Screw piles for fences began to be used quite recently. The scope of application of such a support is quite wide.
This is a universal design that allows it to be used as a foundation support for houses, bridges and various engineering structures.
Among other things, the construction of fences on screw piles.
What is a screw pile
The supporting structure is a metal pipe with a screw end. The screw tip with blades is a cone, which is made either solid or welded. The blades can have a diameter of 180 mm or more.
The pipe itself can be of varying lengths from 1.5 m to 10 meters. The thickness of the metal of the pile and screw varies from 3.5 mm or more. Also, the diameter of the pipe itself can be 57 mm, 108 mm or more.
The thickness of the pipe wall will be greater, the larger its diameter and length. The minimum wall thickness of the pile core is 3.5 mm.
When purchasing screw supports special attention You need to pay attention to the quality of the anti-corrosion coating. In this regard, the best piles are galvanized.
Pile length
The lower end of the pile must extend beyond the freezing level The depth of soil freezing and the groundwater level determine the length of the pile. The screw tip of the stand must be immersed to a depth below the freezing thickness of the ground and the groundwater level by 0.5 meters.
The sum of the length of the underground part and the above-ground height of the support will be the total length of the pile.
Its load-bearing capacity depends on the diameter of the rack. This can be seen from the table below:
Dependence of load-bearing capacity on the diameter of the rack
| Pipe diameter | Soil foundation | Scope of application | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57 mm | Up to 800 kg | Waterlogged soil | Fences, light outbuildings |
| 89 mm | Up to 1.4 tons | Wet and peaty soils | Fences, garages, piers, small cottages |
| 108 mm | Up to 3.5 tons | Any soil except rocky soil | Heavy fences, log houses |
| 133 mm | Up to 6 tons | Any soil except rocky soil | Brick, monolithic houses |
Technology for installing screw supports under a fence
Typically, screw piles for a fence are selected with a diameter of 57 mm 108 mm and a length of 3 meters. Using small supports, they install a fence on screw piles with their own hands.
Screw piles under the fence are installed by a team of 3 people. Two workers, using levers made of a small-diameter metal pipe, screw the pile into the ground. The third worker, using a plumb line, controls the vertical position of the support. Installing racks does not take much time. During daylight hours, you can stake out a completely small dacha plot.
If conditions require the installation of screw racks of large diameter and length, then special mechanized installations are used.
Types of fences
Corrugated sheeting is a popular material for fencing A fence is a fence around a plot of land to prevent animals and unwanted persons from entering the fenced area. Consider earth fencing made of various materials:
- corrugated sheets, slate, polycarbonate;
- lattice;
- metal mesh;
- wooden fence;
- brickwork;
- fence made of foam blocks.
Corrugated sheeting, slate, polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is mounted with special screws Sheet material for a fence made of screw piles is used when it is necessary to make the fencing of a land plot blank.
The runs between the supports are usually 1.5 or 2 meters. Round steel clamps with threaded ends are welded to the posts. The ends of the clamps are threaded into the holes of sheet material (corrugated sheets, slate, polycarbonate). Galvanized nuts are screwed onto the threads, and rubber and metal washers are first placed on them. There are other ways to attach fencing sheets.
Installing a fence on square screw piles is convenient because the support body fits as tightly as possible to the fence sheet. This greatly simplifies the mounting design. Square screw piles are welded from two parts: an underground pipe and an above-ground square post.
The fence on screw piles made of polycarbonate has a beautiful appearance. But we must take into account the fact that due to the high cost of the fencing material, the fence will cost the developer a considerable amount.
Lattice
A grid of metal squares and strips is made in specialized workshops. The lattice fencing is welded to the metal pipes of the supports.
To ensure that fences on stilts of this type last for many years, they are painted every two seasons.
Metal mesh
Chain-link mesh is a woven cellular product made of round wire with a diameter of 1.8 to 2 mm. The mesh is wear-resistant, easy to install and inexpensive fencing. For fencing, it is best to use galvanized mesh. Such a fence on screw piles will last for many years without painting. With timely care of the fence, a mesh fence can last 50 years. Detailed analysis For installation of a chain-link fence, watch this video:
Galvanized wire is threaded through the upper cells of the chain-link
When the mesh height is 2 meters or more, it is attached to horizontal purlins made of metal profile below and at a height of 1.5 m. Galvanized wire is threaded through the upper cells.
