How to choose the right screw pile for your project
Six steps from project brief to the correct pile specification. Covers project types, soil conditions, load requirements, and the right product series for your needs.
Define your project type
Your project type determines the load class, installation method, and product series you need. Identify your project category below to narrow your selection immediately.
Energy & Utilities
Solar parks, BESS installations, substations, powerlines, 5G masts, pipelines. High volume, verified load capacity per pile.
PRO SeriesCommercial & Industrial
Warehouses, halls, modular buildings, noise barriers, platforms, retaining walls. Structural loads requiring engineering design.
PRO SeriesResidential
Houses, extensions, garages, holiday cabins. Permanent structural foundations designed to meet local building codes.
PRO SeriesDIY & Garden
Terraces, decks, fences, garden rooms, jetties, small sheds, greenhouses. Lighter loads, hand or small machine installation.
HELIX SeriesChallenging Terrain
Peatlands, wetlands, flood zones, slopes, remote sites with limited access. Projects where concrete is impractical or impossible.
PRO SeriesInfrastructure
Road portals, rail gantries, signage, lighting masts, EV charging stations, advertising structures, boardwalks.
PRO or HELIXAssess your soil conditions
Soil type directly affects bearing capacity, required pile depth, and helix configuration. The most reliable basis for pile selection is a geotechnical survey. If you have soil data, send it to our engineering team for a project-specific recommendation.
Clay
The helical flange cuts through and anchors in clay effectively. Good bearing capacity at moderate depths. Multiple helices can increase capacity in stiff clay.
Sand & Gravel
Dense sand and gravel provide immediate resistance. Screw piles achieve high torque values quickly, confirming reliable bearing capacity at shallower depths.
Peat & Soft Ground
Screw piles pass through soft layers to reach firmer soil below. Longer piles may be needed. Paalupiste has extensive experience with solar parks and boardwalks on peatlands.
Moraine (Glacial Till)
Mixed soil with variable grain sizes. Screw piles handle moraine well, but installation torque should be monitored to detect obstructions like larger boulders.
No soil data? Contact us with your project location and planned structure. Our engineers can advise on typical soil conditions in your area and recommend a starting specification.
Determine your load requirements
Every pile must carry the loads imposed by your structure safely. Screw pile sizing starts with understanding what forces the foundation will need to resist.
Load types to consider
| Load Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Compression | Vertical downward force from the weight of the structure, equipment, snow, and occupants |
| Tension (uplift) | Vertical upward force from wind, buoyancy, or dynamic loads. Critical for solar panels and masts. |
| Lateral (shear) | Horizontal force from wind pressure, soil pressure, or vehicle impact |
| Moment | Rotational force at the pile head from eccentric loading or cantilever structures |
Structural calculations required. For projects requiring building permits, a structural engineer must calculate the loads and specify the pile size. Our engineering team provides pile design and load tables tailored to your project.
Typical load ranges by project
| Project | Typical Load / Pile |
|---|---|
| Fence | 5 - 15 kN |
| Terrace / Deck | 10 - 30 kN |
| Garden room | 15 - 40 kN |
| Garage | 30 - 80 kN |
| Residential house | 50 - 200 kN |
| Solar park | 30 - 120 kN |
| Industrial hall | 100 - 500 kN |
| Heavy infrastructure | 200 - 1,000 kN |
Choose the right product series
Paalupiste manufactures two product series. Your choice depends on load requirements, installation method, and project scale.
Professional & Industrial
Machine-installed piles for structural and industrial applications. Designed for high-load projects including buildings, solar farms, substations and infrastructure.
- Tube diameter: 60.3 - 323.9 mm
- Helice diameter: 150 - 1,000 mm
- Load capacity: up to 1,000 kN
- Standard lengths: 1.5 - 12 m
- Installation: excavator with hydraulic drive head
- Custom sizes manufactured to specification
- EN 1090 certified manufacturing
WARRANTY
DIY & Light Construction
2nd generation screw pile with cast steel head for effortless manual or machine installation. Fences, jetties, garden rooms, terraces and small cottages.
