How are piles installed?

Screw piles are installed manually or using specialized equipment. The choice of technology depends on:

•        The size of the supports. Piles with a diameter of 57 or 76 mm can be installed manually. For high-quality installation of supports with a thicker shaft, helical pier machine is required.

•        The installation depth. If construction is taking place on a site with large elevation differences, some piles may be up to 12 m long. In this case, mechanized installation of screw piles is the optimal solution.

•        The presence or absence of access roads. If there is no convenient access for equipment, manual installation is preferred.

•        The density of the site. Building an extension or veranda, or laying a foundation for a garage close to a fence, can only be done manually.

•        Budget. Installing screw piles yourself is less expensive than mechanized installation.

Since screwing piles into a foundation yourself is technically very difficult, three people are required to install the supports. Two rotate the levers, and the third ensures that the rods enter the soil vertically.

Mistakes when screwing piles in by hand

To ensure a strong and stable pile foundation, it is important to avoid the mistakes often made when screwing piles in by hand. Common mistakes:

•        Unscrewing the rods to level them. Such a foundation quickly deforms due to uneven subsidence of the piles.

•        Installing the supports at an angle. In this case, the blades are pulled out of the soil under the influence of horizontal and vertical loads.

•        Screwing depth less than 1.5 m. The pile tip must pass the freezing level of the soil; otherwise, frost heave forces will push it out.

•        Cutting piles at an angle. The pile tails must be cut strictly horizontally to ensure the correct level of the pile caps. Otherwise, the load on the foundation will be uneven.

•        Incorrect load calculation. Installing fewer piles or using supports with a smaller diameter than required is unacceptable. Trying to save money can lead to unpredictable consequences.

•        Use of low-quality materials. Supports made by hand or with deep scratches should not be used. There is a high risk of blades being torn off during installation. Damage to the protective coating leads to thinning of the walls and rapid failure of the supports.

The advantages of this method include the ability to install in confined spaces and the absence of noise and soil vibrations. Disadvantages include the difficulty of accurately calculating the foundation load and installing the piles without errors without practical experience.

Mechanized Screw Piling

Screw-in foundation piles are installed using specialized equipment or mechanical devices. Electromechanical devices with a gearbox have shown good results. No force is required to screw in the rods. The screw pile driver creates a rotational load, leaving only the verticality of the installation to be monitored.

Compact, specialized equipment handles installation perfectly, ensuring minimal deviations from vertical.