There is another option for chain-link fencing. These are welded frames from the 35th angle, the openings of which are filled with mesh. The mesh, in turn, is welded around the entire perimeter of the frame.
Such a fence will cost more than the previous version. But in the aesthetic perception of fencing made of frame structures with mesh, chain-link significantly outperforms other types of fences on stilts.
On summer cottages with vegetable gardens, the mesh fence will not create shadows on the beds.
Wooden fence
Fence structures made from wooden panels are attractive due to their ease of installation and low cost.
Fence posts made from square screw piles are very convenient for attaching wooden panels. Fastening units are made using bolted connections.
Wooden panels are made from smoothly planed boards and timber. Wooden structures are thoroughly impregnated with antiseptics, covered with drying oil and then painted with oil paint.
Wooden fencing is periodically painted - once every two years. This will protect wooden structures from harmful insects and the effects of precipitation.
Brickwork
For fencing made of brickwork the foundation is made of powerful screw supports of large diameter. The base for the masonry is made of reinforced concrete beams or a channel with a wide flange.
The width of the brickwork corresponds to the width of the base Industrial crossbars and window lintels can be used as a supporting base. Finished reinforced concrete products are welded to metal racks using embedded parts and pieces of reinforcement. The fastening points are then concreted.
In some cases concrete base for brickwork is prepared by filling formwork with a reinforced frame with liquid concrete mortar. The disadvantage of this method is the seasonality of wet processes and long term construction.
The base must match the width of the brickwork. The screw support is covered with bricks, forming square columns.
To protect the top ends metal supports, they are covered with metal caps in the form of cones.
Foam block fence
Under the fence made of foam blocks, a base is prepared that is the same as for the support of brickwork. Foam blocks can only be used from waterproof material. Foam blocks are advantageous because they are much lighter than brick. They are easy to paint and look beautiful. To learn how to lay a fence from foam blocks, watch this popular video:
Fencing on screw piles is attractive because the supports can be installed in a short time, regardless of the time of year. Due to their versatility, metal racks are convenient to install in areas with large differences in elevation.
Construction technologies do not stand still. It would seem that just recently screw piles began to be used only for laying foundations, but today they have already entered the line of the most popular materials for the manufacture of fences and enclosures.
- Durability.
- Reliability.
- Manufacturability.
Those who happened to make tape or columnar foundations for the foundation of the fence, they know how much work has to be done when performing excavation work, making formwork and concreting.
Let's add here considerable financial investments: sand, gravel, cement, formwork. There is also a large time investment. Installing screw piles for a fence quickly and economically solves all problems.
Fact: fences made using screw piles are the most reliable and durable.
What are screw piles?
As the name suggests, piles are a hollow metal pipe with threads. More often, screw piles have blades instead of threads in order to be more securely anchored in the ground.
Sometimes you can see a combined design - threads reinforced with blades. This type of pile is suitable for heavy rocky soils. A pile with two blades is considered more reliable, since the pressure on the pipe is distributed evenly.
To make the foundation of the fence, piles of three sizes are used:
- Diameter 89 millimeters.
- Diameter 78 millimeters.
- And even with a diameter of 57 millimeters.
Important: choose the diameter of the trunk depending on the soil on your site and the material with which the base of the fence will be sheathed.
To erect a fence, screw piles with a welded tip are used for different types soil:
- for rocky soils, a screw pile with double
blades; - for any type of soil (except sand and peat) – with
open tip; - for sand and peat - with a closed tip.
Attention: welded piles are not suitable for building the foundation of a house - for heavy loads you should choose cast piles.
Depending on the diameter and length of the pile, their price is set. For example, a 2.5-meter long pile with a diameter of 89 mm is almost twice as expensive as a 57-mm paper: its price ranges from 2,300 to 2,600 rubles.
It is irrational to purchase welded piles with double blades for the construction of a fence on ordinary soils - their price is much higher.
Note: If you can install the piles yourself, with the help of a partner, you can save up to 50 percent on the cost of the fence.
As a rule, the cost of installing a support, which is offered by construction companies using special mechanisms, is equal to the cost of the material itself. In addition to this, you will have to pay several thousand rubles more for soil testing on the site.
Without preliminary research, serious specialized companies do not begin installing piles.
Advantages of screw piles
The most important problem that the owner of an individual plot faces is that fence posts, even concrete ones, begin to “play” with the soil when it freezes and then thaws.
