anyone know about these

[m beezo]

just saw these post anchors and have some concerns about if they are really any good. They do have some testing and such done but I have never seen one before today.

Here is what I am talking about www.pinfoundations.com

[tomthetoolman40]

I haven't seen them. Don't think they would be useful in rocky soil.

[kevin zale]

It looks like with what those things cost you would come out way ahead just using a Techno metal post or whatever those helical jobs are called. Maybe?

kevin

[m beezo]

Kevin you are pobably right about the helical piers. Trouble is there is no one here in St Louis doing them like the ones that Dave Nortup is using. I thought about starting up a business of doing them here but just do not have the capital to consider it at this time. Thought it would be a good business to get into but cannot make myself get into the debt right now.

[dgbldr]

Couple of answers.

1. I don't see any docs that would help sell it to an AHJ. As they sit, I could use them for fence posts, nothing else. Wouldn't be approved.

2, Digging holes to frost depth (42") costs me $10 per hole. Any diameter hole. No savings there. Concrete and tubes are not that expensive either.

3. Helical piers are good for specific situations: A. When you need a positive bearing number without a soils test. B. When you can't dig for some reason. Otherwise, helical piers are not cheaper and IMO not better. Concrete is forever. Steel in the ground will eventually rust.

[m beezo]

[QUOTE=dgbldr;681787]Couple of answers.

2, Digging holes to frost depth (42") costs me $10 per hole. Any diameter hole. No savings there. Concrete and tubes are not that expensive either.

QUOTE]
I want to know how you get a hole dug for $10. I certainly cannot dig a hole that fast, do not think the college age kid that works for me off and on can do one that fast. You have a service that does it for you or something.

[davenorthup]

3. Helical piers are good for specific situations: A. When you need a positive bearing number without a soils test. B. When you can't dig for some reason. Otherwise, helical piers are not cheaper and IMO not better. Concrete is forever. Steel in the ground will eventually rust.

FWIW - we can offer multiple levels of protection against corrosion. HD galvanizing, cathodic protection (active or passive). This the steel will never corrode / rust if the right protection is offered.

Not sure the cost differences out there but concrete certainly is not forever. ;)

[dgbldr]

I want to know how you get a hole dug for $10. I certainly cannot dig a hole that fast, do not think the college age kid that works for me off and on can do one that fast. You have a service that does it for you or something.

I have several guys who do it. Engine-powered augers. One man can do about a dozen holes an hour without breaking a sweat. We rarely run into rocks. Roots are a different story.

[dgbldr]

FWIW - we can offer multiple levels of protection against corrosion. HD galvanizing, cathodic protection (active or passive). This the steel will never corrode / rust if the right protection is offered.

Not sure the cost differences out there but concrete certainly is not forever. ;)

I ripped out a ground level deck last summer. About 40 yrs old. The hd galv nails were completely rusted out. Old non-corrosive PT lumber. The concrete was like new.

Problem with surface protection on a corkscrew is that first time you hit a rock, you break the skin. From that point on, it's just a matter of time. I like helicals, but personally I'd use stainless if it was something that needs to last over 50 years.

[davenorthup]

Stainless would be immensely expensive and very unnecessary. If HD galvanization is not enough for our clients (and ot usually is as thick steel is not going to corrode like a nail will) we offer either sacrificial anodes or active cathodic protection.

Depending on the soil - HD galvanization is a 50 year protection. I have never sold other types of protections to architects or engineers in any of the municipal projects we have done. Cathodic protection usually only comes up if the client knows the soils are really acidic or it is an oil / gas project.

[kevin zale]

Beez, I hear you about the debt issue. I'd really like to bring the helical piers to my area, but the cost of getting started is a big hurdle.

kevin

[kfc510]

[QUOTE=m beezo;681796]

Couple of answers.

2, Digging holes to frost depth (42") costs me $10 per hole. Any diameter hole. No savings there. Concrete and tubes are not that expensive either.

QUOTE]
I want to know how you get a hole dug for $10. I certainly cannot dig a hole that fast, do not think the college age kid that works for me off and on can do one that fast. You have a service that does it for you or something.

Yeah, I wondered about that too. I estimate $100 a hole here for 32-36", and I'm usually sweating it.

kevin