Before installing helical piers, a thorough site assessment and soil analysis are conducted. This step is crucial to determine the type of soil, its density, and other characteristics that will influence the design and installation of the helical piers.
How Do Helical Piers Work?
How do helical piers work? Good question. A lot of blogs online will tell you that helical piers offer superior support for your project, but not many of them actually explain why… If you don’t know already, helical piers, also known as screw piles, are a widely used foundation support solution that provide stable support for various types of structures. They work best in areas with challenging soil conditions, high groundwater levels, and frequent flooding or coastal areas prone to erosion where traditional foundation methods may not be effective. This article will discuss how helical piers work beneath the surface to support your project, their components, and their applications in different construction scenarios.
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What Are Helical Piers?
Helical piers are deep foundation elements used to support and stabilize structures. They consist of a central steel shaft with one or more helical plates (helices) welded to them. These helical plates act like screw threads, allowing the pier to be driven into the ground by rotational force. The design enables the device to anchor securely into the soil, providing robust support for various loads.
Key Components of Helical Piers:
- Steel Shaft: The central core of the helical pier, typically made from high-strength steel. The shaft transfers loads from the structure above to the helical plates and into the ground, ensuring stability and support.
- Helical Plates: Circular steel plates welded to the shaft at specific intervals. These plates create a screw-like mechanism that allows the pier to be driven deep into the soil. They also help distribute the load over a larger surface area, enhancing the pier’s load-bearing capacity.
- Steel-Engineered Foundation Bracket: The foundation bracket connects the helical pier to the supported structure. It is engineered for durability and precision, transferring the load from the foundation directly to the helical pier, ensuring reliable and stable support. This component is crucial for lifting and stabilizing the structure once the pier is in place.
Benefits of Helical Piers for Your New York Foundation
Helical piers offer several advantages, including versatility in different soil conditions, quick and efficient installation, minimal site disturbance, and high load-bearing capacity. These benefits make helical piers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly foundation solution for a variety of construction projects.
- Versatile in Different Soil Conditions
- Quick and Efficient to Install
- Minimal Site Disturbance
- High Load-Bearing Capacity
- Cost-Effectiveness
- Eco-Friendly
Helical piers are the ideal solution for tackling the foundation challenges unique to Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, delivering long-term stability and peace of mind for homeowners and builders alike. If you’re ready to secure your foundation with a trusted, local expert, Piers and Piles is here to help.
The Nerdy Stuff: What Certified Installers Need to Know to Install Helical Piers
Helical piers work by leveraging the forces of compression, tension, load, and torque to stabilize structures. Understanding how these forces interact with helical piers is crucial for ensuring their effectiveness and durability in foundation support projects.
Compression Forces
Tension Forces
Torque
Compression refers to the force that pushes down on a structure, causing it to compress or shorten. Helical piers transfer the compression forces from the structure above to the helical plates, which distribute the load into the soil, preventing excessive settlement when the soil changes over time.
Tension refers to the force that pulls or stretches a structure. Helical piers resist tension forces by anchoring the structure securely into the ground. The helical plates provide resistance against uplift forces, such as wind or seismic activity.
Torque is the rotational force used to drive the helical piers into the ground. Proper torque levels ensure that the piers are installed to the correct depth and can provide the necessary load-bearing capacity.
Helical piers must support various types of loads, including axial (vertical), lateral (horizontal), and combined loads. The design of the helical plates ensures that loads are distributed evenly across the soil, providing stable support for the structure.
Helical piers must support various types of loads, including axial (vertical), lateral (horizontal), and combined loads. The design of the helical plates ensures that loads are distributed evenly across the soil, providing stable support for the structure.
Factors Influencing Helical Pier Performance
Different soil types and densities affect the performance of helical piers. Dense, cohesive soils provide better support, while loose, granular soils may require deeper or more helical piers. Larger and more closely spaced helical plates increase the load-bearing capacity by providing greater surface area for load transfer. Thicker and stronger materials can withstand higher compression and tension forces without buckling or deforming. Ensuring the helical piers are installed to the appropriate depth is crucial for reaching stable soil layers or bedrock.
Signs Your Brooklyn, Queens, or Long Island, NY, Home May Need Helical Piers
Foundation issues can lead to costly repairs if ignored. Homes in Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island are especially vulnerable due to challenging soil conditions.
Here are key signs your home may need helical piers:
- Cracked Walls and Ceilings: Vertical, horizontal, or stair-step cracks, especially around doors and windows, indicate foundation settling.
