Recommendations from experts on how to make bored, screw and wooden piles for a foundation with your own hands

Establishing a sturdy and dependable base is essential for any building endeavor. Selecting the appropriate kind of pile can be crucial when building a big house or a tiny garden shed. Wooden, screw, and bored piles are common choices, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. You can save time and money by confidently taking on the task yourself if you have a basic understanding of these foundation types.

A hole is drilled into the ground and filled with concrete to form bored piles, also called drilled shafts. When it comes to deep foundations with unstable or wet soil, this technique is perfect. When used properly, bored piles can offer exceptional stability and load-bearing capacity. The secret to success is mastering the drilling procedure and controlling the pouring of concrete.

Another adaptable choice is screw piles, which work well for lightweight constructions and speedy installations. Because these piles are screwed into the ground, they can support loads right away. They are ideal for locations with delicate ground conditions because of their design, which reduces soil displacement. Screw piles can be installed effectively with a little practice and the right equipment, guaranteeing a strong foundation for your project.

Since ancient times, wooden piles have been a useful option for numerous projects. Usually, a sledgehammer or a pile driver is used to manually drive them into the ground. When working with limited resources or for temporary structures, wooden piles are particularly helpful. A sturdy foundation depends on knowing how to choose the proper kind of wood and keep it free from moisture and pests.

Your construction projects will be much more durable and of higher quality if you take the time to learn how to install bored, screw, and wooden piles correctly. You can accomplish professional results without hiring specialized contractors if you follow professional recommendations and put in a little hands-on work. Give yourself the information and abilities to lay solid foundations, and see your construction projects endure.

Any construction project must start with a solid and dependable foundation, and selecting the appropriate piles can make all the difference. Using bored, screw, or wooden piles, this article provides professional advice to help you do the work yourself. We’ll walk you through every step of the procedure, offer advice on how to choose the best supplies, and go over crucial methods to guarantee the strength and longevity of your foundation. Even if you’re new to do-it-yourself building, you’ll be well-equipped to build a sturdy base for your project with our professional advice.

Classification of pillars

The technology involved in building a pile foundation encompasses a variety of techniques for installing supporting materials. All the subtleties of construction are governed by widely recognized standards found in SP 24.13330.2011 and SNiP 2.02.03-85.

According to the method of installation in soil

The following categories of piles are based on how they are installed:

1. Bored – concrete and reinforced concrete supports manufactured directly on the construction site.
2. Borinjection – concrete structures with and without reinforcement. The technology involves feeding the solution into pre-prepared pits under pressure. In this case, concrete fills not only the well, but also the voids in the soil around the power element.
3. Drivers – factory products that are immersed in the soil due to the impact force created by special equipment. Based on the material of manufacture, they are divided into reinforced concrete, metal and wood.
4. Pressable – sectional components that sink into the ground due to the applied force. Unlike the previous type of piles, the implementation of this technology does not create vibration loads on the ground.
5. Screw-in – metal or reinforced concrete rods equipped with a screw part for ease of installation and additional compaction of the soil under the supporting base area.

By type of support on the bearing layer

Power elements are classified into the following types based on how they interact with the soil:

1. Hanging supports – rest on compressible soils, with the load transmitted through the tip (30% of the weight) and the side surfaces (70% of the weight).
2. Racks – rest on a solid base, transmitting the weight of the structure through a point at the end or an extended heel.

According to reinforcement option

This characteristic allows for the differentiation of the following types of supports:

• with longitudinal reinforcement – piles are used for construction in medium-density soil (loam, clay, sandy loam, etc.).d.);
• with longitudinal-transverse reinforcement – ​​characterized by high resistance to tensile and bending forces;
• using pre-stress technology – characterized by maximum density and strength of the material.

According to sectional shape

Supporting elements are divided into several categories based on the geometry of the cross-section:

1. With a round cross-section: tubular products Ø400–800mm and shells Ø 1–3 m.
2. With a solid square section from 150×150 to 400×400 mm.
3. With a hollow square section: external Ø from 250×2500 to 400×40 mm0, cavity Ø 175–275mm.
4. With a rectangular section (200×400, 200×450, 200×500 mm).

By design

This criterion is used to categorize supporting elements into the following types:

• solid;
• composite – sections are arranged in the ground alternately.

According to heel geometry

The pile’s bottom end could be:

• in the form of a pyramid – the sharp end of the dough rests on dense rocks;
• blunt – in most cases used for hanging posts;
• with an expanding heel – used with minimal contact of the lateral area of ​​the pile with the soil.

What pile structures can you make yourself??

Technologies for installing a power structure without the need for sophisticated special equipment are being explored for use in the construction of private homes. Technologies that entail driving metal rods into bored piles are appropriate in this situation.

Bore supports are installed in wells that have been previously prepared. The load-bearing components in this scenario have two options: concrete or reinforcement cages.

Concrete piles cannot match the service life and load-bearing capacity of reinforced concrete structures by 40–50%. Thus, concrete products are used for lightweight buildings of II and III degrees of responsibility, while reinforced concrete foundations are appropriate for low-rise residential building construction and can last up to 100 years.

One structural element with a diameter of 200 mm and a well depth of 1.5 m typically costs a thousand rubles. The developer’s turnkey service will set the owner back between 2,500 and 5,000 rubles.

Even though DIY construction clearly saves money, the designer will still need to know how to operate a drill and other manual tools for installation. In this instance, rigorous adherence to foundation-laying technology is required; otherwise, the structure’s durability will be greatly diminished.

The following expenses will be included in the foundation’s cost:

• concrete,
• fittings,
• waterproofing material,
• sand,
• crushed stone.

