Here at MaenDecks, we carefully consider every element of the decks we build, from the railings and stairs to the foundations themselves.

We know that Manitobans care about their lawns and we know that the soil here in Winnipeg isn’t always firm enough for a solid foundation near the surface. That’s why we’ve come up with the perfect solution: Using screw piles as a foundation for our decks. They have minimal impact on your lawn, they’re sturdy and easy to install—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

What Are Screw Piles?

Helical (screw) piles, also known as helical piers, are a type of foundation, and one of the most common types of deck foundation. Screw piles are galvanized steel shafts with screw-like flanges that are twisted into the ground by machinery.

Our builders use the amount of torque necessary to drive the screw pile into the ground to determine how hard the soil is; once the soil is hard and firm enough to support your deck, the screw pile is deep enough in the ground.

Benefits of Screw Piles for Decks

Screw piles are one of the best foundations for decks in Manitoba. Our clay soils can make it difficult to build a traditional foundation for your deck without serious excavation work. Screw piles solve this problem. Here are some of the benefits of screw piles:

• They don’t require any curing time, unlike concrete foundations.
• You can build onto the screw piles immediately.
• They have a certified capacity; it’s easy to judge how much load a screw pile can take.
• They can be installed quickly and easily.
• They offer minimal disruption to your landscaping.
• There’s no excavation required.
• They can easily be removed, reused, and recycled.
• They can be installed in any weather.
• They can be installed in a relatively small space; the equipment used to install them is small compared to what you’d need for a traditional concrete foundation.

We use screw piles for decks in Manitoba for all of these reasons. They’re also easy to get below the frost line for stability, and our screw piles are engineered to withstand the freeze/thaw cycle with ease. Screw piles are the best deck foundations for Manitoba and we highly recommend them.

Are Screw Piles Safe for My Lawn?

Screw piles are safe for your lawn. Grass won’t grow where the screw piles are installed but grass can grow just fine all around the screw piles; your lawn will grow perfectly healthy all around your deck.

Screw piles aren’t just good for your lawn, either; they’re good for the environment at large. Thanks to their durability and longevity, along with their simple installation process, screw piles are among the most eco-friendly foundations; once they’ve gone past their useful lifespan (which can be decades or longer), they can be recycled.

How Much Do Screw Piles Cost?

The cost of installing screw piles varies depending on a number of factors. On average, a screw pile costs about $250.

What Are the Alternatives?

The main alternative to a screw pile foundation is to use concrete. There are several different types of concrete deck foundations but the most common are concrete footings. With concrete footings, holes are excavated; concrete is poured into the holes to create concrete footings as a solid base for wooden or steel posts.

Occasionally, builders may use ground contact posts; this means they’ll install treated wooden posts directly into the ground. Precast concrete piers are another alternative.

Screw Piles Vs. Concrete Foundations

There are a number of reasons why we opt for screw pile foundations instead of poured concrete foundations. Here are three of the most important reasons why we opt for screw pile foundations:

Location

We build decks in Winnipeg and the surrounding area, and geotechnical engineering is an important part of determining how to build the foundation for a deck. Put simply, when the top levels of soil are well suited for foundations, it can be better to opt for concrete foundations. Here in Winnipeg, however, we have clay soils, which are prone to shifting, especially in the freeze-thaw cycle.

Helical piles go deep without the need for excavation; this means we can reach sturdier soils more efficiently. For decks, screw piles are the way to go here in Winnipeg.

Temperature

The temperature here in Winnipeg is another important factor. Concrete cures poorly in the wintertime and it can’t be installed when it’s raining. Screw piles, on the other hand, are unaffected by temperature. They can also be installed in damp conditions because they don’t need to cure.

Time

The final factor to consider is time. Screw piles can be installed almost instantly; once they’re installed, we can immediately start building the deck on top of them. Concrete takes longer to install; the ground has to be excavated, and then concrete must be poured. Once the concrete is poured, you have to wait two to three days before building the deck because the concrete needs to cure.

Screw piles make building a deck a faster process in every way.

Contact Our Deck Builders Today

We only use high-quality screw piles for all of the decks that we build. We install screw piles carefully, ensuring that we hit solid ground that will support your new deck.

This article has only scratched the surface of how much we think about screw piles for decks; just imagine how much care and consideration we put into your deck as a whole. Here at MaenDecks, we’re passionate about building beautiful, long-lasting decks. Contact us for your next deck project.