- Tube: 60.3 × 2.9 mm or 60.3 × 5.0 mm
- Helice diameter: 160 mm
- Standard lengths: 0.7 - 3.2 m
- Steel grade: S420
- Installation: by hand or mini excavator
- Hot-dip galvanized (EN ISO 1461)
- Cast steel head for easy installation
WARRANTY
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | PRO Series | HELIX Series |
|---|---|---|
| Intended use | Structural, industrial, commercial | DIY, garden, light residential |
| Load capacity | Up to 1,000 kN | Suitable for lighter loads |
| Tube diameters | 60.3 - 323.9 mm (9 standard sizes) | 60.3 mm (single size) |
| Helice diameters | 150 - 1,000 mm | 160 mm |
| Lengths | 1.5 - 12 m | 0.7 - 3.2 m |
| Installation | Excavator + hydraulic drive head | Hand, electric driver, or mini excavator |
| Surface treatment | Plain or hot-dip galvanized | Hot-dip galvanized (110-140 µm) |
| Corrosion design | Material thickness allowance (100-300 yr) | Zinc coating (50 yr) |
| Custom sizes | Yes, manufactured to specification | Standard range only |
| Engineering support | Full design service available | Standard load tables provided |
| Warranty | 100 years | 50 years |
Select your pile dimensions
Three parameters define the pile specification: tube diameter, helice (helix plate) diameter, and pile length. Each is selected based on your load requirements and soil conditions.
Tube diameter
Determines the pile's structural strength and lateral resistance. Larger tubes handle higher loads and longer unsupported lengths above ground. PRO range offers 9 standard sizes from 60.3 to 323.9 mm.
Helice diameter
Controls the bearing area in the soil. Larger helices provide higher compression and tension capacity per plate. Multiple helices can be added to increase capacity without increasing pile length.
Pile length
Must reach the load-bearing soil layer. Soft ground requires longer piles; firm ground allows shorter ones. Extension sections can be added if the bearing layer is deeper than a single pile length.
Number of helices
Single helix is standard. Additional helices increase both compression and tension resistance, especially useful in cohesive soils like clay. Reduces the required pile length for equivalent capacity.
Need help with sizing? Send us your soil data and structural loads. Our engineering team will provide a pile specification including tube diameter, helice size, pile length, and installation torque targets.
Plan the installation
The correct installation method ensures your piles achieve the designed load capacity. Choose based on your pile series and site conditions.
PRO: Machine installation
PRO series piles require a hydraulic drive head mounted on an excavator. The drive head rotates the pile into the ground while the operator monitors torque values in real time.
- ✓Excavators from 1.5 to 30+ tonnes
- ✓Drive heads from 1,300 to 150,000 Nm torque
- ✓Real-time torque monitoring verifies capacity
- ✓Typical speed: 5 - 15 minutes per pile
HELIX: Hand or machine installation
HELIX series piles can be installed manually using a crowbar or with one of our electric pile drivers. Mini excavator with a small drive head is also an option for larger quantities.
- ✓Manual installation with 1-2 people
- ✓Electric pile driver available
- ✓Mini excavator for larger projects
- ✓No specialist skills required
Screw pile selection at a glance
Use this table to identify the right starting point based on your project type. For precise specifications, contact our engineering team with your soil data and structural loads.
| Project Type | Series | Typical Tube | Typical Helice | Installation | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fence / Signage | HELIX | 60.3 mm | 160 mm | Hand / Electric | 50 yr |
| Terrace / Deck | HELIX | 60.3 mm | 160 mm | Hand / Mini excavator | 50 yr |
| Garden room / Shed | HELIX or PRO | 60.3 mm | 160 - 200 mm | Hand / Machine | 50 - 100 yr |
| Garage / Carport | PRO | 76.1 - 114.3 mm | 200 - 300 mm | Machine | 100 yr |
| Residential house | PRO | 88.9 - 168.3 mm | 250 - 500 mm | Machine | 100 yr |
| Solar park | PRO | 76.1 - 139.7 mm | 200 - 400 mm | Machine | 100 yr |
| Industrial building | PRO | 139.7 - 273.0 mm | 400 - 800 mm | Machine | 100 yr |
| Heavy infrastructure | PRO | 219.1 - 323.9 mm | 600 - 1,000 mm | Machine | 100 yr |
These are typical starting points. Final pile specifications depend on your actual soil conditions, structural loads, and local building regulations. Our engineering team provides project-specific recommendations free of charge.