What are the load capabilities of a Ground Screw?

Load bearing capacities are based on the soil condition the Screw Pile is installed into and the material composition of the Pile itself.
In general, Ground Screws are able to meet load requirement for compression, tensile & lateral loads on most residential structures.
The easiest way to think of Ground Screws, is to compare them to traditional wood screws installed in lumber and are equally dependent on the material they are installed into. A wood screw in a rotten piece of 2×4 will not hold much, but the same wood screw screwed into a board of cherrywood, will offer incredible strengths.
Should a single Ground Screw not be enough to withstand the required load, groups of piles can be installed and connected by steel plates or beams.

Our installations are fully engineered on a project specific basis, factoring in local conditions.

Can a Ground Screw be used in rocky soil conditions or even bedrock?

Yes, a Ground Screw can be installed in any type of ground condition, including gravelly soil, through large boulders or even solid bedrock. Without the help of pre-drilling equipment, a Ground Screw will be limited to rocks smaller than a few inches in diameter and will only push past small rock if a majority of the surrounding material is non-rocky and offers the threads of the Ground Screw good bonding material. With the help of pre-drilling equipment like rotary hammers, or pneumatic drills, a pilot hole can be drilled to either fracture or fully drill out the encountered rock. The Ground Screw can then be installed through, or into the rock.

Can Ground Screws be used in wet soil conditions?

Yes, a Ground Screw can be installed in any type of ground condition, including saturated soils like shore sides, marshlands or lake bottoms.
The BAYO.S Ground Screw features an engineered extendibility feature, that allows for on site length extension of the Ground Screw shaft. This allows the Ground Screw to be installed deeper, until the required ground resistance has been achieved and a stable foundation support has been created.
The BAYO.S system also features add on helical blades that can be utilized in extremely wet conditions, providing additional compressive strength in weak soils.

What areas do we service?

We have completed projects from Nunavut to Puerto Rico, Prince George to Montreal and are able to service any area required. Our head office is located near Toronto, Ontario.

In our daily operations, we service the GTA, Simcoe, Muskoka, Haliburton, Peterborough, Dufferin, Gray, Parry Sounds, Manitoulin, Cochrane, Thunder Bay, Northumberland, Lennox & Addington, Hastings, Prince Edward &  Vancouver Island.

What is the difference between a Ground Screw and a Helical Pile?

The main difference lies in the threading mechanism. The Ground Screw features continuous fine threading much like a woodscrew, while a helical pile features a large helical blade as found on an auger.
The Ground Screw forms a tight bond with the surrounding material and does not disrupt the soils natural strength, therefore achieving foundation stability with much less required soil penetration.

What kind of machine is required to install a Ground Screw?

We offer a wide range of installation equipment that can bring a solution to almost any situation. From manual installation equipment capable of drilling rock and installing Ground Screws to excavator mounted attachments for far reach.

How does Ground Screw pricing compare to concrete and helical piles?

Ground Screws are much quicker to install and feature a wide range of advantages over concrete.
When comparing the Ground Screws’ raw material cost against concrete, it is more expensive, but offers long term quality benefits like no frost heave, no post rot and the potential to be removed with ease and re-used.

Compared to Helical Piles, the biggest advantage is staying within budget. It is a fact that Ground Screw foundations do not have to be installed as deep as Helical Piles because there is much more soil displacement and compaction occurring during installation. Therefore in many cases, a Ground Screw can reach its required ground resistance significantly faster than a Helical Pile.

It is very rare in our construction process having to issue change orders for deeper foundation requirements without anticipation.

The BAYO.S DIY line is ideal for small residential constructions, without the need for specialized installation equipment or a certified installer.

What is the life expectancy of a BAYO.S Ground Screw?

BAYO.S Ground Screws are made in Europe & North America and manufactured with the highest quality materials and state of the art technology. The hot dipped zinc coating provides long term corrosion protection which allows us to offer a lifetime warranty on all foundation products.

How does a Ground Screw perform with roots?

The Ground Screw will try to go the path of least resistance and try to work around smaller roots without much obstruction or deflection. Should a larger root be encountered close to a large tree, it may be possible that the Ground Screw will be refused.

What are disadvantages of Helical Piles?

While Helical Screw Piles are a revolutionary step away from traditional concrete foundations, they do come with a few downsides.
In rocky terrain, with larger boulders, the pile gets deflected off its original vertical axis. One of two things will occur:  The original foundation location will be missed and the pile will be installed in the new position; or – The helical pile installer will try to force the pile around the obstacle and continue the installation under pressure from the equipment. This sometimes works, but significantly stresses the material and greatly disturbs the surrounding soil.

Because of this soil disturbance, the previously existing natural strength in the ground is taken away. Water will always try to follow the path of least resistance and will funnel along the Screw Piles body, making the area more susceptible to frost heave, until the area has settled again.

What are advantages of Helical Piles?

Helical Piles rely on end bearing pressure for compression strengths, this means if the helical finds dense soils to seat into, it can bear immense loads.

In soft or disturbed soils, where a thin Ground Screw thread would not form any contact with compressed surrounding soil, a Helical Pile is the better foundation choice.

To what height can Ground Screw Foundations be installed?

Ground Screws can be installed to precise heights via laser transit and can easily make up for variances in terrain.

Elevations from below grade to several meters elevated are possible, but will require additional hardware like cross-bracing.

How do Ground Screws work?

Continuous threads on a tapered body allow the Ground Screw to thread itself into the ground, compacting the surrounding area and offering incredible loadbearing capacities with very little ground penetration. Helical piles disturb the ground during installation and typically require a much deeper pile installation. Because of the disruption in the native ground, lateral stability is significantly reduced. On the contrary, a Ground Screw provides a tight bond with the surrounding soil, offering instant stability.
The Real Ground Screw Benefits. Engineered BAYO.S Extend-ability lock for mechanical pipe extensions. Rock drilling solutions.
The Real Ground Screw Benefits. Engineered BAYO.S Extend-ability lock for mechanical pipe extensions. Rock drilling solutions.
Engineered Mounting Components We have developed a large variety of mounting components with adjustment possibilities on all axis’, always allowing for a square and plumb build. No field welding required.