When the ground is not able to support the necessary weight, the most common method of constructing a foundation is to use a grade beam. These concrete beams, which can either be above the ground or below the surface, transfer the weight of the building to support piles of one type or another.

In addition to using grade beams for supporting structures built on unstable or soft ground, they may also be needed in some industrial applications, to support heavy equipment or isolate it from vibration.

For concrete beams to function as grade beams, they must be constructed extremely rigid, with minimal deflection. This is different than designing other foundations, which are predominantly intended to transfer weight to a footer. Concrete, like any stone is naturally strong in compression but weak in tension, to compensate for this weakness, the beams must be strengthened extensively with rebar along their bottom side. This prevents the load of the building from causing cracking in the grade beam.

Postech Screw Piles make a superior choice of support for grade beams, rather than driven or concrete piles. The ease of installation of Postech screw piles, along with their inherent strength supports the load from the grade beams effectively, making a secure foundation that just won’t move.

When using concrete piles in unstable soil conditions, the excavation needed can be quite extensive. The lack of stability of the soil itself causes a high probability of a bored hole collapsing. This problem is eliminated with screw piles, as no hole has to be bored. When using driven piles in unstable soil, the piles have to be driven deep, until they hit bedrock or some other stable support, adding considerable cost. This problem is also eliminated with screw piles, which don’t have to be driven as deep as driven piles.