Most often, the movement of the supports occurs unevenly, the fence warps and its cladding is deformed, which requires repair work.
Fact: a concrete pillar buried one meter into the ground and with a diameter of up to 25 centimeters is subject to a buoyancy force of several tons. Screw piles are not subject to climatic and seasonal changes.
Screw piles, easily entering the soil, do not violate the integrity of the soil, have a smaller area of adhesion to the frozen ground - they are not affected by buoyant force.
Main advantages:
- ease of installation - no production required
earthworks and concrete works, special mechanisms, it can be
install at any time of the year, including winter; - high strength - each pile is capable of
withstand a load of several tons; - reliability - the fence can stand without repairs
more than a hundred years; (!) - simple dismantling and relocation of the fence;
- versatility - they can be installed on any
soils, in swampy areas.
There is only one drawback to note about the installation pile foundation for fencing - relatively expensive if special equipment is used. But you can eliminate this disadvantage by doing the work manually.
Do-it-yourself installation of screw piles
We calculate the number of piles that will be used to install the fence foundation, based on a distance of 2.5 meters. It is permissible to install piles at a distance of three meters from each other, but no more!
We make markings along the perimeter of the future fence. In the places where the piles are screwed in, we make small depressions in the ground - this will help you accurately place the piles on the site.
As a rule, a screw pile is screwed into the ground to a depth of at least one and a half meters. To screw it into the ground, you should make a lever from a long pipe. The larger the lever arm, the easier the pile will enter the ground. The optimal length of each shoulder is more than two meters.
This work must be done by two people. Important! From the very first centimeters of screwing in the pile, you should monitor the level of the vertical support. If this rule is violated, all the work will have to be redone.
The permissible vertical deviation of the pile should not exceed one to two centimeters if there is no more than half a meter of screw pile on the surface.
Screw piles for fences. We invite you to watch this video at the end of the article.
Fence installation
Depending on the length of the pile, which is located on the surface, we carry out further installation of the fence base.
There are two options for working here.
If the pile was originally 3 meters long, then we begin to attach horizontal guides directly to it. They can be welded to posts or attached using hardware. In this case, metal corners are welded to the support.
If only a “stump” up to half a meter high has come to the surface, install it profile pipe(fence post) of smaller diameter than a screw pile. We secure it with screws. For strength, you can weld the lower base along the entire perimeter of the fence.
In this case, the piles that have reached the surface are cut with a grinder to the required height. We close the top of the hollow pile pipe from moisture - it is wiser to fill it with bitumen or securely cover it with roofing felt.
To ensure the stability of the vertical supports and protect them from moisture, you can fill the hollow pipes from the inside with concrete, reinforcing it with pieces of reinforcement. But there is no need to cement the screw piles outside - they are held quite firmly in the ground. The base for your fence is ready.
Any fencing material can be attached to it:
- wooden picket fence;
- chain-link mesh;
- forged sections;
- welded mesh with polymer coating;
- metal profile;
- concrete spans;
- Brick.
- If you live in middle lane, it is necessary to deepen the piles to one and a half to two meters. When screwing the support into the soil, you yourself will understand when the “screw” has found the optimal depth - significant efforts are made to screw it in, the metal begins to deform.
- If you are new to this kind of work, stop at the second option for constructing a foundation for a fence - fence posts are inserted into the pile foundation at a height of 20 - 30 centimeters from the ground. This way, you won't have to achieve perfect verticality of the high supports, which is quite difficult. In addition, it is much easier to screw in a two-meter pipe than one whose length is three meters or more.
- It is better to rotate the piles with three people: two people rotate the lever, the third watches the direction of the pile, making efforts to level it.
- Do not apply excessive force if there is some obstacle in the way of rotation of the pile - you can deform the metal. Perhaps a pebble got under the screw. You can go through the problem area with a drill. Remember that its diameter must be smaller size piles.
- Screw the corner piles first - you will achieve precision in your work and gain the necessary skills for working with screw piles.
You are convinced that it is quite possible for three workers to deepen screw fence posts by hand. Thus, you will save up to half the cost of the fence. By following our advice and being patient, you will make a reliable fence that will last on your property for decades. Good luck with your work!
Video
If you want to become the owner of a fence that is truly durable in design, then a screw fence is ideal for you. Using screw piles for a fence, you will never have problems with its subsidence or warping. It will also be a big plus that you can install it yourself. This will be much cheaper for you than hiring qualified workers.
