Frost Heave: The Problem With Concrete
Using concrete for deck footings in Calgary and in many other regions with cold and freezing climates presents challenges due to the potential for frost heave. Frost heave is a natural occurrence where the ground freezes and expands during the cold winter months, pushing objects (like concrete footings) upward. The ground in Calgary often freezes to significant depths during the winter. When concrete footings are installed, they can act as anchors in the soil. As the ground freezes and expands, it can push the footings upward, causing the deck to shift and potentially leading to structural damage. This movement is known as frost heave.
The stress of frost heave can also create cracks in the concrete footings near the frost line. This makes matters worse, as moisture is able to penetrate cracks and freeze. When moisture freezes inside the concrete footing, it separates the footing, ultimately losing all stability as it is no longer anchored to the earth.
To address these problems and reduce the risk of frost heave, builders and homeowners in Calgary are better off employing alternative footing systems, such as helical screw piles from the Calgary Screw Pile Pros.
The Better Deck Pile Alternative
Helical screw piles are often considered a superior alternative to traditional concrete footings, especially in areas like Calgary that are prone to frost heave. These piles are made of steel and anchored below the frost line, providing a stable base for the deck. They are less susceptible to the effects of freezing and heaving.
The placement of a screw pile’s helix ensures that it is unaffected by the soil freezing and expanding during the winter. Because the piles are anchored in stable soil layers, they remain unaffected by frost-related movement, offering a solid and stable foundation for the deck.
Screw piles can support the weight of the deck immediately after installation. There is no need to wait for concrete to cure, as is the case with concrete footings. This can expedite the deck-building process and reduce downtime.
Installing screw piles is straightforward and efficient. It requires minimal installation equipment and labour, making it a quicker and more cost-effective option compared to concrete footings that often involve more extensive excavation, formwork, and concrete pouring. For home-owners building a deck, this is a less invasive experience, with most deck pile installations completed in less than an hour. Unfortunately, if concrete footings are used, there is extended time where workers and equipment are needed in your yard, along with added dirt to be cleaned up and hauled away.
Screw Pile Caps For A Better Connection
Many homeowners choose to build their backyard decks themselves. It is a relatively easy construction project that can save a person money if they choose to DIY. The tradeoff for most homeowners is the time commitment. As most people who own houses have jobs during the week, deck building is usually a project left for a weekend. With that in mind, homeowners should take steps to work smarter, not harder, and save themselves some time.
Screw pile caps are a way to do this, though it may not be obvious at first. A first-time deck builder typically only gets so far until they need to mount their deck beam to the screw piles for decks. The way to do this is a very common question that comes to us at the Calgary Screw Pile Pros office.
Screw Pile caps come in many different styles and shapes to accommodate the structural load that the pier foundation is being used for. For decks, there are a couple of options that allow a laminated beam to be directly bolted to the cap. The most common and simplest to use is the u-shaped saddle bracket. This pile cap allows a common-size beam to sit in the cap while the deck builder sets the height and levels the beam. Then, once all adjustments have been made, there are holes pre-drilled in the screw pile cap that easily allow the pile cap and beam to be secured together, connecting the structure to the pile foundation.
Helical Piles For Decks
If you have a deck project in mind and would like to know more about the benefits of using helical screw piles, contact our team at the Calgary Screw Pile Pros. Our team is very knowledgeable in Calgary Deck constructions and are happy to help answer the questions you may have.
