Frequently Asked Questions

Helical screw piles are deep foundation solutions made of steel, with helical plates welded to the shaft. They are installed into the ground to support structures.

They provide immediate load-bearing capacity, require minimal site disturbance, and can be installed in various soil conditions.

They are twisted into the ground, using a torque motor, allowing the helical blades to penetrate the soil, creating a stable foundation.

Helical screw piles are suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial structures, including decks, foundations, and utility poles.

Yes, they have a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional concrete foundations due to reduced excavation and material use.

Installation involves using a hydraulic motor to screw the piles into the ground until the required depth is reached.

Rotational forces of 6,000 to 20,000 newtons are used to rotate the screw piles into compact soil. 

A hydraulic drive head mounted on an excavator or a skid-steer loader is typically used for installation.

Typically a 5T excavator can manage most residential installations. 

Installation time varies based on site conditions, but it typically we would expect to install 12 - 15 piles in one day. Enough for a large extension or small house.

Yes, they can be installed in all weather conditions.  

We can design using British Geological Survey soil reports as a guide.  For larger sites we would always recommend an on site soil test and test installation so we can determine the best project specific design. 

Our piles can support a vertical load of 20T each.  So 5 piles can support a shared load of 100T.

Load capacity depends on the pile size, soil conditions, and installation depth and torque.

Send us your project details and we can do this based on soil conditions and project requirements. 

Or use your own project engineer to provide calculations. 

Yes, helical screw piles are designed to support both types of loads, making them suitable for foundations (compression) but also anchoring equipment such as solar panels (tension). 

Factors include soil N values and cohesion, water levels, moisture content, acidity, installation method, and pile dimensions.

We make these calculations for you and provide them in the installation report. 

Yes, they can be installed with special underpinning plates to support structures that have subsidence effects. 

This is a common use case, also similarly used for railway embankments and siding support. 

Generally, helical screw piles require no maintenance. In marine environments or very acidic soils it is useful to inspect corrosion rates every 5 years.

With proper installation and neutral site conditions, helical screw piles can over 200 years.  

Our calculations show that our piles should be good for around 350 years. 

No helical screw piles are not resistant to corrosion.

But corrosion can be reduced with galvanisation, plus the corrosion rates of S355 steel is very low and so the piles can be expected to last for 200 years or more. 

It is important to take care during installation that the piles are installed as vertically as possible, as this gives the optimum vertical load outcomes.

Yes, additional helical screw piles can be installed if supported loads or modifications to the structure require.

We would recommend over engineering the original installation if such changes are anticipated.  We have our own structural engineer to help with these design calculations. 

Costs vary based on size, depth, and project complexity, but they are generally competitive with traditional foundation solutions.

As a rule a 16m ring beam foundation system specified and installed will cost around £10k. 

Yes, definitely, they are perfect to replace messy trench and concrete foundations, plus they are perfect when tree roots require deep foundations. 

Currently we are focussing on South London and Surrey, but we are available to undertake installations anywhere in the UK.