What are screw piles and how to use them
A metal pipe with a cutting blade at the end that allows it to be screwed into the ground and is a screw pile. You can screw it in either manually or using special equipment. It is important to know that when using screw piles for a fence, they must have a good anti-corrosion coating, and for this they must be treated with special compounds that will allow the structure to last more than 50 years.
Screw piles come in the following types:
- welded;
- having a cast tip;
- having a cast tip with galvanization.
If you want to make a simple fence, then it is better for you to use screw piles for the fence that look like an ordinary metal pipe with a screw blade. If you need a concrete fence, then it is better to take piles with a cast tip, since they usually have a diameter of more than 75 mm. Most often, they are used to strengthen the foundations of various buildings. Its advantage is that, thanks to the cast tip, it can be easily screwed into the ground, even with a large diameter.
Advantages and disadvantages of screw piles
One of the advantages of a fence on screw piles is that there is no soil disturbance, as usually happens when digging a hole, and the piles are perfectly held in the soil by their blades, which cannot be said about many other supports.
- The first thing to note is the fairly quick installation compared to others, thanks to the screw-in process;
- the construction of such a fence will cost you very little, because, if you look at it, all you need is metal pipe and nothing more;
- in comparison with concrete supports, they are very stable in the event of rising groundwater, because they adhere to the ground very well, which cannot be said about concrete supports;
- you can start installation work immediately, and most importantly, this does not require any equipment;
- this can also be done in any weather, and if necessary, the pile can be easily unscrewed and reinstalled in another place.
Screw piles have few disadvantages, but they still exist. Screwing them into rocky soils will naturally be difficult, so it is better not to install them in such places.
Installing a fence on screw piles with your own hands
First you need to decide on the pipes; for the fence, you will need pipes whose length does not exceed 3 m, and half of which will be screwed into the ground. Screws can be square, rectangular or round in cross-section. If you are going to make a fence on loose soil, then the diameter should be larger, but if the soil in the area is hard and dense, then the diameter should be smaller.
It is worth knowing that if you want to install such a pole firmly and reliably, then its end should be smooth and sharp, and its length should be at least 10 cm. Thanks to this, the installation process will be much easier. The thickness of the blade must be at least 8 mm, and it must begin at the pin; moreover, damage to the blades and changes in their original configuration are not allowed.
It is worth remembering that the pipe must fit exactly vertically into the soil. If you are not sure that you can do this yourself, then it is better to buy or rent equipment with which you can control the verticality of the installation. But if you have such an opportunity, we recommend using a collar with a clamp and a plumb line.
Installation work
Installation of a fence on screw piles, first of all, involves the use of the following tools: a plumb line, a cord, a level, a screwdriver, an electric drill, an angle grinder, and a welding machine.
Before starting work, we mark the area and determine the places where the screw piles should be. Before starting work, you should know what the depth of soil freezing is, since the pipe will need to be lowered half a meter lower.
It is important to determine the composition of the soil. To do this, it is necessary to drill a well at the site, 12 m deep, and send it to the laboratory to analyze humidity, freezing depth and other characteristics. In a site with varying soil types, it is best to take several samples in different places.
In the video you can see the technology for producing screw piles with your own hands:
The piles must be screwed in so that the blade is completely in the non-freezing soil. To do this, you need to take into account the depth of the layer that freezes. Screwing should occur evenly, you should constantly monitor for deviations. If there is a deviation of more than 2 degrees, then the pile will have to be unscrewed back and screwed in in another place.
Important! Never screw the pile into the place from which you unscrewed it, as the properties of the soil will be disrupted and its stability will be much lower.
After the pile has been screwed in, at the last stage, it will be necessary to fill it with mortar so that the entire structure is strengthened and there is no possibility of moisture getting in. The solution must be prepared in a ratio of cement and sand - 1:4.
After you have installed all the piles, they need to be cut to the same height. To do this accurately, you can use an optical rangefinder.
A steel plate must be welded at the top of each pile. It is also needed to distribute an even load over the entire area. All welds should also be treated with protective compounds.
Finally, the structure must be tied with a channel or a wooden beam, this is done to increase rigidity. This will also help keep the pile in its original position.
How to calculate parameters
The area is selected according to the standards: if we take a diameter of 300 mm, then the area of five piles will be 706 square meters. cm.
