Helical Piles for Quick Timberframe Project

I'm about to build a roundwood timberframe harvest processing pavilion that will also house a SIP structure for dehydrating.  Thinking of using our own eastern redcedar posts in-ground for the timberframe and helical piles as footers for the sip structure.

Anyone want to tell me how you think the screw piles will work out?  Or talk me out of it?  I'm primarily designing around cost, expedience, and ecological impact.

I am a big fan of helical piles if you can drive them without hitting rock. But make sure you have a plan B in case you do.

R Scott wrote:I am a big fan of helical piles if you can drive them without hitting rock. But make sure you have a plan B in case you do.

Good to hear, thanks R.

I think I'm safe from rock at this location.

Have you used the engineered ones that are machine-driven?  Or the hand-driven DIY ones?  Or both?

Only used the diy versions. I have talked to contractors that used the commercial ones, but they don’t meet code a lot of places yet because code still specifies concrete footers specifically.

Beau, what size building do you have in mind?

I used 8' DIY helical piles for the front edge foundation of a 12x26' sunroom. The rear was attached to the house. They had a screw type height adjustment for levelling which was nice. Overall they worked well. They also met Code.

I recall the company I bought them from mentioned that with some cheaper brands, the welds would sometimes fail when stressed. But that was from a sales guy 16 years ago, so I don't know if that's a concern now.

I suspect that with commercial piles, the truck has the power to push through hard layers that would stop a DIY installation.

John C Daley wrote:Beau, what size building do you have in mind?

I use salvaged SIP remnants from a local manufacturer, so final design & dimensions are somewhat dependent on what they have available.  But I am thinking:

8x12 footprint
8- to 10-foot height (2/12 drop)
8-in OSB clad sip floor & roof
5-in OSB clad sip walls
Eastern redcedar structure under floor, fixed to the piles

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:I used 8' DIY helical piles for the front edge foundation of a 12x26' sunroom. The rear was attached to the house. They had a screw type height adjustment for levelling which was nice. Overall they worked well. They also met Code.

I recall the company I bought them from mentioned that with some cheaper brands, the welds would sometimes fail when stressed. But that was from a sales guy 16 years ago, so I don't know if that's a concern now.

I suspect that with commercial piles, the truck has the power to push through hard layers that would stop a DIY installation.

Good to know they worked out well for you and are still performing, Douglas.