Foundation Piles – Modern Steel Foundations for Every Project

Foundation piles are structural elements installed deep into the ground to transfer building loads to stronger soil layers below the surface. They are used when the top layer of soil is too weak or compressible to support a structure directly.

The four main types are driven piles, bored (drilled) piles, CFA piles, and screw piles (helical piles). Screw piles are the fastest to install and the only type that requires no concrete, no excavation, and no curing time.

Driven piles are hammered into the ground using impact or vibratory force. They work well in dense soils but produce significant noise and vibration.

Bored (drilled) piles are created by drilling a hole, inserting a reinforcement cage, and pouring concrete. Used for very heavy loads but require large equipment, spoil removal, and curing time.

CFA piles (Continuous Flight Auger) use an auger that drills to depth while concrete is pumped through the hollow stem as it withdraws. Good capacity but dependent on concrete.

Screw piles (helical piles) are steel piles with helical bearing plates, screwed into the ground with an excavator or hand drill. No concrete, no excavation, immediate load-bearing, fully removable and recyclable.

Pile foundation costs vary by type, soil conditions, required depth, and project scale. Traditional concrete foundations include costs for excavation, formwork, reinforcement, concrete supply, frost insulation, drainage, and curing time – plus the lost schedule days.

Screw pile foundations can reduce total foundation cost by up to 50%. The savings come from eliminating excavation, concrete, frost insulation, and drainage. Fewer work phases mean fewer subcontractors and fewer invoices. The faster timeline also reduces overall project carrying costs.

Contact us for a project-specific estimate.

Pile foundations are needed when the surface soil cannot safely support the structure. Common situations include:

• Soft or compressible ground (clay, peat, organic soil, loose sand)
• High water table or flood-prone areas
• Heavy structural loads that exceed shallow foundation capacity
• Structures subject to uplift or lateral forces (solar panels, masts, noise barriers)
• Sloped or uneven terrain
• Projects where speed is critical and concrete curing is not acceptable

It depends on the pile type. Concrete-based piles (bored, CFA) cannot be poured when temperatures drop below freezing, as concrete curing requires controlled conditions. Driven piles can be hammered in winter but require mobilisation of heavy equipment.

Screw piles are the best option for winter installation. Because they use no concrete, frozen ground and cold temperatures do not prevent work. The steel pile is simply screwed into the ground, and load-bearing begins immediately. Paalupiste screw piles are installed year-round across the Nordics, including in sub-zero conditions.

Installation method: Screw piles are rotated into the ground using torque. Driven piles are hammered in using impact or vibratory force.

Noise and vibration: Screw piles produce minimal noise and zero ground vibration, making them safe near existing buildings and in residential areas. Driven piles create significant noise and vibration that can damage nearby structures.

Load direction: Screw piles resist both compression and tension (uplift) loads thanks to their helical bearing plates. Driven piles primarily resist compression and have poor uplift resistance.

Material efficiency: Screw piles use less steel per pile because the helix reaches bearing capacity at shallower depths. Driven piles in loose soils often need to be longer to achieve the same capacity.

Removability: Screw piles are fully removable by reversing rotation, and can be reused. Driven piles are permanent and destructive to extract.