If the bearing capacity of the soil is, for example, 4 kg/sq., then the pile capacity will be from 2.1 to 2.8 tons. Accordingly, in order for screw piles to withstand a load of 26.7 tons, their number should be from 10 to 12 pieces . The dimensions of the supports are determined based on general parameters.
To calculate the pile field, you need to know the rigidity of the grillage beams and proceed from this. If, for the calculation, a grillage is laid from wood or metal, then the distance between the piles will be from 2 to 2.5 meters.
It is worth knowing that if you rely only on your own strength, then screw posts for a fence with your own hands should sink no more than one and a half meters and have a diameter of no more than 76 mm. If the piles are larger in diameter, then there is no way to do this without special equipment.
If you want to make a brick fence on screw piles, then the first thing you will need to do is install a metal or reinforced concrete grillage.
A screw pile can support a weight of up to 8 tons, but this will depend on its diameter. They must be installed at a distance of one and a half to two meters, again depending on the thickness and height of the fence.
An ideal option for cladding a fence is corrugated sheet metal, which is distinguished by its low cost, quality and durability. The design that is best suited for this should best be combined, that is, have a round cross-section in the ground, and, for example, a square one on top. The corrugated sheet is fastened with roofing screws.
After installing the pillars between them, both above and below, metal guides are installed, which are screwed or fastened by welding. It’s up to you to decide which mounting method you choose, but the main thing is the reliability and quality of the fastening.
The bottom rail should be located approximately 30-40 cm from the ground, and the top 30 cm from the top of the post. To be more precise, for a fence made of corrugated sheets you will need pipes with a diameter of 89 mm, but if you build a fence made of stone or brick, you will need to take pipes with a diameter of 108 mm.
Video on installing screw piles:
Screw piles, so popular in dacha construction, can rightfully be called the best option for the construction of fences.
Unlike the geometrically rigid rectangular foundation of a residential building, a long fence is very vulnerable to wind loads. The large “windage” of such a fence increases the risk of sections overturning during strong gusts of wind.
Under the influence of freezing and thawing water, seasonal fluctuations in the soil occur. They not only deform the fence, but also gradually destroy its foundation. This process is especially active on waterlogged and weak soils composed of peat bogs, fine sand and loess soil.
Standard fence construction technologies - strip foundations and concrete pillars in this case cannot guarantee the integrity of the site's fencing. In contrast, screw piles for a fence radically change the situation, giving the structure the necessary rigidity and stability.
The screw tip at the end of the pile not only compacts the soil around it, but also acts as a powerful anchor that prevents the soil from pushing out the post and thereby destroying the fence of the site. For a standard strip foundation, the depth to which piles are usually screwed (1.5-2 meters) is unattainable due to the high cost of the work.
A columnar foundation for a fence that does not have such an “anchor” also cannot be called the best option. Concrete and metal posts do not hold up well in weak and waterlogged soil. In winter, frost heaving of the soil pushes them out, deforming sections of the fence.
Falling post fence
Features of installation technology
An important difference between the technology of installing screw piles and other methods of constructing fences is the absence of concrete and earthworks - lengthy, expensive and labor-intensive.
You do not need to clear the soil surface of vegetation, roots, or dig a deep trench to install the formwork. It is enough to simply pull the beacon cord over the ground surface and mark the installation points of the piles along the intended line.
The depth of screwing in piles in dense soils is selected depending on the depth of freezing. The piles are immersed 50-80 cm below this mark (1.2-2 meters) so that powerful forces frost heaving of the soil did not push them to the surface. For each specific construction region, the depth of soil freezing is indicated in the SNiP table for the foundations of buildings.
On soft soil, the piles under the fence are tightened until the screw meets a dense base on which the stand pipe can rest. Since it is impossible to determine this depth in advance, the design of the pile provides for the possibility of extension by adding new sections.
Another feature of the technology is that screw fence posts can be installed not only manually using a gate, but also using drilling rigs. Manual installation is practiced with small diameter piles (57-76 mm) and shallow immersion (up to 1.5 meters). When using thicker screw piles or if it is necessary to screw them deep into the ground, you should use a mechanized drive.
A distinctive feature of the pile-screw foundation technology is all-season use. At a time when all concrete work freezes before the onset of stable above-zero temperatures, installation of screw piles can be carried out even in December.
If the area is covered with deep snow, it is removed immediately before starting work. If the winter has little snow and the ground is very frozen, then first preparatory (leader) wells are drilled, after which pile racks are screwed into them.
