Overview
Decks, porches and other light structures need footings that resist settling and frost movement. Traditional concrete footings involve digging holes, pouring concrete and waiting for it to cure. Helical piles offer an alternative: they are screwed into the ground and can often be loaded soon after installation.
Helical piles may be a good fit when soils are poor, access is tight or a homeowner wants to minimize digging in an established yard. They are also used to support existing porches or steps that have settled.
Local code and the deck's design determine footing requirements, including depth for frost. Many building departments accept helical piles for decks when they meet code or have an approved evaluation.
What the work usually involves
- Reviewing the deck or porch design and loads.
- Locating utilities before installation.
- Installing piles at each footing location with monitored torque.
- Providing installation records for inspection.
- Handing off to the framing crew.
Key considerations
- Building departments often require permits and inspections for decks.
- Footing layout should match the deck framing plan.
- Ask whether the pile product has an evaluation report accepted by your jurisdiction.
- Equipment size and yard access matter.
- Existing porches can sometimes be supported with helical piles without full rebuild.
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
- Mention any doors or windows that stick, no longer latch or show new gaps.
- Note where gutters and downspouts discharge and whether irrigation runs near the house.
- Have any inspection or engineer reports handy, such as from a home purchase.
- Describe whether water shows up in the basement, crawl space or against the foundation, and when.
- Note when you first noticed the problem and whether it seems to be getting worse.
Warning signs
- Unwillingness to explain the cause of the problem before recommending repairs.
- No mention of permits for structural work where your jurisdiction requires them.
- No plan for restoring landscaping, walkways or finishes disturbed by the work.
- Refusal to let you get a second opinion or an engineer's review.
- Pressure to sign the same day, or claims that a discount disappears if you wait.
What to ask before you commit
- How will you meet frost depth requirements?
- Does my building department accept helical piles for decks?
- How many piles do I need, and where?
- Will I receive installation records for the inspector?
- How much will my yard be disturbed?
People also ask
- Are helical piles allowed for decks?
- Many jurisdictions accept them, often with documentation. Check with your building department.
- Do helical piles need concrete?
- Typically not. They are steel piles that connect directly to the structure with caps or brackets.
- Can I build on them right away?
- Helical piles can often be loaded soon after installation, subject to inspection.
Related topics
- Helical Piers: How helical piers work, where they are used in foundation repair, and what to ask before installation.
- Push Piers vs. Helical Piers: Comparing push piers and helical piers for foundation repair, and how contractors decide between them.
- Expansive Soils and Foundations: How expansive soils affect foundations on Colorado's Front Range, and approaches to reduce movement.