Your Complete Guide to Helical Pile Foundations in Western New York

This unique foundation solution is helping structures get built over 90% faster while delivering even more strength and durability than concrete

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Introduction

Can you think of anything that was invented nearly 200 years ago, and is even more relevant today than when it was created?

Today we're looking at a groundbreaking technology that makes construction faster, easier, and cleaner here in Western New York... even though it was invented in the 1830's.

Welcome to the complete introduction to helical pile foundations.

Originally created to hold structures like lighthouses and bridges, this lightning-quick support can now be found under, well, pretty much everything. 
From large-scale commercial projects to backyard decks, this unique foundation solution has rapidly become a preferred alternative to typical poured concrete or driven pile options.

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Compared to driven piles and poured concrete, a helical foundation can be significantly faster and easier to install

Despite this bursting popularity, there's still a surprising number of people (construction professionals and everyday homeowners alike) who aren't aware of how helical piles can dramatically improve their projects.

Not only can they take your project from bare-land to building over 90% faster than other solutions, a helical foundation delivers shockingly durable performance even in our difficult soil conditions.

It's time to take a few minutes and let us bring you up-to-speed on this surprising foundation. Stick around to the end of this article and you'll learn:
● What are helical pile foundations● How a helical pile works (and why it's better)● Why they deliver superior support in Western New York soils● What kinds of projects a helical pile can support● Reasons you would want to use them for your project

Ready? Let's dig in (no apologies for that pun) and get familiar with helical pile foundations.

How Does A Helical Pile Foundation Work?

At the core of a helical pile foundation is a simple steel shaft, which can be made either from hollow pipe or solid square bar depending on the application. 
A wide variety of shaft diameters are available, allowing us to tweak your foundation to perfectly suit (almost) any structure.

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Towards the bottom of the pile shaft you'll find one, or more, specially-shaped plates known as "helix plates" (pl. helices). They're stamped out of a solid sheet of steel in a specific helical shape, which is why the foundation is known as a helical pile. 
This helix plate is the secret behind a helical piles impressive performance and speedy installation. Instead of having to dig a hole and pour concrete or hammer-in a big steel pile, we can simply rotate a helical pile down into the ground.
Yep, kind of like a supersized wood screw, we smoothly turn the pile downwards until it reaches firm soil layers. The soil puts pressure on the top and bottom of the helices which firmly anchors the pile in place, preventing movement.

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Why is a helical pile so strong?

Thanks to the unique installation method, a helical pile creates practically zero disturbance to the ground and installs significantly faster than other options. 
Since the pile shaft is fairly narrow in comparison to the wider helices, it allows a helical pile to deliver enormous load capacities in a compact footprint.

That design is also why a helical pile offers far stronger performance in the kinds of loose soils that are so common here in Western New York. Heck, we can even install a helical pile under water into soft mud or sand with no problems.

Depending on your project and load requirements, the pile design itself can be tweaked to suit your exact conditions. We can make the helices larger, add more of them, change the shaft diameter, and so on.

The result is a:
● precise● sturdy● long-lasting
foundation that demands way less hassle and time to install.

Speaking of installation, what exactly does that process look like? We were hoping you'd ask - here's what it takes to install a helical pile...

What Are The Benefits Of A Helical Pile Foundation?

Alright, so now you know what helical piles are and how they work. But why would you even want to use them as your foundation in Western New York?
After all, haven't we been using concrete sonotubes and driven piles for decades? Why change to helical piles when those solutions are so popular already?

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That question, honestly, could be an entire blog post all on its own.
Depending on your project, there can be many different reasons you'd want to use a helical pile foundation. 
Whether you're trying to overcome difficult soil conditions, minimize site prep, build in a remote area, or save time, you'll find a big ole' pile of reasons to choose a helical foundation.
But since we don't have time to go through all the benefits of helical piles, let's take a look at seven of the top advantages that contractors and homeowners alike enjoy...

