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. Beautiful, does not lose for a long time appearance and the strength of the fence 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 on the qualitative composition of the soil, its layers, strength, freezing depth, you can select 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. Pipes large diameter with significant depth it is easier to tighten with four people, two on both parts 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.
When it comes to a reliable and durable fence, the first thing that comes to mind is fence piles. This is one of the best structures to build. Not so long ago it was used to lay the foundation, and today it has joined the list of the most popular materials for making fences.
Screw piles for a fence - what are they?
The name most accurately and succinctly reflects the essence of screw piles. They look like metal pipes with threads at the end. Sometimes you can see blades instead of threads. This is done on purpose so that the element stays more reliably in the ground. The inside of the metal pipe is hollow.
When work is to be done on heavy, rocky soil, builders use a combined option - pipes with threads and reinforcement in the form of blades. The most reliable version of piles has two blades for uniform distribution pressure.
The most common sizes are 57, 78 and 89 millimeters. When choosing a diameter, it is worth considering the type of soil on the site and the material for covering the base.
- Do you have rocky soil? We recommend ordering a screw pile that has double blades.
- When the soil consists of sand and peat, elements with a closed tip are purchased.
- On any other types of soil, a pile with an open tip is used.
All about screw piles in the video
Keep in mind that due to the hollowness of the pipes, they are not suitable for the foundation of a house. Still, we are talking about different types of load. For the foundation it is customary to use only cast piles.
By the way, the diameter and length of the piles affect the price. For example, a pipe with a diameter of 89 mm will cost twice as much as 57 mm. Since we've already touched on the issue of price, let's reveal a little secret. Those who install fences on metal piles themselves save up to 50% of the cost of the fence!
If you don’t believe me, call any company that installs supports using special equipment. By the way, you will have to pay another nth amount of money for soil research. Without this procedure, serious companies will not proceed with installation.
Corrugated fence on screw piles What are the advantages of screw piles
To understand how profitable it is to build a fence on screw piles, we suggest going back to the recent past. Have you ever had to deal with a fence on ordinary, even concrete, posts? If not, ask your friends or acquaintances for their opinion. If yes, you already know how much the pillars begin to “play” when the soil freezes and thaws.
Often the support moves unevenly. The fence is leaning to the side, the cladding is seriously deformed. The result has long been known - repairs have to be made.
And a little more information. A concrete pillar with a diameter of up to 25 cm is subject to a buoyancy force of 3-4 tons. This is a scientific fact proven by scientists. But the buoyant force does not act on screw piles on the fence. They easily penetrate the soil and do not violate its integrity. Therefore, the adhesion area with frozen soil is much smaller.
Screw piles have a number of advantages But let's get back to the benefits. We have already mentioned one of them - the reliability of the structure, which is not affected by frost at all. Here are a few more advantages of screw piles:
- Easy to install. Firstly, installation can be carried out at any time of the year - both in the hot summer and in the cold winter. Secondly, the material does not require additional excavation or concrete work.
- High strength. Each metal element can easily withstand a load of several tons.
- Reliability, which was mentioned above. Without repair, such fences can last (attention!) for more than 100 years.
- Easy to dismantle. If necessary, the fence can be easily moved to another location.
- Versatility. Installation on absolutely any soil is allowed - even swampy.
- All-season. We have already talked about this, but we want to once again emphasize an important advantage. In late autumn and winter, all concrete work comes to a standstill until the onset of spring. And installation of screw structures can be safely carried out in December-January. Even if the area is covered with snow, it is enough to remove it before starting installation - and you can start working.
Tempting, isn't it? It’s written too sweetly - ordinary users will object. And they will be partially right. After all, screw piles also have disadvantages, but they are quite insignificant. There is only one disadvantage that can be noted - the relatively high cost of installation if special equipment is taken up. It is easy to eliminate this drawback - it is enough to do all the work manually, without involving third-party specialists.
What does it look like to install piles yourself?
First, let's find out what the distance should be between two adjacent piles. Experts recommend 2.5 meters, but no more than 3 meters.
- Mark the perimeter of the fence that you plan to build on the site.
- Make small indentations in the places where the piles will be installed.
