Opting for the lowest initial price, may not result in the best long-term value. The cost of a helical pile installation versus concrete piers depends on several factors.

While the initial cost of helical piles may appear more expensive upfront, they are a more economical solution longterm. This due to their durability, reliability, quick installation process, and ability to withstand weather and ground fluctuations. Here are some factors that contribute to cost efficiency of helical piles over concrete piers:

 

Installation Speed

Helical piles are quicker to install than concrete piers as they require no digging or curing time. Upon installation, they provide instant load-bearing support. This means lower labor costs and a faster project completion. Ultimately this helps to lower expenses and improve project profitability.

 

Minimal Site Disruption

The helical pile installation process causes very little noise, dust, or vibration, which reduces disturbance to the site as well as surrounding areas. This means less money spent on property restoration, landscaping costs, and site cleanup.

 

No Excavation or Hauling of Soil

Installing helical piles does not involve excavation or removal of soil, which reduces the material and disposal costs associated with traditional concrete piers.

 

Durable and Reliable

Helical piles are made of quality steel and offered with a hot-dipped galvanized coating for an extended life. They resist frost heaving better than typical concrete piers which are installed only to frost depth. The piles are capacity validated in the field, which is a more dependable method than sizing concrete piers based on soil bearing capacity. Their durability and reliability lead to long-term savings.

 

Suitable for Most Soil Types

Helical piles are ideal for a variety of soil types and geological conditions. This versatility eliminates the need for additional foundation types, which overall reduces building costs.

 

Team Morale

We also need to consider how much happier your staff will be when they no longer have to dig holes. Happier employees perform better and improve profitability.

 

These factors combined make helical piles a more cost-effective option than concrete piers. They save time, reduce labor costs, produce minimal site disruption, and require less maintenance.

If you want to estimate the real cost of digging concrete footings, you should consider these variables:

 

Labor___(in hours)	x	$_____(per hour)		:_________
Auger & machine rental or purchase				:_________
Concrete				:_________
Sono tube				:_________
Brackets				:_________
Spoils / debris removal				:_________
Inspections				:_________
De-watering holes				:_________
Jack Hammer rental or purchase				:_________
			Total	:_________

Using ABCDeck is free !

 

Did you know...there’s a site that helps you with the construction of your deck foundation, using only helical piers?  It's called ABCDeck.  A great tool that's useful, easy, and full of insightful advice.  The platform allows you to input your measurements, then supplies you with a complete report.  This includes: the material needed, a plan to share with your installer, tools required & important information/advise.

Here, you’ll be provided with everything you need for your deck foundation project, using Techno Metal Post helical piers.  Please keep in mind-the maximum size accepted for a deck is 16'x16'.

How to use this tool?

1. Click on the ABCDeck link (http://abcdeckapp.com)
2. Register
3. Answer three simple questions (height, length and width of your deck)
4. Follow the steps

Key features:

• A rectangular or square shaped screw pile deck, can be attached to the house
• Users will get a list of materials needed, with the exact dimensions of all pieces
• The deck plans and related info, are kept in your client account for later revision
• There are numerous links to the Techno Metal Post website, that allows users to understand the advantages of using helical piers as deck footings
• You can easily locate a certified Techno Metal Post installer near you

Helical pier foundations are used regularly in the construction industry, to support the load capacity of heavy materials.  Screw piles are chosen, depending on soil type and the weight of the structure needing the support…rendering it durable for years to come.

 

Helical piers & ground beams?

It's well known that ground beams are often used in lightweight building foundations, when the ground load-bearing capacity is at a low depth (0 cm to 90 cm).  Sometimes we do encounter sites that are made up of layers of lesser carrying capacity.  In those cases, a Techno Metal Post helix pier may be the best solution to avoid:

• Excessive Digging
• Managing soil excavation and transport
• Trench water pumping

 

Why are they used with ground beams?

If the ground conditions require the foundation to be deeper than one meter (example: low bearing capacity of the soil, presence of clay or a high-water table), our helical piers are the best solution.  This ensures the foundation will sit on proper ground with the appropriate bearing load.

Our specialized machines install the Techno Metal Post by rotating it into the ground then reading the ground bearing capacity.  The setup is complete when the correct depth and required bearing load is attained… Simple and efficient!

Once that is done, our certified installer cuts off the top of the steel shaft to the correct height.  Afterwards, a top plate is installed, making it possible to solidify the Techno Metal Posts with the ground beam.

We're a little biased, and think Techno Metal Post helical piers may even be a ground beam contractor’s “best friend”.

 

How does the helical pier work?

Once the ground beam and helical pier have been joined, the accumulated live and dead loads, will be transferred across to the depth and layer of bearing capacity.  This way, the building can be assembled on the ground beam as planned.  Techno Metal Posts helical piers, made of steel, are considered a prefabricated foundation alternative to many contractors.