In order to construct lightweight buildings and frame houses, screw pile installation is a reasonably priced and quick technology. Although it is practically impossible to calculate the load-bearing capacity and have confidence in the dependability of such a power structure, piles with welded blades can be constructed by hand.

An average cost of 1,500 rubles is associated with a finished steel pile of traditional dimensions (Ø108, pipe length 1.5 m, blade size 300 mm). The owner will pay between 500 and 700 rubles for a homemade rod, but the quality of the steel and the dependability of the welds must be considered.

Purchased screw supports have a 50–70 year lifespan, but it can be challenging to estimate a product’s service life with your hands. Consequently, they use bored technology for the entire process of manufacturing a pile foundation for a residential building by hand.

For foundations (gazebos, fences, etc.), screw rods can be welded if the strength and operational life of the power structure are unimportant.

In the factory, driven and pressed piles are produced. Special molds, vibration installations, and drying ovens are used for this purpose. The wooden driven supports are an exception, but their installation on the job site requires specialized tools. With regard to strength, load capacity, and service life, they are not as good as other structural elements.

According to manufacturers, piles treated with a unique composition that resists fire and moisture can endure for as long as 70 years. The cost will be determined by the local lumber price.

Manufacturing instructions

Guidelines for manually creating a pile.

Bored

It is necessary to determine the foundation’s bearing capacity before laying bored support elements. The aforementioned SNiP and SP contain comprehensive descriptions of computation formulas and suggestions for choosing building materials.

The information gathered will enable you to ascertain the necessary dimensions:

• hole diameter,
• well depth,
• as well as the need for reinforcement and construction of a sand cushion.

The following supplies and machinery are required for construction:

• concrete M200–M300;
• medium sand;
• sheet roofing felt;
• A3 class fittings (if necessary);
• hammer, shovel, grinder;
• welding machine;
• water and electricity supply.

Important technological phases of large-scale building:

1. Cleaning the site from construction and other debris.
2. Marking the field according to plan, designating places for future supports.
3. Drilling wells to a certain depth.
4. Installation of a compacted sand cushion at the bottom of the pit with a height of 20 cm.
5. Laying a casing pipe made of roofing material, which will also serve as a waterproofing layer.
6. Installation of the reinforcing frame and its arrangement in the well.
7. Preparing the solution and pouring it into the pits.
8. After the concrete has hardened, trim the supporting elements at the same level horizontally, leaving protrusions of the reinforcement.

The installation of a sand embankment beneath the supporting area and the steps involving reinforcement are omitted for structures with low load-bearing capacities and non-heaving soils. The process of producing bored piles is now regarded as finished.

DIY bored piles with instructional videos:

Screw

The following supplies are needed by the designer in order to create screw piles by hand:

• steel pipe of the required cross-section and wall thickness;
• sheet metal (no thinner than 5–6 mm);
• grinder, welding machine;
• waterproofing material.

Stages of manufacturing:

1. Cutting pipes to the required length.
2. Manufacture of the tip by cast or welded method.
3. Cutting blades, giving the propeller part the desired configuration.
4. Welding the spiral to the pipe.
5. Making technological holes at the upper end of the pipe.
6. Cleaning welds.
7. Coating metal with a layer of waterproofing material.

Although completed goods can be used for construction right away, the load-bearing capacity of these load-bearing elements cannot be accurately calculated.

Video instructions showing how to create screw piles using your hands:

Wooden hammers

Only hardwood is used to make wooden driving posts, and the pillar’s diameter must be at least 180 mm. The ends of the workpieces are pointed to help the product more easily overcome soil resistance after being freed of twigs and branches.

To prevent damage to the pile during driving, sheet material is placed over the sharp portion. To stop hammer blows from splitting the wood, a steel ring is positioned atop the support.

This site contains all of the information you require regarding the layout and building of a pile foundation.

Bored Piles	Screw Piles	Wooden Piles
1. Dig a hole with an auger.2. Insert a reinforcing cage.3. Pour concrete into the hole.	1. Screw the pile into the ground using a lever or special tool.2. Check for proper alignment.3. Cap the pile with concrete or a metal plate.	1. Use treated wood to prevent rot.2. Drive the piles into the ground with a sledgehammer.3. Ensure all piles are level and aligned.

Building a foundation yourself using wooden, screw, or bored piles can be a very satisfying endeavor. Selecting the best pile type for your needs and site conditions is dependent on its features, as each type has advantages of its own. You can build a solid and dependable foundation with the appropriate equipment and thoughtful planning.

Bored piles’ strength and depth capabilities make them a great option for larger structures. They offer great stability, but they need to be drilled and concreted precisely. If you decide to use bored piles, make sure you have the proper tools and adhere to safety regulations to prevent any accidents during the drilling procedure.

Conversely, screw piles are renowned for being simple to install. They are ideal for projects where simplicity and time are crucial considerations because they can be driven into the ground with little disturbance. With a basic understanding of the installation process, you can effectively use screw piles to support lighter structures.

A classic and environmentally responsible option are wooden piles, which work well for areas with soft soil or smaller buildings. They might not be as strong as metal or concrete, but they are easier to handle and install. Make sure you treat the wood to keep it from decaying and to increase the foundation’s lifespan.

A careful site evaluation and preparation are essential for any do-it-yourself foundation project. To make wise decisions, be aware of the environmental factors, load requirements, and soil conditions. Safety should always come first, and if you need advice from experts, don’t be afraid to ask. By being diligent and using the appropriate strategy, you can create a solid foundation that endures over time.

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