Quickscrews
Quickscrews Cabinet Install Screws
Built for strength and precision, Quickscrews Cabinet Install Screws are the go-to choice for professional cabinet installers. Designed specifically for cabi...
$169
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What Are Screw Piles?
Screw piles, or helical piers, are a type of foundation system. This method of supporting a structure has been around since the 1800s - which hints at their long lifespan. They're essentially giant galvanized steel shafts with screw-like flanges. To install screw piles, they are twisted into the ground to a depth that the torque required to turn them indicates proper soil bearing capacity.
Usually, installation extends to just below the frost line. They can sometimes even extend to hundreds of feet down, depending on soil conditions.
These piers can be driven into most types of ground. However, if solid bedrock is encountered, it requires some pre-drilling, which will add to your cost. Stony soils are okay, but sometimes you might hit a large enough rock to have to start the process all over again and reposition the screw.
What's the Difference Between Screw Piles and Concrete Piers?
Now some of you may say that's a hefty price to pay for a single pier, and you might be right. But consider concrete piers for comparison. These are another common pier wherein a hole is dug, and concrete poured. Concrete piers are likely the most commonly used alternative for backyards and other pier applications.
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How Do Screw Piles Impact the Environment?
Most of the embodied energy that goes into making helical piers stems from the harvesting and manufacturing process, and a bit in transportation. They're typically made from steel and coated with zinc and require sources of high heat. One advantage is that waste from this manufacturing process is quite low and mostly from offcuts. That said, the overall embodied energy for helical piers is relatively small.
How Long Do Screw Piles Last?
Durability and longevity are also critical to the helical pier's low impact. These products typically last a very long time. Their durability is, of course, dependent on the quality of the pier and the soil in which it is placed.
How Might Screw Piles Impact Your Health?
Steel piers have very little to no impact on their surroundings from a health perspective. Typically we'd look at any potential off-gassing from the material or any possible soil contamination in their vicinity. Soil health is also an excellent reason to pick a galvanized finish over a painted one.
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