Gain Productivity Using Techno Metal Post's Helical Piers

Techno Metal Post's helical piers offer deck builders various ways to optimize their construction process, resulting in time efficiency and improved workflow. Here are some notable benefits of using TMP helical piers...

 

Quick Installation

Our helical piers are quicker to install than traditional concrete deck piers, taking just minutes rather than hours or days.

 

No Excavation Needed

With Techno Metal Post’s helical piers, there is no need for excavation or soil removal, which saves time and money on digging and clean up. They can also be easily installed at sites where shallow groundwater is found. Whereas concrete deck piers require special precautions to be taken when pouring concrete below the water table.

 

Installation Can Be Done in Any Weather

TMP’s helical piers can be installed in all weather conditions, unlike traditional concrete piers, where weather is an important factor. That means there is no need to wait in order to install.

 

Customizable

They come in different sizes and can be customized to meet the specific demands or requirements of a project.

 

Durable

The piers are made of high-quality galvanized steel, which makes them highly resistant to corrosion, rust and weather damage. This means that decks built on Techno Metal Post's helical piers will last longer and require less maintenance.

 

Deck builders can increase their productivity and provide a quick installation without excavation or dealing with weather constraints, while providing a durable and customized product to their clients.

Let’s Welcome our New Dealer, TMP Northeast Minnesota

Techno Metal Post is proud to welcome Jacob Eric Nustad-Peluso, a new dealer based in Duluth, Minnesota, to our network.

Jacob, a 34-year-old businessman, with an entrepreneurial spirit and excellent communication skills, is already off to a great start. Jacob is a proud family man. He and his wife Angel, have a beautiful four-year-old girl named River.

Before starting his journey with Techno Metal Post, Jacob worked as a production manager and service manager for a comparable construction company. He discovered Techno Metal Post after a Facebook post that caught his eye. Intrigued by our specialized installation machines, Jacob began to explore the potential of launching his own business. His construction and remodeling background, coupled with his experience and expertise with helical piers, make him well-suited for his new dealership role with Techno Metal Post.

In addition to owning his own business, Jacob is also a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical responder. He loves helping people and is passionate about making a positive impact in his community. When he is not busy working, Jacob enjoys many outdoor activities, along with his deep passion for geography.

Welcome to the TMP family Jacob!

(Jacob with the president of Techno Metal Post, Pascal Marceau)

Helical Piles vs. Concrete Piers

Opting for the lowest initial price, may not result in the best long-term value. The cost of a helical pile installation versus concrete piers depends on several factors.

While the initial cost of helical piles may appear more expensive upfront, they are a more economical solution longterm. This due to their durability, reliability, quick installation process, and ability to withstand weather and ground fluctuations. Here are some factors that contribute to cost efficiency of helical piles over concrete piers:

 

Installation Speed

Helical piles are quicker to install than concrete piers as they require no digging or curing time. Upon installation, they provide instant load-bearing support. This means lower labor costs and a faster project completion. Ultimately this helps to lower expenses and improve project profitability.

 

Minimal Site Disruption

The helical pile installation process causes very little noise, dust, or vibration, which reduces disturbance to the site as well as surrounding areas. This means less money spent on property restoration, landscaping costs, and site cleanup.

 

No Excavation or Hauling of Soil

Installing helical piles does not involve excavation or removal of soil, which reduces the material and disposal costs associated with traditional concrete piers.

 

Durable and Reliable

Helical piles are made of quality steel and offered with a hot-dipped galvanized coating for an extended life. They resist frost heaving better than typical concrete piers which are installed only to frost depth. The piles are capacity validated in the field, which is a more dependable method than sizing concrete piers based on soil bearing capacity. Their durability and reliability lead to long-term savings.

 

Suitable for Most Soil Types

Helical piles are ideal for a variety of soil types and geological conditions. This versatility eliminates the need for additional foundation types, which overall reduces building costs.

 

Team Morale

We also need to consider how much happier your staff will be when they no longer have to dig holes. Happier employees perform better and improve profitability.