They consist of:

• A load-bearing support plate, that connects to the structure.  They are available in several models and sizes to accommodate different dimensions or materials
• A central shaft which transfers loads from the top plate to the helical section
• One or more helical pieces welded near the base of the shaft, which is the bearing load part of the screw pile

Under the rotating effect, the helix penetrates the soil and practically no material is ejected.  The shaft of the Techno Metal Posts can be extended if necessary, using welded extensions down to the desired ground bearing level.  The size of the shafts and the helical parts are designed by our engineering team, according to the ground conditions and the load to be supported.

 

Advantages of using helical piers with ground beams:

 

Simple and quick

Our piers are installed by our certified installers, using proprietary hydraulic machines.  This allows them to immediately start building, without the hassles of digging and managing large trenches.

 

Limited excavation and low footprint

Techno Metal Post has developed a range of hydraulic machines dedicated entirely to the installation of screw piles.  They are all designed to perform rigorous and reliable work, and in most cases, no extra excavation is necessary for common residential projects.

 

Strong, solid & steadfast

They are designed according to the highest engineering and quality standards.  And so, their capacity to support heavy loads is guaranteed.  Techno Metal Posts are compliant with the UKCA, BBA and LABC certifications.

We consider them the best complementary solution for ground beam foundations.  For many years they have been used to support them, assuring a solid infrastructure is in place for your building projects.

Contact your nearest installer for more information and an affordable solution to your construction needs.

 

The Techno Metal Post team is proud to announce the arrival of a new dealership in the US network. Nathan Menkin recently joined our family by founding TMP of Austin. Nate decided to get into the helical pile business to offer an alternative solution to how things were currently being done in his area, i.e., pile driving in general.

Nate, who also owns ATX Lakescapes, a boat dock and boat lift remodeling company, lives in Leander, Texas with his wife Victoria and their 3 children.

Nate was born and raised in the state of Texas. He grew up with the passion of playing football and made it all the way to the NFL. He was an offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans. Later in his career Nate also played football in the Canadian Football League. His time in Canada, not to mention the bonds he made with his teammates, was a factor when it came time to reach out to Techno Metal Post about the possibility of starting a dealership.

Techno Metal Post would like to thank Nate and Victoria for their trust and confidence and the opportunity to expand the TMP technology in the state of Texas.

The entire TMP team would like to welcome them and wishes them all the best with their dealership!

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 piers have simplified foundation building, not only in the design, but also the construction process.

 

Foundation Design

Techno Metal Post helical piers, 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 pier once installed.  After this is reviewed, they can select the pier 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 pier 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 piers 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 piers.

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 pier foundation can be easily adjusted to factor in this additional force.  Some of the helical piers can be constructed to have a second helix piece.  A battered pier (which means installed at an angle into the slope), can be connected next to the vertical pier 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 pier 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 piers 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 piers, 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 pier receives a final spin and is then locked into position, ensuring security.

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

Techno Metal Post is very happy to welcome Allen Arnold and Carissa Stewart, his fiancé, into the Techno Metal Post family. Together, they will be heading up Techno Metal Post Western Twin Tiers.

A veteran of the US military, Allen has several careers under his belt. He has worked in construction and was a logger for many years before becoming a security guard at the local college. As a security guard, his work eventually led him to more safety training and courses in CPR. This experience piqued his interest into continuing further in the field of health and safety. He and a friend and colleague considered becoming paramedics but decided to pursue nursing instead. His friend dropped out and Allen stayed on, becoming an emergency room nurse, a career he continues to enjoy. He says it is now time for a different chapter and to begin building his own business.

Carissa works as a Patient Access Rep at the same hospital as Allen. As they embark on this new Techno Metal Post adventure together, Carissa will help Allen look after the administration and marketing of their dealership (and maybe even install a pile or two!).

One episode of Holmes and Holmes on HGTV, where they were installing Techno Metal Post helical piles for a deck, was enough to hook Allen. Seeing the technology, he immediately realized, “it was a no-brainer!” and began looking for a Techno Metal Post dealer to install piles for his wrap-around porch. While on the Techno Metal Post website, he noticed the “become a dealer” button at the bottom of the page. He read further and realized he wanted to become a dealer. Carissa said Allen has wanted to have his own business for some time, and now a unique opportunity was presenting itself. Allen said he considered waiting another year before embarking on the venture but with Carissa’s encouragement, they took the leap now. Allen said, “If I start something, I finish it. I am not a quitter.” He decided to seize the moment. “I didn’t want to miss an opportunity that might not come around again…I didn’t want to see some other guy driving around my neighbourhood in a Techno Metal Post truck.”

Allen and Carissa said their week with us was “amazing!” They enjoyed the training and felt it was very thorough. Both completed all parts of the training, including the welding portion. Carissa says she wants to learn and do as much as possible so that she can answer clients’ questions. There was also a “Techno Metal Post First”: Allen managed to break Max’s sledgehammer during the sledgehammer test. There was lots of laughter, as well as many questions while they were here. Allen and Carissa were really taken with “with how happy everyone is.” And Allen was impressed with the fact that all our piles and equipment are made right here at our Techno Metal Post base in Thetford Mines. “It shows real commitment to this company.”