- Twisting is carried out to a depth of 150 centimeters or more. We recommend that you make a special lever from a metal pipe. It makes twisting much easier. Moreover, the longer and larger the lever arm, the easier it will be for you to do the job. The optimal length is from 2 meters.
- Please note that at this stage the work is performed by two people. It is also important to monitor the verticality of the structure from the first seconds of work. We maintain an angle of 90 degrees, even without minimal deviations. Otherwise, the work will have to be redone.
Piles can be installed either manually or using special equipment Let's start installing the fence
When the piles are correctly placed and securely installed, we move on to the final stage of our work. Let's talk about what a fence on screw piles is and how to install it correctly.
Actually, you have two mounting options:
- If you initially had very long piles (for example, 3 meters), horizontal guides can be safely attached directly to them. For this, welding or hardware is used. In the second case, you will also have to weld the corners to the support.
- It also happens that the piles were small, and only small “stumps” up to 50 centimeters high came to the surface. We install a fence post in each of them. Its diameter should be smaller than that of the pile. We use screws for fastening, and for additional strength we weld the lower base around the perimeter.
In the second case, the piles that have come to the surface are cut with a grinder to the desired height. The top is covered with roofing felt or filled with bitumen.
It is worth taking care to make the vertical supports more stable and protect them from moisture. Pieces of reinforcement are suitable for these purposes. They are inserted into hollow pipes and filled with concrete from the inside. There is no need for external concreting - screw piles are held in the soil quite firmly.
Chain-link mesh on screw piles Now the base for the fence is ready. Fences based on a pile can be very different: from wooden picket fences and chain-link mesh, forged sections and welded mesh coated with polymer, brick, concrete spans, etc. Which material to choose is up to you.
Installing a screw pile manually (video)
Experts at Lanshaft.com share with you tips from their personal practice:
- It is recommended to bury elements to a depth of 150-200 cm. It is very simple to calculate which depth is optimal. The “screw” will suddenly feel a strong obstacle, and you will have to make incredible efforts to screw it in. There are cases when the metal even began to deform.
- If you haven’t had to install fences made of piles and you don’t have enough experience, it’s better to go with the second foundation option. Let us remember that this is when fence posts are inserted into the piles. Firstly, you don’t have to align the high supports “under the ruler”; secondly, screwing in a two-meter pipe is much easier than a three-meter one.
- It is very convenient to turn the piles together, but ideally there should also be a third assistant. His task is to monitor the direction of the pipe, and, if necessary, make efforts to align it.
- If you feel that some kind of obstacle has arisen on the way (for example, a large pebble has fallen under the screw), there is no need to press with double force. This will quickly deform the metal. You can get through the problem area using a drill. Only its diameter should be smaller than the pile.
In general, soil with a large number of stones of different sizes is perhaps the only limitation for such a structure. So, every time before installation, specialists must do a test screw-in and determine the mechanical properties of the soil.
- Corner piles are always driven first. This will allow you to achieve perfect accuracy in your work and acquire the necessary skills.
Also, some users are interested in how to install sliding gates. To install, you will need to screw in a few short screw supports and then weld the channel. Rollers are welded to the channel itself, along which the blade will move.
All you have to do is secure the welded structure in the shape of a trapezoid, and install the corrugated sheet on it. If 2-3 people are involved in the installation work, the installation will take you about 1 week.
Diagram of sliding gates on screw piles We hope the article was clear and informative for you. As you can see, you can deepen massive screw posts with your own hands, without the use of expensive equipment. The task is quite feasible for two (ideally three) workers. This will allow you to save up to 50% of the cost of the fence. Follow our advice and be a little patient. This way you can build a powerful, attractive fence that will serve you for decades. We wish you good luck!
Pile screw foundations are no longer a novelty in individual construction. Foundations built on easily screwed-in piles are cheaper than others. The reliability of installing a fence on a pile foundation is evidenced by the available installation technology, and if the fence itself is made of corrugated board, the price of which is quite acceptable, we will get a modern, reliable, lightweight and beautiful fence country house. And what’s most attractive is that there is no need to wait agonizingly for the soil to “shrink” and “shrink.” Construction of the fence can be confidently started immediately after screwing in the piles. How to install a fence yourself?