There are few restrictions on the use of screw piles, and the main one is soil with a large number of large and medium-sized stones. When screwing the post under the fence, they become an insurmountable obstacle for the cutting screw. Therefore, before installing piles, specialists always perform a test screwing in in order to determine the mechanical properties of the soil and the possibility of their installation.
When installing a pile fence post, it is very important to control the verticality of its immersion. Otherwise, the load-bearing capacity of the structure will decrease, and appearance the fence will be far from ideal. For precise screwing into the ground, a shallow shaft is first drilled with a hand drill, into which a screw fence post is then lowered.
Wet processes are not used when installing piles with screw tips. Strong cement mortar needed only at the final stage of fence construction. It is used to fill steel pile shafts to prevent atmospheric moisture from entering.
It is impossible to achieve accurate installation of the heads of all piles in the horizontal plane, since each of them is twisted to a different depth. Therefore, after installation is completed, the upper ends of the racks are cut off level.
It is not difficult to determine how beneficial it is to install a fence on screw piles. To do this, it is enough to calculate the costs of constructing a strip concrete foundation and compare it with the cost of installing a pile foundation. The resulting savings, according to reviews from developers, range from 35 to 50%.
Independent installation of a pile foundation under a fence is justified only for small volumes of work and the use of small-diameter posts (no more than 57 mm). Piles of larger diameter are quite difficult to install manually. In such cases, it is better to involve a team of specialists who have special equipment for high-quality and efficient installation.
Approximate cost of screw piles
The price of a screw pile depends on two main parameters - the length and diameter of the trunk. Its wall thickness is 3.5 mm, the diameter of the propeller blade is 18 cm with a metal thickness of 4 mm. The tip for the fence pile is used not cast, but welded to reduce the cost of the product.
The approximate price of a screw rack with a diameter of 57 mm and a length of 3 meters with a protective zinc coating is from 1,100 to 1,200 rubles. They are bought for lightweight fences made of metal mesh or wooden picket fence.
For a bladed pile with a diameter of 76 mm of the same length you will have to pay from 1,300 to 1,500 rubles.
Screw racks with a diameter of 89 mm are sold on the market at prices ranging from 1800 to 2000 rubles. These types of supports are used for fencing made of corrugated sheets.
Brick and stone fences require posts with a diameter of at least 108 mm. Their price ranges from 2,000 to 2,500 rubles for a length of 3 meters.
The technology for constructing a brick fence on a pile basis is not fundamentally different from the method for constructing the walls of a residential building. A reinforced concrete grillage is also made between the piles or a steel channel is welded on which the brick or stonework rests. The load from it is transferred to the pile, which, depending on the diameter, can withstand from 3 to 8 tons of fence weight.
A head is placed on the above-ground part of the pile rack - a steel platform measuring 30 by 30 cm with stiffening ribs. A vertical channel or I-beam is welded in its center - the core of the future brick or stone pillar. Its length can range from 60 cm to 1 meter.
The distance between adjacent screw posts is selected based on the thickness of the brick or stone wall of the fence section. Most often it is in the range from 1.5 to 2 meters.
For the installation of fences made of sheet materials (slate, polycarbonate, corrugated sheets), it is more profitable to use combined screw posts. Their above-ground part is made of a square pipe. It is much more convenient than the round one for attaching purlins.
The trend of recent decades in construction has been special attention to the facade parts of buildings on the site, landscape design and the formation of external finishing elements that meet modern ideas about functionality and aesthetics. The choice of design, installation technology, and material for the fence is among the priority tasks. The fence becomes an external reflection of the taste and status of the home owner. A beautiful fence that does not lose its appearance and strength for a long time is the result of a correctly chosen project and its high-quality implementation. One of the main success factors is the reasonable selection of the supporting frame. This depends not only on the capabilities of the owner of the site, but also on quality indicators soil used in finishing materials.
Advantages and disadvantages of screw piles
Technologies for the construction of support structures have been improved over many centuries. Conventionally, this type of work can be divided into two categories. The first includes the foundation method, when the base is made up of a structure that is solid along the entire perimeter, and the second method involves point fixation of supports. The technology of installing a single support structure has been used for centuries. Technologically, civilization was not ready for the widespread use of structures on stilts, which were used exclusively in regions where no other method was possible. Today, the construction industry allows the use of this method on any soil, in various climatic zones.
