Submit our quick form and get quotes now!
4 min read
4 min read
Exterior renovationsDeck Piles: A Sturdy Solution
Are you planning on building a deck in your backyard, but aren’t sure which type of foundation to install? Your patience has been rewarded! Have you ever thought of piles? It’s a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and simple solution, one that’s been developed by a Quebec-based company that’s also a global market leader.
The advantages are, first and foremost, technical:
Fast installation (few minutes)
Devoid of excavation
Not weather dependent
Project adapted piles (size, amount of helical blades, etc.)
Longer lifespan
There are also environmental benefits since the piles are:
less concrete intensive;
installed with biodegradable fluids; and
recyclable.
Wooden piles have, for a while now, taken a back seat to concrete piles. At times, galvanized steel piles will prevail, and on other occasions, the front runners may be piles made from a clever mix of the two.
The superiority of concrete piles isn’t simply on account of freeze cycles that damage wooden piles, but on account of the following three reasons:
Easier manufacturing process
Greater durability
Better resilience
As such, being made to choose between wooden piles or concrete ones, one might as well opt for a top-tier product, meaning concrete.
Techno Metal Posts is a Quebec-based company that promises a straightforward pile installation. With over 100 employees, scattered between five production plants, their goal is to turn this pledge into a reality, day in, day out.
This global leader in screw piles allows you to build decks on solid ground. Since this technology is Quebec-based, it’s perfectly suited to the province’s unique constraints, such as:
Clay soils
Frost level
Freeze-thaw cycles
The technology used is rather straightforward: screwing helical piles as per the mandated depth.
To hold up, a screw pile’s last helical blade must be surrounded, top and bottom, by soil possessing an adequate bearing capacity. In the majority of the inhabited regions in our province, the piles must pierce expansive clay soils to find stable ground.
Therefore, some construction projects require piles to be driven 12’ 6” (3.65 m) into the ground, while others solely mandate 8’ (2.40 m).
It all depends on the deck in question. If the deck is anchored to the house by one of its sides, the foundation won’t have to bear the lateral load. As such, the piles may be smaller in size and number.
If the deck isn’t attached to an existing structure, the number of piles needed spikes, much like their diameter. To gauge the amount of piles to install, the deck builder will carry out an analysis, which they will then submit to Techno Metal Posts’ engineering services.
From there, the engineers will assess the number of piles needed based on the following:
Soil type
Deck size
Location (freestanding or anchored to a structural component)
Surrounding environment (height of phreatic zone, near a body of water)
However, in theory, to form a solid base, the piles must be 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 m) apart.
Based on the rule above-mentioned, to ensure each and every pile is 8 feet apart, you’ll need at least 8 of them.
Still based on the rule that there must be 8 feet of spacing between each pile, you’ll need at least 6 piles to build a foundation that’s strong enough to bear the load of your deck.
Several factors come into play when it comes to screw pile installation costs:
Pile length
Helical blade size
One or several helical blades
Quality of steel used
This choice ultimately depends on the type of soil onto which the deck will be built, as well as its size. If you’ve already perused our article about screw pile foundations, you already know that:
fine-grained soil (clay, silt) requires a more significant spacing between the helical blades; and
coarse-grained soil (gravel, sand) doesn’t mandate such a significant spacing.
Therefore, the piles' unique characteristics, as well as their overall costs, will determine the compressive strength of the foundation.
A Sonotube pile is a cylindrical, cardboard-made forming tube. It's driven into a hole in the exact spot where a deck pile will be later installed. Then, concrete is poured inside to form a solid foundation.
To ensure you’re proceeding as you should, use at least 20 cm (8 in) wide tubes. That way, you can reap the following benefits:
Lightweight
Straightforward installation
Transportation-friendly
What’s for sure is that a deck on helical piles comes out as an unwavering solution, combining strength and durability, creating an outdoor living space capable of withstanding the test of time. By embracing this approach, you’re not only investing in structural stability, but also peace of mind, ensuring a robust and reliable lounge area for years to come. Opt for safety and durability with a pile-supported deck, a solution that’s redefining sturdiness in a world of outdoor living spaces.
RenoQuotes.com can help you get quotes from a general contractor. By submitting your project, we’ll put you in contact with top-rated contractors. Fill in the form on the homepage (it only takes a few minutes) and get estimates from trusted professionals.
Last modified 2024-04-17
The latest industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources.
N/A • 07 Nov 2023
A well-loved home may be cozy and comfortable, but depending on how well-loved it has become, an old home can be rough around edges and surfaces as well as behind walls and above ceilings.
N/A • 07 Nov 2023
With city populations growing rapidly, and space becoming dense and limited, many are choosing to live in a townhouse or condo in lieu of more traditional housing choices. There are plenty of benefits to townhouse and condo living, but what are the rules and regulations for those interested in renovating?
RenoQuotes.com • 06 Feb 2024
Should you be lacking inspiration when it comes to planning your home improvement project, there is no reason to put so much pressure on yourself because you are definitely not alone in the boat! That is why, nowadays, there are several different platforms on the internet that are dedicated to providing different inspirational ideas for any given project.
Amanda Harvey • 07 Nov 2023
After living in your home for some time, it’s normal to long for a change. If you’re not looking to make a huge move or take on something complicated, then you should consider smaller renovation projects. There are rooms you spend a lot of time in, and the kitchen is one of them. Specifically, many homeowners grow tired of their kitchen cabinets; the colour, the finish, or both. Luckily, through a process called “refacing,” you can offer your cabinets a second chance without investing in a whole new set.
Amanda Harvey • 19 Apr 2024
Showering, bathing, hair drying and moist towels hanging from every fixture; all the activities that take place in the bathroom breed humidity.