1: Seriously Fast Installation Speed

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Helical piles are installed much faster than "traditional" foundations, such as poured concrete. This comes down to a couple key factors: 
● They're rotated (screwed) into the ground and don't require any digging or hammering● They're made from steel and don't need to cure for days/weeks like concrete will
Those factors mean that many installations can be completed in a single day (depending on the project) and are ready to use immediately. Helical piles can be over 90% faster to use compared to poured concrete, which translates to potential weeks of time-saved.

2: Virtually Zero Ground Disturbance

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As you've already seen, the installation of a helical pile is incredibly low-impact compared to other foundations. We don't need to excavate huge piles of dirt or create noise and vibrations with heavy-handed pile drivers. 
Not only does that greatly reduce the site prep required for your foundation, the complete lack of vibration protects nearby structures (and people).
Plus, once the foundation install is finished, you won't be left staring at piles of excavated dirt to either haul-away or pay to have graded into the site.

3: Shockingly Versatile and Adaptable

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Building a deck? How about an entire house? Boardwalks? Steel-frame building? Garage? Solar farm? Yep, all those things (and way more) can be supported on a helical pile foundation.
Oh, do you need to build in a remote location where large equipment won't make it? 
How about near the shoreline where soils are wet, loose, and a general nightmare? 
No problem.
From large to small projects, light to serious structural loads, loose to firm soils, a helical pile will happily adapt to your precise requirements. 
We can tweak the pile design to suit nearly any type of project or site condition, making it a foundation that'll deliver excellent performance in all kinds of situations.

4: All-Weather Installation

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As a resident of Western New York, you don't need to be told the weather can be "temperamental" at the best of times. There's few things more frustrating than having to delay your construction work because of Mother Nature.
For example, let's say you're planning for some concrete sonotubes... until it starts raining. Digging for concrete in the rain or in saturated ground? Pretty unlikely to be a success.
This is where helical piles shine. Not only can they be installed in wet, muddy, sloppy conditions, we can even get them in the ground during wintertime. That means you can sort-out your foundation during the slower construction season and get a head-start come spring.
As mentioned earlier, helical piles can even be installed underwater for structures like docks and boathouses. Truly, a weather-agnostic foundation solution.

5: More Environmentally Friendly

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You might have already started to realize this, but a helical foundation is a whole lot nicer for the environment compared to other solutions on the market.
First, as we've covered, there's less disruption to the ground when installing a helical pile. No holes to excavate, messy concrete to dump-in, piles of dirt, you get the idea. Plus, no nasty vibrations from pile-driving to disturb the local ecosystem.
Second, a helical pile will uses less raw materials compared to concrete. Some companies have found that a helical foundation solution required 98% less material overall than the competing concrete solution. Less raw material = fewer carbon emissions.
Finally, a helical pile can be easily removed and 100% recycled should the need arise someday. Instead of having to tear-up the ground digging out concrete or extracting driven piles, a helical foundation simply rotates back out of the ground.

6: Lasts for an Impressively Long Time

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How long do you want your foundation to last? If you said, "I want my foundation to outlive me", then odds are great you'd love helical piles.
As stated earlier, helical piles are manufactured entirely from steel. And even though steel can rust, the reality is that once it's sitting deep underground there actually isn't that much oxygen to facilitate corrosion.
So, the actual rate at which a helical pile degrades is going to be pretty darn slow (if properly manufactured). In fact, there's structures like the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse which have been standing for over 150 years on their helical pile foundation.
Modern helical piles are made from quality steel that is resistant to corrosion - and if needed you can even have them galvanized for extra protection. Many manufacturers are happy to guarantee a minimum lifespan of 75+ years for their helical piles, and in most cases they'll last far beyond that.

7: Cost-Effective and Economical

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We're not going to lie to you - the initial cost of a helical pile foundation could be slightly more expensive than concrete (depending on the project).
But, is the initial cost the only cost to think about? No.
When you consider the hugely reduced installation time, minimal site impact, reduced prep, elimination of concrete, zero-excavation, no shifting or sinking, and eco-friendliness... it's no secret that helical piles are more economical in the long-run.
Consider the fact that in areas like East Amherst, NY, there's hundreds (maybe even thousands) of homes with failing concrete foundations. Some are only a few years old. 
The soils are simply too weak and wet to support them. Helical piles, however, don't sink or shift when properly installed, and could prevent those foundation problems.
In that case, the small added cost of helical piles would have saved the financial burden of having to repair foundation failures.
So, overall, we're confident in saying that a helical foundation is actually more cost-effective and economical in the long-run.