Advantages of screw piles for installation
The best option for a successful price-quality combination can be considered a fence on screw piles, which protects your own territory at home or personal plot. Using the correct installation technology, the installed fence can be erected on “problematic” soils, including loams, marshy areas and heterogeneous terrain with a significant difference in elevation.
It is preferable to install a fence on screw piles in the following cases:
When a screw pile can serve directly as a fence post
To strengthen the base metal poles gate or wicket
When strengthening the base of a brick fence post and a wooden fence.
By the way, the labor costs for constructing a pile-screw foundation for a fence are minimal. The foundation can be screwed in and the fence installed in a few days.
Secrets of screw pile installation technology
The specific design of its screw involves strict adherence installation technology, which consists of the following steps:
Test screwing of a single pile
Screwing the required number of piles
Profile pipe piping
Channel tying
Protection against corrosion at the ground-air interface.
Screw piles for a fence can be conventionally represented as a large screw with a cast tip, which is screwed into the ground through mechanical action.
Naturally, such a “screw” must have an impressive diameter and thickness of the screw pile blade, as well as a tip made of cutting material. The screw pile must subsequently provide maximum load-bearing capacity. How to properly tighten a screw pile and install a fence?
How to install a fence on screw piles yourself
preparatory calculations and work
Before starting the installation of piles, it is necessary to make some calculations, the result of which will provide accurate information about the required number of piles. It is recommended to use an online calculation, with which you can find out the cost of a fence on screw piles.
Therefore, design structures are the main supporting elements for brick or wooden fences on screw piles. It is recommended to maintain a distance between adjacent piles from 2.5 to 3 meters. The installation depth of piles for fences ranges from 1.5 to 3 meters. The installation depth depends on the depth of soil freezing in a given area, this must be remembered.
After the preliminary calculation, the terrain (axes of loaded piles) is laid out for their subsequent installation and fastening using approximate pegs.
test screwing of the pile
Before starting the construction and installation of a fence on piles, a test screwing of a single pile is carried out, which will show with reliable accuracy the deepening limit, as well as high-quality composition soil.
The process of test screwing the pile will not differ in any way from the main technological process with the difference that the test pile must be removed back to the surface. Such an empirical measure of soil examination makes it possible to further prevent the support from being pushed to the surface by frost heaving forces. Having realistically assessed the qualitative composition of the soil, you can safely begin the main process of installing screw piles.
screwing screw piles
For the construction of lightweight structures and fence posts, piles Ø 76 – 89 mm are used.
So, for example, the technical characteristics of a screw pile Ø 76 are as follows:
Barrel wall thickness - 3.5 mm
Pile blade thickness - 4 mm
Blade diameter - 200 mm
Maximum load-bearing capacity of the pile - 1500 kg
Screw piles with a diameter of 76 mm can be used when constructing wooden and brick fences on screw piles.
Screw piles Ø 89 mm are able to withstand the load that will be created by fences made of corrugated sheets.
Piles can be driven into the ground manually or mechanically. In the mechanized method, piles are driven using a mini excavator equipped with a pile driver.
After installing the required number of piles, they are tied using special fasteners.
tying of installed piles
To create structural integrity, the following actions must be taken:
Concreting the pile shafts with a mixture of concrete grade M300
Fasten the piles with a beam, channel, I-beam, first crown, grillage or monolithic slab.
It is necessary to tie the pile-screw foundation immediately after installation, excluding knocking down the markings by changing the location of the piles. The change in the position of the piles is due to the accumulated residual stress, which provokes the position of the pile to its original trajectory. There are several options for tying, but it is recommended to carry them out after completing the concreting and leveling work.
protection of piles from corrosion
After tying the screw piles, their ground part is protected. To protect the ground part of the pile, it is treated with anti-corrosion agents.
The final stage of installing a fence on screw piles is filling the space between the piles. The filler can be used: corrugated sheets or wooden sections.
How to install a fence on stilts with your own hands
To install pile fence from corrugated board or wood, you will need to do the following with your own hands:
Install screw piles in increments of 2.5-3.0 meters, according to preliminary calculations
Attach metal transverse joists (2-3 joists) to the pile posts
Install corrugated sheets or wooden panels with fastening the sheets to the joists and posts.
