Helical Piers for New Construction Guide: Denver

Overview

Helical piles are not only a repair tool. Builders and engineers also use them as foundations for new homes, additions, garages, sunrooms and commercial structures, particularly where soils are weak or expansive.

Because they can be installed with relatively small equipment and loaded right after installation, helical piles can work on tight sites and in conditions where waiting for concrete to cure would slow a project. They also produce little spoil, since there is no drilled hole.

Foundation choice for new construction is generally an engineering decision based on soil reports, loads and local code. Helical piles are one option alongside drilled piers, spread footings and other systems.

The usual process

Reviewing the soil report and structural loads.
Engineering design specifying pile type, capacity and layout.
Cutting piles to elevation and setting caps or brackets.
Documenting installation for the engineer and inspectors.
Coordinating with the concrete or framing crew.

What affects the outcome

Installation records are often reviewed by the engineer of record.
Coordinate schedules between pile installation and other trades.
Building departments typically require engineered foundation designs for new structures.
Access for equipment can matter on tight lots.
Expansive soils on the Front Range often drive deep foundation choices.

Local notes for Denver

Parts of Colorado's Front Range are known for expansive clay soils and claystone bedrock that swell when wet and shrink as they dry. That movement can affect foundations, basement slabs, driveways and sidewalks, and it is one reason many local homes are built with deep foundations or floating basement slabs.

Front Range weather brings freeze-thaw cycles, spring snowmelt and summer storms. Keeping water away from the foundation with working gutters, extended downspouts, grading that slopes away from the house and careful irrigation near the foundation is a common first step before or alongside any repair.

We take inquiries from Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Littleton, Arvada, Westminster.

How to prepare your inquiry

Note where gutters and downspouts discharge and whether irrigation runs near the house.
Note when you first noticed the problem and whether it seems to be getting worse.
Mention any previous foundation, drainage or concrete work, and whether a warranty came with it.
Have any inspection or engineer reports handy, such as from a home purchase.
Say whether you are buying or selling the home, since timelines may matter.

When to keep looking

Refusal to let you get a second opinion or an engineer's review.
No mention of permits for structural work where your jurisdiction requires them.
Unwillingness to explain the cause of the problem before recommending repairs.
No written proposal describing the scope, materials and number of piers or supports.
Large up-front payments demanded before any work begins.

Questions to ask a provider

Has an engineer designed the foundation, and do they specify helical piles?
What capacity are the piles designed for?
What equipment is needed, and will it fit on my site?
How does this compare with other foundation options for my lot?
Who coordinates with the building inspector?

Common questions

Are helical piles faster than concrete?: They can often be loaded right after installation, which may speed some schedules.
Can a whole house be built on helical piles?: Yes, helical piles are used for new homes when an engineer designs the foundation for them.
Do I need a soil report?: New construction foundations are generally designed based on soil information. Ask your builder or engineer.

Helical Piers for New Construction in Denver