Where Can You Use A Helical Pile Foundation?

Okay, we've covered a lot of ground regarding helical pile foundations, meaning you're way more informed about this unique solution than you were a few minutes ago!
But, there's still one more thing we want to go over with you - what can you actually use a helical pile foundation for?
This is another question that, honestly, could fill an entire post. But we're already reaching the end here, so let's keep things simple and straightforward.

Helical Foundations for Residential Projects

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    Decks, Patios, Sunrooms

    Home Additions

    Site-Built, Modular, and Mobile Homes

    Garages, Sheds, Outbuildings

    Cottages and Cabins

    Solar Panels

    Docks, Boathouses

Helical Foundations for Commercial Projects

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    Retail and Mixed-Use Units

    Multi-Family Housing

    Steel Frame Buildings

    Battery Energy Storage Units

    Boardwalks, Piers

    Public Decks and Patios

Helical Foundations for Industrial Projects

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    Liquid and Gas Storage Tanks

    Liquid and Gas Pipelines

    Warehouses

    Energy Infrastructure

    Walkways, Stairs

    Communication Towers

    Security Fencing

Conclusion

Despite the undeserved reputation that helical piles sometimes find themselves carrying, they are not an unknown or newfangled foundation solution.
Not only have helical piles been supporting all types of structures for almost 200 years, they've seen an explosion in popularity over the past few decades across America. Whether it's a large-scale commercial project or a backyard deck, helical foundations offer a strong case for being a first-choice option.

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Their unique design gives them outstanding load capacity without the usual hassle of a deep foundation installation. Smoothly rotating into the ground with almost no soil displacement, they're lightning-quick and better for the environment.
Plus, a helical pile will happily overcome all kinds of soil conditions. Wet, dry, loose, dense, near the shoreline, or in the hills, wherever you need a foundation the odds are good there's a helical solution to suit your situation.
So the big question now is: 
What are you going to do with all this new-found foundation information?
Because if you're planning on building a residential, commercial, or industrial project in the Western New York Area, we have a suggestion...
...get in touch with our foundation team at Helical Pile Contractors and let's have a chat about the support for your structure. From foundation design to installation, we're here to help put whatever you're building on a firm and long-lasting footing.
Contact us today and describe your project to get started!

Author Information

  • Illustration

    This blog post was written by Helical Pile Contractors. We're a team of foundation professionals who specialize in cleaner, faster, and easier foundation solutions. We serve the entire Western New York area with foundation design and installation services. Contact us today to get your free foundation quote started!

Designing and installing unshakable helical pile foundations for your projects in Western New York. Relentlessly dedicated to delivering an outstanding experience.

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Akron, Alden, Amherst, Angola, Aurora, Blasdell, Boston, Brant, Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Colden, Collins, Concord, Depew, East Aurora, Eden, Elma, Evans, Gowanda, Grand Island, Hamburg, Holland, Kenmore, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lancaster, Marilla, Newstead, North Collins, Orchard Park Sardinia, Sloan, Springville, Tonawanda, Wales, West Seneca, Williamsville

© Created by Helical Pile Marketers | 2025

moc.srotcartnoceliplacileh%40selas | (716) 319-8824

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Designing and installing unshakable helical pile foundations for your projects in Western New York. Relentlessly dedicated to delivering an outstanding experience.

About Helical Piles

More Info

Areas We Serve

Akron, Alden, Amherst, Angola, Aurora, Blasdell, Boston, Brant, Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Colden, Collins, Concord, Depew, East Aurora, Eden, Elma, Evans, Gowanda, Grand Island, Hamburg, Holland, Kenmore, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lancaster, Marilla, Newstead, North Collins, Orchard Park Sardinia, Sloan, Springville, Tonawanda, Wales, West Seneca, Williamsville

© Created by Helical Pile Marketers | 2025

moc.srotcartnoceliplacileh%40selas | (716) 319-8824

All rights reserved