Helical Piles

History Of Helical Piles

In our previous blog post, we went back to the basics of helical piles or piers (though the terms are often used interchangeably, there can be technical differences depending on who you’re asking). To expand on the basics of helical piles we need  to explore some of their history.

Helical piles are used for a variety of purposes. Securing foundations to prevent further settling is just one such purpose. So, where did helical piles come from? Who invented them? And how have they changed? Let’s take a look at the history of helical piles.

 

Invention Of Helical Piles

The first record of helical piles dates back almost two centuries. It was Irish engineer and brickmaker Alexander Mitchell invented the first helical pile in the 1830’s.  He remains most well-known for using early helical piles to help erect lighthouses, bridges, and other structures.

The invention of helical piles all those years ago was revolutionary.  It offered improved stability to structures on notoriously difficult foundations such as shifting sands and mudbanks. Early piles were made from Wrought or cast iron. Mitchell went on to patent the helical pile.

Evolution Of Helical Piles

Helical piles have come a long way since first being invented in the early 19th century. As the many product variations offered by MAGNUM® Piering should indicate, the technology has come a very long way in the intervening decades. Helical piles now come in a range of sizes and adaptable features. There are a lot of helical piles on the market, and it’s not always easy to know which ones are best for the job or why.

MAGNUM® Piering’s helical piles have been using cutting edge technology since we entered the business nearly four decades ago. We build our piles from the highest quality materials. They can reach capacities of 250 tons and higher. MAGNUM® Piering’s helical piles are fast to install and safer than their historical counterparts. And this is just the beginning. MAGNUM® Piering’s helical piles also offer some of the following benefits:

  • Minimal vibration
  • Quieter sound
  • Installed with low headroom
  • Soil displacement
  • Does not produce drill spoils
  • Patented Dual Cutting Edge Helix

As you can see, these ain’t your great grandpa’s helical piers.

Learn More About Helical Piers

MAGNUM® Piering offers a huge wealth of information available for download. With over 300 articles and 4,000 product descriptions, your journey into the world of helical piles and foundation repair has just begun. As always, feel free to contact Magnum Piering with any questions.

 

Related Posts:

The Difference Between Settling and Foundation Problems