Screw Pile Foundations

What Are Screw Piles?

Screw piles (also called helical piles) are steel shafts with helical plates welded to the bottom. They're driven into the ground using specialized hydraulic equipment mounted on an excavator. As the pile rotates into the soil, the helical plates pull it downward and anchor it into load-bearing ground below the frost line.

Once installed, screw piles provide a stable, frost-resistant foundation point. Steel brackets are attached to the top of each pile, and your building's structure connects directly to those brackets. The result is a foundation that won't shift, heave, or crack - even through Peace Region freeze-thaw cycles.

Advantages Over Concrete Foundations

• Faster Installation: A typical residential pile field can be installed in one to two days, compared to weeks for a poured concrete foundation.
• Year-Round Installation: Screw piles can be driven into frozen ground. No waiting for spring thaw or warm weather to pour concrete.
• No Curing Time: You can build on screw piles immediately after installation. Concrete requires days or weeks to cure before loading.
• Minimal Site Disturbance: No large excavation required. The equipment drives piles with minimal impact to your lot.
• Frost Resistant: Piles are driven below the frost line and anchored into undisturbed soil, eliminating frost heave issues common with shallow foundations.

Pile Sizes We Install

We install a range of screw pile sizes to match your project's engineering requirements:

• 3.5" diameter piles - ideal for decks, small shops, and lighter structures
• 4.5" diameter piles - suited for homes, large shops, commercial buildings, and industrial applications

Helix sizes are selected based on soil conditions and load requirements. Every installation is engineered for your specific project.

Applications

Screw piles work for almost any structure that needs a solid foundation:

• Shops and garages
• Custom homes
• Modular and manufactured homes
• Decks and patios
• Commercial buildings
• Industrial equipment pads
• Solar arrays

KB's Advantage: Piles + Building From One Contractor

Most pile installers drive the piles and leave. You then need to hire a separate builder for the structure. With KB Construction, we install the piles and build the structure on top - one contractor, one schedule, one point of accountability. This means better coordination, fewer delays, and a foundation that's designed to work perfectly with the building going on top of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep do screw piles go?
Depth varies by soil conditions. In the Peace Region, piles are typically driven 10 to 25 feet to reach below the frost line and into stable, load-bearing soil. Every installation is torque-monitored to confirm adequate bearing capacity.

How many piles do I need?
That depends on your building's size, weight, and design. A typical 30x40 shop might need 12 to 16 piles. We work from engineered drawings to determine exact quantities and placement.

Can you install in winter?
Yes. This is one of the biggest advantages of screw piles. Our equipment drives through frozen ground without issue. Many of our clients choose winter installation specifically to get ahead of their spring building schedule.

Do screw piles meet building code?
Yes. Screw pile foundations are an accepted foundation type under the BC Building Code and the National Building Code of Canada. All our installations are engineered and certified.

Service Areas

We proudly serve the entire Peace Region including Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Grande Prairie, Chetwynd, Hudson's Hope, Tumbler Ridge, and surrounding areas.