 

These factors combined make helical piles a more cost-effective option than concrete piers. They save time, reduce labor costs, produce minimal site disruption, and require less maintenance.

If you want to estimate the real cost of digging concrete footings, you should consider these variables:

 

Labor___(in hours) x  $_____(per hour) :_________
Auger & machine rental or purchase :_________
Concrete :_________
Sono tube :_________
Brackets :_________
Spoils / debris removal :_________
Inspections :_________
De-watering holes :_________
Jack Hammer rental or purchase :_________
Total :_________

Support for an Elevator Shaft in Carrefour de Touques, France

Techno Metal Post adapts to all your projects!

During the night of May 17, 2022, a Techno Metal Post team arrived at Carrefour de Touques for a unique job. The project needed to be carried out after work hours as not to disturb the regular business flow. The installation of helical piers was needed to support a storeroom elevator shaft.

Ground conditions were poor, with a survey indicating the start of dense soil at 52 feet. The first challenge was positioning the installation machine in its work area: access was narrow and low pipes obstructed installing 2 out of the 10 piers required. At 9pm, after finding the right working position (and without risking store wall damage) the helical pier installation began. The required bearing capacity is reached with the first pile at a depth of 72 feet.  A shipment of pier extensions was quickly obtained, given that 59 feet had originally been planned. The alternating process of screwing and welding continued throughout the night.

By 8:10 the next morning, all the piers were installed, set at the required height, and head plates welded. A team of two professionals, which included a welder, successfully installed 10 helical piers measuring between 59-78 feet in length. The satisfied customer was surprised by the efficient overnight installation, consisting of just over 656 feet of piers!

Under the direction of Sylvain Jirot, a unique challenge of meeting deadlines kept arising. All the dealership's teams were busy, which affected the project's original deadlines. Two of the network's installers (Reginald Nardeau of Techno Pieux Picardie Ouest and Pierre de Franssu of Techno Pieux Martinique) were available to come and carry out the project, ensuring it was completed on time.

Build Your Own Deck with Techno Metal Post

Using ABCDeck is free !

 

Did you know...there’s a site that helps you with the construction of your deck foundation, using only helical piers?  It's called ABCDeck.  A great tool that's useful, easy, and full of insightful advice.  The platform allows you to input your measurements, then supplies you with a complete report.  This includes: the material needed, a plan to share with your installer, tools required & important information/advise.

Here, you’ll be provided with everything you need for your deck foundation project, using Techno Metal Post helical piers.  Please keep in mind-the maximum size accepted for a deck is 16'x16'.

How to use this tool?
  1. Click on the ABCDeck link (http://abcdeckapp.com)
  2. Register
  3. Answer three simple questions (height, length and width of your deck)
  4. Follow the steps
Key features:

A Solution for Ground Beams

Helical pier foundations are used regularly in the construction industry, to support the load capacity of heavy materials.  Screw piles are chosen, depending on soil type and the weight of the structure needing the support…rendering it durable for years to come.

 

Helical piers & ground beams?

It's well known that ground beams are often used in lightweight building foundations, when the ground load-bearing capacity is at a low depth (0 cm to 90 cm).  Sometimes we do encounter sites that are made up of layers of lesser carrying capacity.  In those cases, a Techno Metal Post helix pier may be the best solution to avoid:

 

Why are they used with ground beams?

If the ground conditions require the foundation to be deeper than one meter (example: low bearing capacity of the soil, presence of clay or a high-water table), our helical piers are the best solution.  This ensures the foundation will sit on proper ground with the appropriate bearing load.

Our specialized machines install the Techno Metal Post by rotating it into the ground then reading the ground bearing capacity.  The setup is complete when the correct depth and required bearing load is attained… Simple and efficient!

Once that is done, our certified installer cuts off the top of the steel shaft to the correct height.  Afterwards, a top plate is installed, making it possible to solidify the Techno Metal Posts with the ground beam.