Allen and Carissa will continue working in their respective fields, as they get Techno Metal Post Western Twin Tiers off the ground. Allen said his first order of business as a new dealer is to install the piles for his own porch. “It’s the best advertising! And I won’t cover the piles either. Let everyone see that I use the product.” Some final reflections before heading back home, Allen said “I am nervous, but no longer afraid.” He knows he has been well-trained and will be well-supported in this new adventure.

Techno Metal Post Central New York is one of the latest (and youngest) dynamic teams to join Techno Metal Post. Ryan Suwek and Travis Eberley – who have known each other since 6th grade – have teamed-up to create Techno Metal Post Central New York and recently spent a week training with us in Thetford Mines.

At only 22 years old, Ryan has already been in the construction industry for almost 10 years. He graduated with a college degree in Construction Management where he studied both commercial and residential construction. Two years ago, he started his own company. Ryan also has a close connection to Quebec: his father is from Montreal and had a long hockey career here as well as in the US.

Ryan’s great love is also hockey and he played junior ‘AAA’ hockey with the Syracuse Stars, and then went on to the US National development program. Unfortunately, a serious knee injury ended that dream, so he turned his career trajectory to his other passion: construction, building his career and business, and now venturing into the world of Techno Metal Post “has filled the void,” he says.

After high school, Travis Eberley headed south to work as a landscaper in southwest Florida. After a year and a half in the sun, he returned to New York and worked as a commercial roofer for a year. A background in landscaping and roofing, Travis also gained experience in carpentry working summer jobs in high school. And since teaming up with Ryan this past year, Travis says his buddy has taught him a great deal about construction.

In their spare time, Ryan and Travis do some woodworking on the side. Though, as a young entrepreneur, Ryan says he has very little spare time left. Travis likes to enjoy the outdoors, snowboarding in the Adirondack mountains, snowmobiling, and hunting. However, he says now that he and Ryan are opening up Techno Metal Post Central New York, “I’ll be joining the same (time) boat as Ryan.”

Although Ryan had learned about helical piers in college and had read about them in construction journals, he had yet to discover Techno Metal Post helical piers. He and Travis were introduced to them when they were hired to build a 1000 sq. ft deck in the Old Forge area. It was their biggest project, to date. The client had asked for a helical pier foundation system, and the piers were being installed by Paul Ritz of Techno Metal Post Adirondack. Ryan knew Paul and when he and Travis arrived on site, they were very happy and relieved that they “wouldn’t have to be digging holes!” Having built their deck on Paul’s Techno Metal Post helical piers, Ryan and Travis were hooked. After this experience, they decided they wanted to go into business together and establish a Techno Metal Post dealership in their own region, Central New York.

Ryan and Travis had a great week of training with us, saying it was very “thorough and interesting.” They appreciated covering all the multiple aspects of a Techno Metal Post dealership: “We learned so much about the products, marketing, and technical aspects of the business.” The guys were also very impressed with the depth of the engineering presentation. When it came time to do the installation training, Ryan said, “Max would not let us put a post in the ground unless it was 100% plumb. We learned to take pride in the fact that it’s not how fast you install the post, it’s the quality of the install.” At the end of the week, both Ryan and Travis expressed their appreciation of being so “welcomed in as a part of the Techno Metal Post family.” They now plan to grow their business “as well as grow our reputation built on a quality installation of a quality product.”

 

Bracket with screw sets

 

 

The pile cap, otherwise known as the plate (fixed or adjustable) sits directly on the shaft below it.  The 4 set screws will be bolted and tightened, with a minimum of 15 ft-lb of torque using a hexagonal key.  For the adjustable cap, a fifth screw needs to be installed, to prevent lateral movement of the threaded rod.

 

Bracket with self-drilling screws

 

A sleeve is attached to the shaft of the pile using self-drilling screws (a minimum of two or three screws is required, see below).  Techno Metal Post recommends using the following product or equivalent:

• UCAN (model TRH 12114K5) self-drilling screws (or any equivalent brand);
• Size 12-24;
• Length 1.25” (32 mm);
• Drill point #5 in galvanized steel.

The allowable uplift resistance varied (lb) between the pile cap and the pile during the laboratory test.

 

UCAN Self-drilling Screws Allowable uplift resistance (lb) between the pile cap and the pile
Screw size	Point	Resistance for 2 screws	Resistance for 3 screws	Resistance for 4 screws
12-24	#5	2 000 lb	3 000 lb	4 000 lb

 

Please note that for deck piles and building additions, we recommend using a minimum of 2 self-drilling screws.  For piles supporting a structure with a roof and no floor (carport, pergola, etc.), we recommend using a minimum of 3 self-drilling screws.  The connection of the supported infrastructure may limit the uplifting force.

The use of an adjustable pile cap must be avoided for free-standing structures with a roof (carport, pergola, etc) given the presence, of greater lateral and uplift loads.

 

Stephen Angus has recently joined Techno Metal Post by creating Techno Metal Cambridge! Well… to tell the truth, Stephen was already a Techno Metal post Certified Installer and, a few months ago, he decided to create his own business dedicated to the helical pile. His new dealership is based on his knowledge and experience in the construction industry. Stephen will be supported by his wife Lauren, who will assist him with the various business communications with their customers.