Helical Piles - Model 288

Project: Pinckney Hill Plantation

Location:Monticello, FL

Date:March 2011

Helical pile being installed

Helical pile being installed

Helical pile new construction bracket embedded in footing

Finished footing prior to concrete

Challenge:

Pinckney Hill Plantation had highly expansive soils and very loose soils from depths of 10' to 27' where they desired to build a 22,000 square foot residence. The access to the proposed residence included a narrow dirt plantation road that limited the type of equipment that could be brought to the site.

Contacted Alpha Foundation Specialists for an expert foundation repair consultation.

Solution:

Due the the unknown soil conditions and limited access Barkley Engineering provided the options of either helical piles or auger cast piles. Helical piles were selected because of their ability, cost savings and their ability to provide loading data for each pile based on installation torque. A helical pile configuration consisting of a 2-7/8 inch outside diameter round shaft with an 8"-10" double-helix lead section was selected. The piles were installed with a drive head attached to a Bobcat %35 and were installed to a minimum of 6,000 foot/pounds torque. Each helical pile was advanced to a depth of 32' below grade. Each pile was attached to the footing with a Foundation Support Works new construction bracket. The ultimate capacity of the production piles was monitored during installation with differential PSI gauges and a shear pin indicator. The installation of 208 helical piles took only 7 days.

Project Summary

Structural Engineer: Barkley Engineers
General Contractor: Childers Construction
Certified Installer: Alpha Foundation Specialists, Inc.
Products Installed: (208) Model 288 Helical Piles, 8" - 10" lead section, installed to depths of 32' 25 kip design load.

Read more about our foundation repair case studies in North Florida and Georgia