We're a little biased, and think Techno Metal Post helical piers may even be a ground beam contractor’s “best friend”.

 

How does the helical pier work?

Once the ground beam and helical pier have been joined, the accumulated live and dead loads, will be transferred across to the depth and layer of bearing capacity.  This way, the building can be assembled on the ground beam as planned.  Techno Metal Posts helical piers, made of steel, are considered a prefabricated foundation alternative to many contractors.

They consist of:

Under the rotating effect, the helix penetrates the soil and practically no material is ejected.  The shaft of the Techno Metal Posts can be extended if necessary, using welded extensions down to the desired ground bearing level.  The size of the shafts and the helical parts are designed by our engineering team, according to the ground conditions and the load to be supported.

 

Advantages of using helical piers with ground beams:

 

Simple and quick

Our piers are installed by our certified installers, using proprietary hydraulic machines.  This allows them to immediately start building, without the hassles of digging and managing large trenches.

 

Limited excavation and low footprint

Techno Metal Post has developed a range of hydraulic machines dedicated entirely to the installation of screw piles.  They are all designed to perform rigorous and reliable work, and in most cases, no extra excavation is necessary for common residential projects.

 

Strong, solid & steadfast

They are designed according to the highest engineering and quality standards.  And so, their capacity to support heavy loads is guaranteed.  Techno Metal Posts are compliant with the UKCA, BBA and LABC certifications.

We consider them the best complementary solution for ground beam foundations.  For many years they have been used to support them, assuring a solid infrastructure is in place for your building projects.

Contact your nearest installer for more information and an affordable solution to your construction needs.

 

A New Dealership in Austin, Texas

The Techno Metal Post team is proud to announce the arrival of a new dealership in the US network. Nathan Menkin recently joined our family by founding TMP of Austin. Nate decided to get into the helical pile business to offer an alternative solution to how things were currently being done in his area, i.e., pile driving in general.

Nate, who also owns ATX Lakescapes, a boat dock and boat lift remodeling company, lives in Leander, Texas with his wife Victoria and their 3 children.

Nate was born and raised in the state of Texas. He grew up with the passion of playing football and made it all the way to the NFL. He was an offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans. Later in his career Nate also played football in the Canadian Football League. His time in Canada, not to mention the bonds he made with his teammates, was a factor when it came time to reach out to Techno Metal Post about the possibility of starting a dealership.

Techno Metal Post would like to thank Nate and Victoria for their trust and confidence and the opportunity to expand the TMP technology in the state of Texas.

The entire TMP team would like to welcome them and wishes them all the best with their dealership!

Building on Sloped Terrain Made Easy with Helical Piers

When undertaking a construction project requiring a foundation, it’s critical to have a finished product that is solid and secure, so the building doesn’t collapse over time.  When a structure is built on a slope, everything becomes exponentially more difficult to complete.  For this reason, helical piers have simplified foundation building, not only in the design, but also the construction process.

 

Foundation Design

Techno Metal Post helical piers, can be customized for the specific needs of a given project.  Our in-house engineers look at the components required for the design and considers the following…compression, tension and lateral forces that will be placed on the pier once installed.  After this is reviewed, they can select the pier diameter & quantity needed, helix diameter, and the soil pressure they need to be installed within.  Our engineering team ensures a professional, code approved, and safe foundation solution for every project.

Once each pier is successfully installed, the design serves as a complete structural unit, each doing their individual job transferring the overall load.  Combined with a custom bracket system, the foundation piers connect to the structure’s base material (which is either steel, concrete or wood) and is locked in place.  There is no digging or compacting work required with helical piers.

When you introduce a sloped surface, there are always concerns about lateral stability.  Should this be a concern for your project (with or without a slope), a helical pier foundation can be easily adjusted to factor in this additional force.  Some of the helical piers can be constructed to have a second helix piece.  A battered pier (which means installed at an angle into the slope), can be connected next to the vertical pier shaft and welded into the main bracket system.  If the structure has a portion above the ground, then the beams and posts for the main structure can be further strengthened directly using angled bracing, as shown in the photo above.

