Building on Sloped Terrain Made Easy with Helical Piles

When undertaking a construction project requiring a foundation, it’s critical to have a finished product that is solid and secure, so the building doesn’t collapse over time.  When a structure is built on a slope, everything becomes exponentially more difficult to complete.  For this reason, helical piles have simplified foundation building, not only in the design, but also the construction process.

Foundation Design

Techno Metal Post helical piles, can be customized for the specific needs of a given project.  Our in-house engineers look at the components required for the design and considers the following…compression, tension and lateral forces that will be placed on the pile once installed.  After this is reviewed, they can select the pile diameter & quantity needed, helix diameter, and the soil pressure they need to be installed within.  Our engineering team ensures a professional, code approved, and safe foundation solution for every project.

Once each pile is successfully installed, the design serves as a complete structural unit, each doing their individual job transferring the overall load.  Combined with a custom bracket system, the foundation piles connect to the structure’s base material (which is either steel, concrete or wood) and is locked in place.  There is no digging or compacting work required with helical piles.

When you introduce a sloped surface, there are always concerns about lateral stability.  Should this be a concern for your project (with or without a slope), a helical pile foundation can be easily adjusted to factor in this additional force.  Some of the helical piles can be constructed to have a second helix piece.  A battered pile (which means installed at an angle into the slope), can be connected next to the vertical pile shaft and welded into the main bracket system.  If the structure has a portion above the ground, then the beams and posts for the main structure can be further strengthened directly using angled bracing, as shown in the photo above.

Construction Process

The design of any foundation looks great in drawings but eventually it needs to be built on site.  Traditional footings and foundations require excavation, forming work, setting rebar, and pouring / curing concrete.  Aside from planning and executing, the concrete must also harden before any load can be placed on it.  All this extra work can be eliminated using a basic helical pile foundation design.  A single machine, compact in size, allows the crew to complete the installations needed for even the toughest foundations.  A small platform with adjustable posts, is used to create a flat surface for the crew to safely complete their job.

How deep do the helical piles need to go?

Concrete foundations have a minimum depth they can reach (below the frost line for temperate climates) and need to be wide enough for the footing width and structural load.  Helical piles, on the other hand, can go deep enough so they are secured into suitable earth below.  Good soil is confirmed by measuring the torque from the drill head, off the installation equipment, which is then converted to a load bearing capacity outcome.  This allows the depth to be well below any concrete foundation, if need be.  Once the desired load capacity is reached, the pile receives a final spin and is then locked into position, ensuring security.

On your next project, consider a helical pile foundation alternative.  We have an extensive installer network that is ready to deliver a solution for you!