PRO vs HELIX: which range fits your project
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Many people search for “ground screws” when they need screw pile foundations. While related, there are important differences in engineering, certification, and load capacity.
The terms “ground screw” and “screw pile” are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different products with very different capabilities.
Ground screws are typically short (0.6–1.5 m), small-diameter metal rods with a simple thread or flange. They are designed for light-duty applications — fences, signs, mailboxes, small garden structures. Most ground screws lack structural certification and have no engineered load verification.
Screw piles (also called helical piles) are engineered, certified foundation elements. Paalupiste screw piles feature true helical bearing plates (200–800 mm diameter), are manufactured from traceable SSAB steel, hot-dip galvanised per EN ISO 1461, and designed according to Eurocode EN 1997. They carry calculated loads from 10 kN to over 1,000 kN.
Paalupiste’s HELIX range is what many people actually need when they search for “ground screws.” HELIX piles are DIY-friendly — installable with a hand drill — but they are fully engineered screw piles with a 50-year warranty, not lightweight ground screws.
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When your project needs a real foundation, not just an anchor, engineered screw piles deliver measurable advantages.
Factory production control certified to EN 1090. Every pile meets European structural steel standards. Accepted by building authorities across the EU.
Every pile’s capacity is verified in real time through torque-to-capacity correlation (Kt × T) during installation. No guesswork, no separate load tests.
Coated per EN ISO 1461 for long-term corrosion protection. Made from traceable, low-carbon SSAB steel — among the world’s lowest-carbon steel.
HELIX screw piles carry a 50-year warranty on the pile body. Built for permanent structures, not temporary fixes. Designed for 50–100 year service life.
Paalupiste provides foundation design, pile selection, and project-specific calculations. Full technical support from enquiry to installation documentation.
Connect virtually any structure to your screw pile foundation. Standard brackets for timber, steel, and concrete — plus custom solutions for special projects.
If you searched for “ground screws” because you need a screwed-in foundation for a deck, fence, shed, or carport — HELIX is what you actually want.
HELIX screw piles install by hand with a standard drill and adapter. No excavator needed, no concrete, no waiting. One or two people can complete a deck foundation in a few hours. But unlike a basic ground screw, HELIX is a genuine engineered product: true helical bearing plates, hot-dip galvanised steel, torque-verified installation, and a 50-year warranty.
Typical HELIX applications: decks and terraces, fences and gates, garden sheds and cabins, carports and canopies, pergolas and outdoor kitchens, small solar installations, signs and lighting poles.
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Common questions about ground screws, screw piles, and how to choose the right foundation.
A ground screw is a small, pointed metal rod with a thread or flange that screws directly into the ground. Ground screws are typically 0.6 to 1.5 metres long and designed for light-duty applications such as fences, signs, and small garden structures. They are not engineered foundation elements and generally lack structural certification.
Screw piles (also called helical piles) are engineered, certified foundation elements with true helical bearing plates, designed to carry calculated structural loads from 10 kN to over 1,000 kN. They are manufactured to standards like EN 1090 and designed per Eurocode EN 1997.
Ground screws are smaller, typically uncertified elements for light loads up to about 30–50 kN, without engineered load verification. The key differences are: certification, load capacity, bearing plate design, corrosion protection standards, installation documentation, and design support.
For a small, ground-level garden deck, basic ground screws may be adequate. However, for a proper terrace or elevated deck that must withstand snow loads, wind uplift, and years of use, engineered screw piles are the better choice.
Paalupiste HELIX piles are installed below the frost line, carry verified loads, are hot-dip galvanised, and come with a 50-year warranty — ensuring your deck foundation lasts as long as the structure itself.
No. HELIX piles are engineered screw piles, not ground screws. While they share the concept of screwing into the ground and are DIY-installable with a hand drill, HELIX piles feature true helical bearing plates, are manufactured from traceable SSAB steel, hot-dip galvanised per EN ISO 1461, and carry a 50-year warranty.
They are designed as structural foundation elements — not lightweight anchors. HELIX is the professional-grade alternative for people who search for “ground screws” but need a real foundation.
A typical ground screw supports 5 to 30 kN (roughly 500 to 3,000 kg), with heavy-duty models reaching about 50 kN. Capacity depends on soil conditions, screw length, and diameter.
By comparison, Paalupiste screw piles support 10 to over 1,000 kN depending on pile size and soil conditions. Every pile’s capacity is verified in real time through torque-to-capacity correlation during installation — giving documented proof of each pile’s performance.
Requirements vary by country and municipality. For small structures like fences and garden sheds, permits are often not required. For larger structures such as decks, carports, or buildings, a building permit is typically needed regardless of the foundation type.
When a permit is required, using certified screw piles (like Paalupiste EN 1090 certified products) simplifies the approval process because they come with engineering calculations, installation documentation, and full traceability.