Sand dunes: a foundation nightmare
Among the sand dunes, where the view is breathtaking and the atmosphere is relaxing, it’s a beautiful place to build or buy your home. Unfortunately, without cohesion in the soil, sand is not a good support for a stable foundation site. In fact, soft, grainy soil can cause serious problems for homeowners.
If a problem arises, it can be difficult to obtain the proper permits and build on the sand. It can also be difficult to find equipment that can access the area and work well with sand, and that can also accurately penetrate deep into firm subterranean strata.
Fortunately, there is a great solution: a coil spring. A helical abutment is a steel tube or shaft with auger-type plates that, when turned, threads deep through the ground until it settles into firm strata far below the surface. The torque will be able to define the appropriate depth.
Helicals come in many sizes, and helical plates are designed to precisely match and deliver the bearing capacity required for each situation. These docks can be installed with hand power tools or small mobile units, which is much more practical in the dunes.
For a typical new construction site, helicals can be used to support the load vertically as a deep foundation support. After the pillar is installed, it is cut to the correct height and poured into the concrete foundation of the house.
If the site is a renovation of an existing poorly supported house, an appropriate support is used to support the load on the installed pillar. These are long-term repairs with minimal risk of corrosion.
If the structure is too close to the edge of the dune, this can also be a problem. The building could literally slide down the hill! This type of movement usually occurs incrementally and very slowly. In this circumstance, a helical abutment can be screwed at a downward angle and can create a clamping force to hold the structure in place, stopping slippage. Tethers are a powerful tool in this application.
It’s great to be able to enjoy the view and atmosphere of your beautiful home in the dunes, knowing that in the event of foundation settling or shifting, there is a simple and reliable solution in the installation of helical abutments.