 

Construction Process

The design of any foundation looks great in drawings but eventually it needs to be built on site.  Traditional footings and foundations require excavation, forming work, setting rebar, and pouring / curing concrete.  Aside from planning and executing, the concrete must also harden before any load can be placed on it.  All this extra work can be eliminated using a basic helical pier foundation design.  A single machine, compact in size, allows the crew to complete the installations needed for even the toughest foundations.  A small platform with adjustable posts, is used to create a flat surface for the crew to safely complete their job.

 

How deep do the helical piers need to go?

Concrete foundations have a minimum depth they can reach (below the frost line for temperate climates) and need to be wide enough for the footing width and structural load.  Helical piers, on the other hand, can go deep enough so they are secured into suitable earth below.  Good soil is confirmed by measuring the torque from the drill head, off the installation equipment, which is then converted to a load bearing capacity outcome.  This allows the depth to be well below any concrete foundation, if need be.  Once the desired load capacity is reached, the pier receives a final spin and is then locked into position, ensuring security.

On your next project, consider a helical pier foundation alternative.  We have an extensive installer network that is ready to deliver a solution for you!

Techno Metal Post Western Twin Tiers

Techno Metal Post is very happy to welcome Allen Arnold and Carissa Stewart, his fiancé, into the Techno Metal Post family. Together, they will be heading up Techno Metal Post Western Twin Tiers.

A veteran of the US military, Allen has several careers under his belt. He has worked in construction and was a logger for many years before becoming a security guard at the local college. As a security guard, his work eventually led him to more safety training and courses in CPR. This experience piqued his interest into continuing further in the field of health and safety. He and a friend and colleague considered becoming paramedics but decided to pursue nursing instead. His friend dropped out and Allen stayed on, becoming an emergency room nurse, a career he continues to enjoy. He says it is now time for a different chapter and to begin building his own business.

Carissa works as a Patient Access Rep at the same hospital as Allen. As they embark on this new Techno Metal Post adventure together, Carissa will help Allen look after the administration and marketing of their dealership (and maybe even install a pile or two!).

One episode of Holmes and Holmes on HGTV, where they were installing Techno Metal Post helical piles for a deck, was enough to hook Allen. Seeing the technology, he immediately realized, “it was a no-brainer!” and began looking for a Techno Metal Post dealer to install piles for his wrap-around porch. While on the Techno Metal Post website, he noticed the “become a dealer” button at the bottom of the page. He read further and realized he wanted to become a dealer. Carissa said Allen has wanted to have his own business for some time, and now a unique opportunity was presenting itself. Allen said he considered waiting another year before embarking on the venture but with Carissa’s encouragement, they took the leap now. Allen said, “If I start something, I finish it. I am not a quitter.” He decided to seize the moment. “I didn’t want to miss an opportunity that might not come around again…I didn’t want to see some other guy driving around my neighbourhood in a Techno Metal Post truck.”

Allen and Carissa said their week with us was “amazing!” They enjoyed the training and felt it was very thorough. Both completed all parts of the training, including the welding portion. Carissa says she wants to learn and do as much as possible so that she can answer clients’ questions. There was also a “Techno Metal Post First”: Allen managed to break Max’s sledgehammer during the sledgehammer test. There was lots of laughter, as well as many questions while they were here. Allen and Carissa were really taken with “with how happy everyone is.” And Allen was impressed with the fact that all our piles and equipment are made right here at our Techno Metal Post base in Thetford Mines. “It shows real commitment to this company.”

Allen and Carissa will continue working in their respective fields, as they get Techno Metal Post Western Twin Tiers off the ground. Allen said his first order of business as a new dealer is to install the piles for his own porch. “It’s the best advertising! And I won’t cover the piles either. Let everyone see that I use the product.” Some final reflections before heading back home, Allen said “I am nervous, but no longer afraid.” He knows he has been well-trained and will be well-supported in this new adventure.