About the versatility and practicality of the design of a fence on screw piles, it is enough to read the positive reviews of those who have already installed the fence.
How to install screw piles and a fence is shown here.
The technology of building fences using screw piles is very popular. It allows you to solve the problem of fencing stability on floating and loose soils, and also guarantees the reliability of the structure during seasonal ground fluctuations.
Peculiarities
Screw piles are threaded hollow pipes equipped with a welded tip. To build a fence on rocky soils, combined models with additional blades are used. They ensure uniform load on the metal pipe and increase the strength of the structure. On peat and sandy soils, piles with a closed tip are used, on all others - with an open tip. Pipes are produced with different diameters, the choice of which depends on the soil, the height of the barrier, the filling material, the presence of a wicket and entrance gate, the wind load and the level of soil freezing.
The most common are pipes with a diameter of 76 and 89 mm. They are intended for installation of a fence made of corrugated sheets, slate, metal picket fences and ready-made welded sections. For a lightweight fence made of chain-link mesh or wooden picket fence, piles with a diameter of 57 mm will be sufficient.
Screw piles are installed in the ground below the freezing level of the soil. Installation is carried out with a certain step equal to the length of one section. Pillars are mounted on top of them, between which the filling is placed. They often use pipes of slightly smaller diameter, which are inserted into the cavity of the pile and securely fixed in it.
Advantages
Popularity and growing interest in screw pile technology due to the following advantages of these designs:
- Reliable fixation and high stability of the pillars are due to the presence of threads and blades, with the help of which the pipe is screwed into the ground without loosening it. A properly installed pile can withstand a load of several tons and last up to 100 years.
- Fast and easy installation. Installation of screw piles does not require concrete or earthworks and can be done with your own hands, without the involvement of special equipment and professionals. Work can be carried out all year round, including at negative temperatures.
Thanks to simple dismantling, the piles can be reused. Screwing time for one pipe manually is 30 minutes. Complete installation of all structures on the site takes from one to two days, depending on the area and complexity of the terrain.
- The possibility of using screw structures on any type of soil, including swampy and heaving areas, as well as areas of permafrost and thermokarst. Installation of piles can be carried out in areas with uneven terrain, including hard-to-reach places. In this case, the soil layers do not mix or shift, which happens, for example, during digging trenches and installing driven piles, but on the contrary, they are compacted and stabilized. In places where there is a high level of groundwater, the use metal piles possible only after their preliminary anti-corrosion treatment.
- Durability. Screw piles can last from 50 to 100 years. The service life depends on the degree of load, level groundwater and climatic conditions of their operation.
- The low cost of the material allows you to save up to 50% of funds, in contrast to the costs of a strip or column foundation.
The only limitation for the use of screw piles are rocks and soils oversaturated with stones.
Installation features
The first step is to decide on the number of piles. To do this, you need to measure the perimeter of the site, subtract the width of the gate and gate from the resulting figure and divide by the calculated step. Typically its length is 2.5-3 meters and depends on the size of the filling material, the terrain and the personal preferences of the owners. Then you need to make precise markings indicating the places for screwing in the piles, which should be slightly deepened. The depth of the screws must be at least one and a half meters.
Next you can start screwing in the pipes. This must be done using a special lever, to create which a fitting with a diameter of 3 cm is inserted into the technological hole located at the upper end of the pipe. Pieces of pipe with a square cross-section are put on both ends of it, which will serve as a lever.
The minimum sleeve length must be at least two meters. In addition to homemade devices, you can also use professional tools. The presence of a two-handed collar with a clamp will greatly simplify the work and help control the verticality of screwing.
Installation should be carried out by three people, where one person monitors the verticality of the pile, and the second and third perform screwing. It is very important to screw the pile exactly at a right angle. The size of the deviation error should not exceed two centimeters, provided that no more than 50 cm of pipe remains on the surface. Control over the height and horizontality of above-ground sections is carried out using a level or hydraulic level.
If necessary, fill the cavity of the protruding pipe with concrete, thereby preventing moisture from getting inside. It is advisable to treat the top of the metal with a two-component primer mixture and an anti-corrosion solution. This approach will significantly extend the life of metal structures and preserve their original appearance for a long time.
