Question 1

What is a ground screw foundation?

Accepted Answer

A ground screw is a hot-dip galvanised steel pile with a helical thread, driven into the ground using hydraulic torque. Once installed it provides an engineered load-bearing point ready to build on the same day. No concrete, no excavation and no curing time.

Question 2

Are ground screws as strong as concrete?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when engineered correctly. Every pile is sized to your structural loads and load tested on installation. Most modern low to mid-rise builds use them as a direct replacement for strip and pad foundations.

Question 3

What loads can a single pile take?

Accepted Answer

Typical residential piles carry 2 to 8 tonnes per pile. Heavy duty piles can carry over 25 tonnes. We size the pile schedule from your engineer's drawings.

Question 4

Will screw piles work on my site?

Accepted Answer

In the vast majority of UK ground conditions, yes. We carry out a ground assessment on the site survey to check soil type and depth. We can install in clay, sand, made ground, chalk and most mixed sites. Solid rock and some peat conditions need a different approach.

Question 5

Do you work on sloping sites?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sloping sites are one of the best uses for screw piles. We install to varying depths to create a level structural base above ground without major earthworks.

Question 6

What about tight access?

Accepted Answer

Our compact rigs can fit through a standard 900mm side passage. We have completed installs in back gardens, courtyards and projects with no vehicle access.

Question 7

How much do ground screw foundations cost?

Accepted Answer

Cost is project-specific and depends on pile count, depth and load. For most garden rooms and residential extensions, a complete installed foundation is cost-comparable to concrete, sometimes cheaper when you include excavation, muck-away and waiting time.

Question 8

How quickly can you install?

Accepted Answer

Most residential and garden room installs take one day on site. Larger schemes are scheduled across a continuous programme. We can typically be on site within one to three weeks of order.

Question 9

What happens to the spoil?

Accepted Answer

There is no spoil. Screw piles displace soil rather than removing it, which means no muck-away cost and no skips on site.

Question 10

Are your foundations Building Control approved?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We provide engineered pile schedules, structural calculations and a compression test certificate on every project. Building Control routinely accept our documentation.

Question 11

Are you insured and accredited?

Accepted Answer

We are CHAS accredited, Constructionline Gold and carry £10m public liability insurance. Documentation is provided on request.

Question 12

What is the design life?

Accepted Answer

Hot-dip galvanised steel piles in standard UK ground conditions have an engineered design life of 75 years. In aggressive conditions we specify upgraded coatings.

Your questions, answered.

The Basics

Site & Ground Conditions

Cost & Programme

Certification & Compliance

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