Advantages
Practice has shown that in many cases a fence on screw piles is better than a traditional one. Designers and manufacturers offer a complete set of necessary elements to solve this problem. The obvious advantages of the method include:
- Installation speed.
- Minimum tools and equipment.
- No vibration during installation.
- Possibility of use on any soil, except rocky.
- The operation can be performed at any time of the year.
- Strength, ability to hold a structure up to 4 tons per pile.
- No change in the geometry of the structure after installation.
- Long service life.
- Less labor intensive.
- There is no need to level the area and prepare the soil.
- Low weight ensures low labor intensity and ease of transportation.
The listed technical advantages become the basis for the economic benefits of using screw piles. A small number of elements, materials, and their total weight make it possible to assert that the estimated cost of the structure is less than with other methods of installing a fence. If, when laying a foundation, a significant portion of the time and labor costs is excavation work, then in this case it is not necessary to perform it. As a rule, foundations are made by pouring sand-cement mortar. For satisfactory quality of subsequent operations, it is necessary to allow time for the mortar to set and shrinkage of the concrete. Experts recommend waiting at least a week before starting the next installation work. Screw piles are ready for further operations immediately after installation.
Flaws
For moving, weak soils, when it is necessary to make a depth of at least 1 m to ensure the strength of the structure, the option of using a screwed pile looks like a more than worthy alternative. A number of complex technical and financial problems are being solved. However, there are also technical specifications, in which installation of screw piles is difficult or impossible. Rocky soil is an insurmountable obstacle to the use of this method. The advantages include the ability to do the installation yourself without the involvement of additional labor and equipment. This fact makes it attractive to install screw piles not only for a fence, but also as a basis for the main and auxiliary buildings on the site.
But independent decision Using this method without appropriate soil examination may lead to disappointment. Not only the presence of rock layers can affect the strength of the structure. High groundwater and, as a result, mobile soils at a depth greater than usual. Such places are often found in the openings of rivers, lakes, and dried swamps. The peat layer is not the most reliable foundation. In addition, such places are often filled with imported soil. The thickness of the layer can be up to several meters in some areas. Then the length of the underground part of the pile must be increased in the same way as for areas with permafrost - up to 3.5-4 meters.
On our website you can find contacts construction companies who offer the service of building fences and fences. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.
What kind of screw piles are used to install a fence?
The choice of models is based on an understanding of what problems are being solved and what is needed for this. First of all, an analysis of the site is carried out. You can consult with neighbors and property owners located nearby. Information can be obtained from geodetic regional services, where soil maps of the development area are available. Having received real data about quality composition soil, its layers, strength, freezing depth, you can choose piles for the fence of the desired structure. Manufacturers offer a decent range of product lengths. The recommended pipe diameter for wooden, polycarbonate, polymer fencing is at least 55 mm. For metal - 76 mm. A stone fence requires the use of piles with a diameter of more than 100 mm.
The depth to which the pipe must be installed varies depending on the quality of the soil. According to statistics, the stable layer lies 1.7-1.8 m below the surface in most cases. In some regions this figure may be lower, in others higher. The light weight of the fence cannot be a reason for abandoning this rule. Less depth is fraught with dynamic changes in the structure during the first years of operation. Places for installing wickets and gates require reinforcement. When drawing up the project, these piles are taken into account individually. It is recommended to purchase products of a larger diameter for these purposes.
Screw pile tip
When choosing elements of the supporting structure, it is recommended to pay special attention to this aspect. Depending on the quality of the soil, a pipe with a certain type of screw part is selected. The pile tip can be made in various options:
- Cast. For heavy structures.
- Cast tip with galvanization. The most reliable pile with a long service life.
- Welded construction. An inexpensive option with good performance characteristics, suitable for installing a fence.
The latter type is most suitable for lightweight structures. The blades screw well into the ground. After installation, the weight of the fence will not exert critical loads. The cast tip is well suited for high fences and large structures made of bricks and blocks.
Video description
More detailed technical information on using screw piles as a basis for a fence is presented in this video:
Installation technology
Proper organization of labor will reduce costs and speed up work. The main thing is that the quality will meet the requirements. After drawing up the project, you can begin to directly build the fence on stilts. Step by step construction should look like this.
Territory marking
A construction cord, fishing line, or thread made of any durable material is stretched around the perimeter of the site. Each pile is marked. Using a laser, hydraulic level, horizontal marks are set that will indicate the upper level of the pipe. If the ground is uneven, the issue of fencing configuration is resolved. The fence can be done:
- At the same level, when the upper cut is located strictly horizontally.