Upper part a pile located above the ground can act as a pillar. Therefore, when choosing the length of products, you should sum up the screw-in depth and the height of the support.
The next step should be compacting the space adjacent to the pipe, followed by cementing or installing a plastic plug. This will help prevent erosion of the soil near the base of the pillar and provide greater stability to the structure.
Before you start choosing piles, you should decide on the diameter and length of the pipe, on which the load-bearing capacity of the structure directly depends. To install lightweight barriers with wooden or plastic filling, it is enough to purchase pipes with a wall thickness of 2 mm and a diameter of 54 mm. When purchasing piles for a corrugated fence, it is better to give preference to models with a diameter of at least 89 mm. And for the construction of gazebos, terraces and greenhouses it is necessary to use powerful products with a wall thickness of 8 and a cross-section of 108 mm. In this case pile foundation subjected to strapping with the further construction of the building.
If it is not possible to conduct geological studies of soils and exclude the presence large quantity stones and the presence of rocks, a test screwing should be carried out. To do this, you need to purchase one pile and screw it into the ground. The cost of the pipe will be from 800 to 1000 rubles, which is much cheaper than expensive geological surveys. Self-testing will help determine the depth of the upper groundwater and the bearing capacity of the formation at the level of the screw immersion. Based on the testing, the desired height and design of the future fence, it is necessary to determine the required length of piles, pipe diameter and blade power.
Some models are already equipped with holes for mounting guides, which greatly facilitates installation and reduces installation time. They are fastened with dowels or self-tapping screws.
When filling the spans with chain-link mesh, the fastening of the web can be done with soft wire or metal clamps. A tightly stretched wire placed in the top row will help prevent the mesh from sagging.
Reviews
Screw piles for fences are rapidly gaining popularity and have a lot of positive reviews. Consumers consider them as an excellent alternative to fences with a brick base in cases where installation strip foundation impossible. There is maximum preservation of the terrain and no need to dig trenches. The process of screwing in piles is rated as the least labor-intensive and fast compared to other types of structures.
Attention is drawn to significant savings cash and the opportunity to save on pillars, the role of which is played by the above-ground parts of screw piles. The advantages include the possibility self-installation without the use of additional consumables and the involvement of specialists. Dismantling and recycling of piles is also noted in reviews.
Screw piles have few disadvantages. Consumers note the need to conduct geological surveys to determine the structure and quality of the soil. In the absence of examination results, independent soil testing is required by screwing in a prototype. The disadvantages include the impossibility of using piles on rocky rocks and areas with a large number of large stones.
Fencing options
Screw piles are widely used when installing fences and barriers on any type of soil. They successfully solve the problem of close occurrence of aquifers and permafrost during construction. Thanks to their versatility, easy installation and low cost, screw metal structures are becoming increasingly popular and in demand.
When planning the construction of a fence on a property, every owner wants to get a reliable, durable and at the same time aesthetically designed fence that will protect his property from prying eyes and “uninvited” guests. A fence on screw piles is the optimal solution for arranging a durable fence, the construction of which does not require large financial investments. Screw piles, which have become widespread in suburban construction over the past decades, make it possible to build reliable support even in conditions of floating “unstable” soils.
- Possibility of installation in “difficult soil” conditions. A fence on screw piles can be erected not only on peat bogs and loams, but also on any soil with a high level of groundwater. Piles can be installed even in swampy areas, on heterogeneous terrain and slopes with a large difference in elevation.
- Construction in any season. Screw piles are easy to install in all weather conditions. It is not without reason that they are actively used in construction, even in permafrost conditions.
- Ease of construction. Screw piles for a fence are metal pipes with welded or cast tips, which, like screws, are simply screwed into the ground. You can screw the “screws” into the ground manually without using construction equipment.
- Installation speed. It takes no more than 20-30 minutes to screw one pile. You can erect reliable pillars on a screw base in just a couple of days.
- Long service life. Screw piles can serve regularly for about 50 years. If, before installation, they are additionally treated with an anti-corrosion compound, then such products will last for more than a hundred years.