- Uneven or Sagging Floors: Sloping or sagging floors signal foundation movement, common in older homes across these boroughs.
- Sticking Doors and Windows: Misaligned frames that make doors and windows difficult to open point to shifting foundations.
- Gaps Around Frames: Gaps around windows, doors, or garages suggest significant foundation movement, often due to unstable soils.
- Bowing or Leaning Basement Walls: Bowing walls indicate excessive foundation pressure, typical in flood-prone or expansive soil areas.
- Water Intrusion: Persistent basement leaks or moisture issues are signs of foundation cracks, especially in high water table zones like Long Island.
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Types of Helical Piers: Choosing the Right Solution for Your Foundation Needs
Helical piers come in various designs to meet specific foundation requirements. Selecting the right type depends on factors such as soil conditions, load requirements, and the nature of your project. Below is a breakdown of the most common helical pier types, their benefits, and ideal use cases to help you determine the best solution for your foundation challenges.
Each helical pier type offers unique advantages (above) depending on your foundation needs and soil conditions. Whether you’re stabilizing a historic property, supporting a new construction project, or reinforcing structures in challenging soil environments, choosing the right pier type ensures the long-term stability and safety of your foundation.
Applications of Helical Piers
Helical piers are versatile foundation elements used in a wide range of applications, from residential and commercial construction to special projects like retaining walls and solar panels. Their adaptability to different soil conditions and load requirements makes them an ideal choice for stabilizing just about anything that needs the support.
Residential Applications
Helical piers are commonly used in residential construction for foundation repair, stabilizing homes with settling or shifting foundations, new construction, decks, and porches.
Commercial Applications
In commercial settings, helical piers are used to support large buildings, stabilize heavy equipment and machinery, and support retain walls and slopes, preventing movement and collapse.
Special Applications
Helical piers are also utilized in various specialized projects, including supporting boardwalks and other elevated structures and offering a stable foundation for projects like wind turbines, towers, and billboards.
The Helical Piers Installation Process
Before installing helical piers, a thorough site assessment and soil analysis are conducted. This step is crucial to determine the type of soil, its density, and other characteristics that will influence the design and installation of the helical piers.
Based on the soil analysis, engineers design the helical pier system to meet the specific load requirements of the project. This includes determining the appropriate size and spacing of the helical plates, the diameter of the pile shaft, and the depth to which the piers need to be installed.
In some cases, pre-drilling may be required to penetrate hard or dense soil layers. This step helps facilitate the installation of the helical piers.
The helical piers are driven into the ground using hydraulic torque motors. The rotational force provided by the motors allows the helical plates to cut into the soil, anchoring the piers securely.
The torque applied during installation is carefully monitored to ensure that the piers are installed to the correct depth and are providing the necessary load-bearing capacity.
Once installed, the helical piers are subjected to load tests to verify their load-bearing capacity. This step ensures that the piers can support the intended loads without failure. After load testing, a final inspection is conducted to ensure that the installation meets all design specifications and standards. Detailed documentation of the installation process and test results is also prepared.
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When it comes to ensuring the durability and safety of your property, selecting the right structural solutions is paramount. At Piers and Piles, we offer specialized services designed to address various foundation and environmental challenges. Our expert team is dedicated to providing efficient, reliable, and long-lasting results for all your structural needs.
Here are some of the key services we provide:
Helical Piers and Piles Installation
Efficiently installed to provide deep foundation support, ensuring stability and strength for various structures in challenging soil conditions.
Helical Anchors and Tiebacks Installation
Securely anchor structures by resisting lateral loads, offering reinforcement and stability for retaining walls, shoring systems, and other applications.
Flood Barrier Walls and Dewatering
Protect properties from flooding with robust barrier walls and effective dewatering systems, ensuring safety and resilience against water damage.
How Do Helical Piers Work: Final Thoughts
Helical piers provide a reliable and efficient foundation solution for various types of structures. Their ability to handle compression, tension, and different types of loads makes them a versatile choice for challenging soil conditions. Proper installation and professional assessment are key to ensuring the success and longevity of helical pier foundation systems. That said, choosing an experienced contractor like Piers and Piles can significantly impact the project’s outcome.
For Expert Advice And Professional Installation Services, Contact Our Team Today. We Are Committed To Providing High-Quality Foundation Solutions Tailored To Your Specific Needs.
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