- Step option. The perimeter is divided into several sections, taking into account the landscape. Each section is mounted horizontally.
- Free form. It is used when there are large differences in height and when it is impossible to level the soil where screw piles will be installed under the fence.
When marking, it is indicated which pipe is needed for installation. A more reliable pile with a larger diameter is mounted in the place of gates and gates. During operation, this can be ignored; the mark will remind you that there should be another pipe in this place. Even experienced craftsmen do not shy away from unnecessary reminders.
Installation of screw piles
The main operation in fence construction. IN industrial conditions special equipment is used. The process of screwing into the ground itself resembles working with a self-tapping screw. The screw part of the product, using blades, cuts the soil, leaning on it, and continues to move downwards only by rotating around its own axis. At independent work It is important to take into account the peculiarities of the beginning of the operation. The entry is made with a noticeable load, in order to avoid the plowing effect. The motion vector is directed downwards. In rocky soil, it is sometimes advisable to knock down the pile until it begins to move independently along the cut route. After a reliable entry, all efforts can be concentrated solely on rotating the pipe.
Depending on the quality of the soil and physical capabilities From 2 to 5 people are involved in the work. The pipes have through holes, most often only 2, into which the lever is inserted. You can use reinforcement, metal rod, crowbar. The moment of entry is controlled by a level or plumb line. It is important to set the correct direction for the pile. Installing pipes alone is very difficult. It is easier to do the operation together. A third participant in the process can control the direction of entry and help with a vertical load during the first movements. Large-diameter pipes with significant depth are easier to tighten with four people, two on both sides of the lever.
Operations after pipe installation
When the desired depth is reached, screwing is stopped. Check the height with the horizontal mark. If necessary, the pile is cut off or an additional piece of pipe is welded on. It is strongly recommended to fill the internal cavity with concrete mixture. Strength increases, oxygen access inside is blocked, which slows down corrosion. When installing manually, it is difficult to achieve an ideal vertical position. For this reason, experienced craftsmen choose pipes that, after installation, are located with their upper edges above the ground level to a height of no more than 50 cm. Next, a cheaper pipe is welded on, which is much easier to install vertically. In some cases, it is advisable to frame the structure with concrete, thereby eliminating the technological gap between the soil and the decorative finish. At the same time, the reliability and strength of the structure increases noticeably.
Design, finishing materials for fences on screw piles
After the screw piles for the fence are installed, you can proceed to the next step - installation of the fence and decorative finishing. The reliable supporting structure allows the use of all types of building materials:
- Reinforced concrete slabs.
- Corrugated sheets, rolled sheets.
- Metal panels, profiles, picket fences.
- Wooden lumber.
- Bricks, building blocks.
- Polymer sheets, panels.
Preparation for installation is no different from similar operations for other basics. The rules and requirements are the same. The recommended distance between horizontal structural structural elements is observed. If lathing is required, its dimensions are calculated according to general rules. A popular filling material is wood. Screw piles are an ideal basis for installing this material. There will be no shrinkage or geometry changes. A fence made of screw piles will last a long time. Synthetic materials are being used more often today. Polycarbonate sheets are in particular demand. The screw design ensures that such a fence, functionally and aesthetically, will look very interesting on the site.
How to save money when building a fence
Regardless of financial status, almost any site owner strives to minimize the funds spent. Selecting a pile structure as support system for the fence already looks like a winning solution. However, the process of preparing and installing such a fence has nuances that can reduce costs. The main rule when saving money will not be to replace pipes with cheaper ones, this cannot be done, but to accurately calculate the amount of all material and reduce installation costs. The number of piles is calculated individually. The accuracy of the estimate is checked with a sketch of the section, which shows the basic dimensions of the structure indicating the end, reinforced sections. Unlike when working with other materials, there is no need to make a technological reserve.
Conclusion
It is advisable to make the final version of the fence after the completion of construction of the main facility. There remains material that can be used for this purpose. It’s easier to buy a small amount of it than to pay for the project in full. You can save only on the optimization of individual operations, the exact quantity of material, but in no case on its quality. If all construction conditions are met, a fence made of screw piles will serve property owners for more than one year. It is important that, leaving the base, you can change the finish, design, color of the fence without spending money on new installation.