Midwest Helical Solutions, LLC

This time of year, we get asked all the time, "How can you install helicals in the frost?". On this project we screwed it through about 18" of ice for a dock.

Christmas time always seems to be a little slow especially when it lands in the middle of the week. But last week we had one of our crews installing 82 new construction piles at a church. Some of the piles had to be battered due to seismic loads. Despite the cold day and high winds they still managed to get 35 piles in that day. Then I had a customer installing 20 new construction piles for a pool house nearby, so we took him to lunch. Another customer was installing 38 new construction piles for the Washington Fair mainstage canopy. This project has uplift loads as well as lateral loads, so piles were designed with a batter to resist the loads. We are busy even during the holidays MHS offers clients support with designing, engineering, pricing and availability. Let us know if we can assist you with your next project.

This project had very large footing, was 14' tall with a complete backfill. The decision to use push piles (also known as driven piles) in conjunction with a massive footing or when supporting a wall is typically driven by the benefits they offer. However, this choice comes with specific challenges related to the loads imposed by the structure and the characteristics of the piles and footings. Let’s break down the difficulties and the reasons for choosing push piles. Cost-effectiveness: Push piles are often more cost-effective compared to other deep foundation alternatives, especially in areas where soil conditions are suitable. Faster installation: They typically offer quicker installation compared to traditional drilled piles or other deep foundation solutions, reducing project timelines. Minimal disturbance: Push piles can be installed with relatively low disturbance to the surrounding environment, compared to other foundation types that require extensive excavation. Adaptability: Push piles can be used in a variety of soil types, provided the conditions are suitable. In areas with dense soils or competent bedrock, push piles offer significant load-carrying capacity. This pile went 85' in depth and reached an ultimate capacity of 80 kips. Pile was installed in less than 50 minutes. Conclusion While push piles offer distinct advantages in certain applications, such as quicker installation, lower cost, and minimal environmental disruption, their use with a massive footing requires careful design to manage the challenges of load distribution, settlement, and stability. It is crucial to understand the specific site conditions, load requirements, and installation constraints to ensure successful implementation of push piles in supporting massive footings and walls. Contact MHS to assist you with your project.

I am a little late posting because we are very busy. Great things going on. But I wanted to give our crew a pat on the back for doing a great job and finishing our portion of the project ahead of schedule to help get the contractor back on track. Let us know if you need assistance on your project with designing, products or installation. # helical piles #soil screws # soil retention

Installing the soil screws and shotcrete at River Bend Elementary. One more 5' excavation and then the GC can start the new storm shelter. Can we assist you with your project?

Here is a customer installing a battered 4.5" pile with a 30K dive motor and skid steer. It did lift the skid steer on one side a little, but they got it in.

One of our crews installing 4.5" piles to 25,000 ft/lbs. with the Pro-Dig DDT25. Installed the piles to a 35' depth in about 15 minutes.

What is the safest and fastest way to cut helical piles or pipe piles? Do you use a band saw, chop saw or something else? How do you put bolt holes in the shaft to bolt on the cap? With a drill, torches, plasma cutter or other methods? Your insight and input are greatly appreciated. Thank you!