Screw piles for fences are one of the most economical options for arranging reliable support. Compared to the same tape or columnar foundation, the cost of a screw base is 40-50% cheaper.
In addition, the piles can be reused. This makes it possible to dismantle the support at any time and install it at any other place on the site.
Screw piles are a universal type of foundation that can be laid both under fences in private garden areas and under heavy multi-storey buildings for residential and industrial facilities.
Selecting the appropriate pile option
The bearing capacity of piles directly depends on the diameter of the pipe. To build a fence on piles with your own hands, it is enough to use pipes with a diameter of 54-108 mm, which have a wall thickness of 2-8 mm. Pipes with a diameter of 54 mm are intended for the construction of wooden picket fences, as well as light fences made of plastic or metal mesh.
Piles d=89 mm can withstand the load created by metal fences or fences made of corrugated sheets. The load characteristics of piles d=108 mm are quite high: they can withstand not only lightweight fences, but also greenhouses, terraces, gazebos and other elements of landscape design.
For more precise definition length of the product, it is necessary to pre-screw it. The depth of immersion of the soil pipe depends on the composition of the soil: it can be buried either 1 meter or 5 meters. On average, piles are screwed to a depth of 1.5 meters.
It is convenient to use screw piles because they do not disturb the landscape pattern of the area, since they pass through soil layers “pointwise”
The most important thing that is worth mentioning at this point is that on sale you can find special piles for fences, which already have holes for mounting fence spans.
Basic rules for installing a “screw” fence
Before erecting a fence on piles, a test screwing should be carried out, thanks to which you can determine the deepening limit of the structure and the quality of the soil itself. The rules for laying the foundation below the soil freezing level should be strictly adhered to when erecting a fence on moisture-saturated soils.
This is necessary so that, as a result of seasonal fluctuations in the soil and under the influence of frost heaving forces, the support during operation is not pushed to the surface, but is securely fixed in the soil layers.
Screw piles, like other supporting structures for the fence, are installed at a distance of 2.5-3 meters. Having decided on the location of the fence and calculated required quantity support pillars, you can begin laying out the approximate pegs, in place of which piles will be erected in the future.
Piles can be screwed in either manually or using small-scale mechanization. It is most convenient to screw in the piles not alone, but with two assistants.
The installation process will be greatly facilitated by the use of a lever, which can be made from a metal rod.
To create a lever at the upper end of the pile, in which there are technological holes, ordinary reinforcement d = 3 cm is inserted. Pieces of square pipe are put on both sides of the reinforcement, which will subsequently act as a lever. The optimal length of the lever “sleeves” is about three meters.
You can simplify the work of constructing a screw base manually by using a special two-handed collar with a clamp that looks like a pipe wrench. Using this tool it will also be convenient to control the vertical screwing of the pipe.
Piles must be screwed into the ground at right angles, strictly maintaining their verticality and location in plan
If you want to save time and you don’t mind financial resources for this, feel free to hire professionals. Special equipment will help with large volumes and limited time frames
There are also special machines for screwing piles, with which you can control the verticality of the structure relative to its axis. Vertical immersion is necessary so that as the “screw” deepens, the inter-blade space becomes compacted, and building structure gained strength and stability.
After installing the piles, it is necessary to trim to the desired level. It is easier to control the height and horizontality of the above-ground part of the piles using a level or hydraulic level
If you do heavy fence, then it is better to compact the place where the piles emerge from the ground with a special solution M-150. The seal will protect the interior of the structure from moisture and increase its load-bearing capacity. And treating the surface of the above-ground outer part of the pile with a two-component primer and an anti-corrosion compound will extend the life of the product in any case, no matter what kind of fence you make.
Sometimes the option “twist the pile and insert a pole into it” is possible. This option also has a right to life; it has proven itself very well.
After all the piles are screwed in, the crosspieces on which the fencing elements are attached are mounted to the posts using self-tapping screws or metal dowels. When arranging a chain-link fence, you can attach the mesh using ordinary soft wire or metal clamps. To prevent the mesh from sagging, it is necessary to stretch a tightly stretched wire or rod through one of the upper rows of cells.
That's it. A fence on screw piles will serve as reliable protection for the site, in no way inferior in strength to other types of fencing.