy any foundation issues and to keep your home from sinking or settling into the soil more.

Check out these New Jersey County Assessments on Sinkholes

Or this video of sinkholes popping up along New Jersey Beaches.

Deep Foundation Benefits of Helical Piles

At Shore Systems Group, LLC, we utilize helical piles for deep foundations and repairs. They are important in our business as they transfer the load of a structure or building deep into the ground. Helical piers are an excellent choice for deep foundation projects, shoring, and structures that involve poor soils, site constraints, and/or large loads.

Helical Pile Conclusion

If you have a foundation or retaining wall problem, chances are pretty good that a helical pile foundation or soil anchor system is the right choice for your project. Give us a call at Shore Systems Group, LLC for your FREE consultation with a pile and soils expert.