Installing fence posts is rarely considered a fun task. Using the traditional method, it’s often time-consuming. You have to wait for the right weather to accommodate cement. Then you need to dig a hole to the right depth, use gravel to line it, re-check your alignment, and then make your concrete or postcrete, being sure that you use it quickly enough for it not to go off before you’re ready. And after that, you have to wait to backfill all the holes with soil. Although it’s not technically difficult, it’s not a fast job. And I can be messy and time-consuming. That’s why screw piles can make such an appealing alternative.
Five Easy Steps for Installing Screw Piles for Fence Posts
1. Work out your soil type
Screw piles are incredibly versatile. You can use them on anything from the finest sand to the heaviest clay. But there are some conditions, such as heavy gravel or very rocky ground, where screw piles simply shouldn’t be used. It’s also important to get the right helical piles for your conditions. So, do a soil survey before you get started.
2. Find the right screw piles for your load
The load-bearing requirements of screw piles for fence posts are different to those needed for buildings. But it’s still important to make sure that your piles are thick enough and long enough to support the height and weight of your fence, and remember there will be a lateral load added from the wind factor. It’s worth taking the time to do your research. But if you’re struggling, contact your screw pile supplier for advice.
3. Plan where your piles need to be sited.
Just like any other construction project, you need to know what you’re doing before you start work. So, measure your plot. Place a guideline. And put out clear markers where you need your fence posts to be installed.
4. Choose your installation method
You can install screw piles using mini diggers, electric installation machines or by hand. If you’re working in a relatively small space, or don’t wish to have excavator tracks all over your garden, then manual screw pile installation, with installation with a handheld machine may be preferable. With a screw pile installation kit and two people, you simply need to place the screw pile where you wish it to go, and steadily rotate it until it reaches the desired depth. If you have access to an excavator, you can do the same thing – only faster and with more power!
5. Get to Work!
Once you’ve made your plans and got your equipment, it’s a simple step to begin the installation. There’s no need to wait for your piles to set, they will be ready to use as soon as they are in place.
And that’s it. In most cases, using screw piles for fence posts makes good sense. It’s often less work, less mess and faster than the concrete alternative. It’s cleaner and lower impact, with no waste to clear. And it is usually cost-effective. So, if you are looking for the simplest way to erect a new fence, screw piles are definitely worth your consideration.
Get in touch with UK Helix to find out which screw piles you need for your garden fence.
Disclaimer –Information in this blog does not in any way constitute building advice or guidance for private or commercial building projects.