Step-by-step instructions for installing piles

For a reliable foundation, it's important not only to select the correct pipes but also to install the screw piles correctly. This is performed only after preliminary preparation, which includes:

•  test soil drilling;
• calculations;
• selecting piles of the required diameter and length;
• preparing a site layout plan.

Before installation, it's important to pay attention to the quality of the pile supports. They should be factory-made, have an anti-corrosion coating, and be made of high-grade steel. It's important to select them according to the soil characteristics and the future structure.

Screw Pile Installation Methods

The choice of screw pile installation method depends on financial capabilities, access roads, the location of the pile foundation, soil type, and the time of year. If access to the site is difficult or the piles are to be installed in water, the manual method is the only suitable method. In situations where the foundation needs to be installed as quickly as possible, a mechanical method is preferable. We'll explore the specifics of both installation options.

It's important to remember that even when choosing a specific installation method, there are many different types of tools that can be used. In any case, these should be professional tools, not household appliances, which won't provide sufficient precision and reliability.

Manual Installation

For manual installation of screw piles, a special tool or crowbar is purchased, along with metal rods that are threaded through the machined holes and used as levers for screwing. A mounting head is also used as a reliable working tool that allows for optimal load distribution during installation. It is attached directly to the pile and secured with a pin, and has two handles for screwing in the supports.

Among the advantages of the manual method are:

• use in any conditions – without access, working in water;
• low cost – savings on equipment rental;
• the ability to install the piles yourself;
• a minimal set of tools required for the job.

This method is suitable for any construction project, but it does have its drawbacks. Compared to mechanized installation, manual screwing takes much longer. It's also more difficult to control the verticality of the pile pipe. The margin of error can be quite large and must be constantly checked with a special device. If the soil is sufficiently dense, difficulties may arise during the work, including the impossibility of fully screwing the pipes to the required depth.

Mechanical Installation

Mechanical installation of screw piles requires the use of specialized equipment. In this case, before starting work, the site is cleared of debris, shrub and tree roots, and an access area for the equipment is created.

This method allows for the installation of pile posts several times faster than manual installation. Furthermore, the high torque of this equipment allows for the screw to be driven into even the densest soil. It's worth noting that when using reinforced piles or structures with a large diameter, it is difficult to avoid using a drilling rig, as manual screwing requires a great deal of force.

The main drawback of mechanical installation is its high cost, but if this expense is included in the budget, this method helical pile attachment is a safe choice. It's also worth considering that in some areas, access for equipment may be challenging due to the lack of a paved or cleared road.

Pile Installation Instructions

Regardless of the installation method, specific instructions must be followed when installing screw piles. Each method has its own unique requirements.

The technical specifications of the support piles should also be considered. The larger the diameter of the pile, the more likely it is that specialized equipment will be required. This equipment varies significantly and is selected by the specialists who will be performing the installation.

Manual Installation

Manual installation begins with digging shallow holes at the locations of the future supports, pre-marked with special pegs during foundation layout. The holes are usually made with a shovel or a special auger.

The next step in installing screw piles is inserting the bladed supports into the prepared holes and gradually tightening them clockwise. Typically, three people are needed to complete this procedure: two of them screw in the pile from different directions, while the third checks the verticality of the installation.

The pile must be screwed in until it is fully installed and reaches the dense soil layers. Once the procedure is complete, the verticality of the structure is checked again using a special tool—a metal tape measure, a plumb line, or a level.

Mechanical Installation

Before starting the installation of screw piles, the installation site is prepared. Then, depending on budget, accessibility, and other factors, suitable equipment is selected. Most often, specialized equipment is used, including a wheeled platform, a support system, a working tool that is mounted on the pile to ensure its screwing in, and a control panel.

Mechanical pile installation involves the following steps:

•        preparing the support installation site;

•        securing the working tool to the pile;

•        lifting the pipe with the attached rotary tool and positioning it at the installation point;

•        starting the screw-in process;

•        monitoring the installation speed and vertical position of the pile.

Thanks to the force transmitted by the equipment to the pile support, its installation is extremely fast.

Mechanical pile installation can be accomplished with as few as two people. One operates the equipment, and the other monitors the support's deflection as it is driven into the ground. With this installation method, even severe frosts will not be an obstacle, because the power of the equipment will allow the blade pipe to be screwed into frozen soil without any problems.