UBCNews - Business - Commercial Helical Piles - Steel Screws Supporting Your Foundation

Episode Date: February 24, 2026

So here's something that might surprise you - there are massive steel screws being drilled into the ground right now to hold up commercial buildings. I'm talking about helical piles, and they're really changing how we think about foundation support. United Structural Systems of Illinois, Inc City: Hoffman Estates Address: 2124 Stonington Ave Website: https://www.unitedstructuralsystems.com/

So here's something that might surprise you. There are massive steel screws being drilled into the ground right now to hold up commercial buildings. I'm talking about helical piles, and they're really changing how we think about foundation support. Right, and the visual is exactly what you'd imagine. Giant corkscrews going into the earth. I've been working with these on commercial projects, and honestly, the first time I saw one installed, I thought this is going to be way simpler than what we used to do. Let's break down what a helical pile actually is.

We're talking about large steel screws that get advanced into the ground using a drivehead attached to equipment like a backhoe or skid steer, right? Exactly. The pile gets drilled into the ground like a corkscrew. And here's the fascinating part. Installers monitor something called soil torque every step of the way. That torque actually increases the deeper the pile goes. They use a gauge attached to the drive head to track it because they need to reach an exact torque level to ensure foundation stability.

So it's not just drill until you hit something solid and call it a day? Definitely not. The torque measurement is critical because it directly correlates to the pile's load-bearing capacity. Once the lead section is installed, extensions are added as the pile goes deeper. When it reaches the proper soil torque, that pile will permanently support the weight of the foundation. Mm-hmm, I follow, and I understand these are used for existing foundations that are settling or sinking, but also when you're adding weight to a structure? Absolutely. Think about a commercial building undergoing expansion or adding new heavy equipment. Helical piles can be installed to reinforce existing foundations without extensive excavation. That means minimal operational downtime, which for a business is huge.

So to everyone listening who manages commercial property, have you noticed cracks in your foundation walls, water leaks, or uneven surfaces? Those are signs you might need foundation repair. You might also see crumbling concrete, sagging walls, or even an increased presence of pests, often a consequence of foundation issues creating entry points or moisture. These piles can secure foundations in any soil type. Whether you're dealing with expansive clays, loose sands, or high water tables, they transfer the structural load to deeper, more stable soil strata bypassing those problematic shallow soils.

That point about transferring loads to stable soil strata sets up our next piece, comparing helical piles to other common methods. But first, a quick word from our sponsor. United Structural Systems of Illinois Inc. has been providing structural foundation repair services since 1990, focusing on permanent and cost-efficient solutions. Whether you're dealing with a settling foundation, planning a commercial renovation, or need helical pile installation for your project,

their team offers honest evaluations and expertise backed by decades of experience. They've worked on commercial projects ranging from distribution centers to university buildings across Illinois. Learn more at www.unitedstructural systems.com. Picking up on that idea of stable soil strata, how do helical piles actually compare to traditional excavation methods for commercial projects? Well, commercial helical pile installation is often cheaper and faster than full excavation.

Traditional methods require digging up massive amounts of Earth, which means longer project timelines, more labor costs, and significant site restoration afterward. With helical piles, you get immediate load-bearing capacity. They can be loaded right after installation. And there's less disruption to the site, which I imagine is important in commercial settings? Huge factor. The installation generates minimal spoils and noise. It's actually vibration-free. That's important for projects located near existing sensitive structures or in urban environments. I mean, imagine trying to do foundation work next to an operating warehouse. You can't shut everything down for weeks. Huh, yeah. Try explaining to your boss why the entire operation has to stop because you're digging a hole.

Right. Actually, I remember one project where we installed helical piles for a facility addition, and the client was amazed we finished in three days. They'd budgeted for two weeks based on traditional methods. That's impressive. You know, we're talking about commercial applications here, but what kind of loads can these things actually handle? Helical piles can support or resist various loads, tension, compression, and lateral forces, or a combination of all three. The load capacity can range significantly, often supporting tens to hundreds of kips per pile, depending on the diameter, helix configuration, and soil conditions.

They're even used for tension applications like anchoring, retaining walls, or resisting uplift forces. That's versatile. and the steel itself. Is there anything special about the material? The steel is typically galvanized to resist corrosion, ensuring a long service life. These aren't temporary fixes. They're permanent foundation support systems designed to last. The International Building Code in ASCE provide guidelines for their design and installation.

So there are professional standards ensuring structural integrity and safety. I see. makes sense. So we've established that helical piles offer speed, cost savings, and versatility. What about accessibility challenges, like tight spaces or environmentally sensitive areas? That's another advantage. Limited access isn't really a problem because the equipment is relatively compact, and because there's minimal environmental impact, no major excavation, no huge amounts of spoils to haul away, they're ideal for areas with environmental concerns. Projects have used them successfully everywhere, from mall renovations to university construction to distribution centers.

Right. So for commercial property owners, contractors, anyone involved in construction or renovation in Illinois, this is a solution worth considering when you're dealing with foundation issues or planning additions. Definitely. And here's the thing. The torque to capacity relationship allows engineers to predict the ultimate bearing capacity based on measurement. installation torque. That means precision and confidence in the system. Put another way, engineers can calculate exactly how much weight the pile will support by measuring torque during installation. It's not guesswork, it's engineered support. So if you're planning a commercial project and foundation stability is a concern, helical piles give you a faster, more cost-effective path forward. They deliver immediate support, work across different soil types, and minimize disruption. Three

benefits that really matter when your business operations are on the line. Exactly. And in regions with problematic soils, high plasticity, frost-heave susceptibility, helical piles extend below the active soil zone to provide that reliable solution. They're recognized as a deep foundation system that can be installed quickly with minimal disturbance, which is exactly what commercial projects need. Well, that's a solid foundation of knowledge right there. Thanks for walking us through helical piles and how they're changing commercial foundation support.