Frequently Asked Questions

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 At Pro Helical, we understand that your project's foundation is its most critical component. When you choose to work with us, you're not just getting a foundation—you're getting a commitment to quality, expertise, and a smooth, professional experience.

Here’s what sets Pro Helical apart:

• Local Minnesota Experts: We are a Minnesota-based company with a deep understanding of our state's unique soil and climate challenges. We know how to design and install foundations that will withstand our severe winters and prevent issues like frost heave.
• Professional, Certified Installation: Our team is comprised of highly trained and certified professionals. We use industry-leading hydraulic equipment to ensure every helical pile is installed correctly, providing a secure and reliable foundation. You can have confidence knowing your foundation is being handled by specialists.
• Comprehensive Service: We offer more than just installation. We provide structural and pile engineering to suit your project's specific needs. Whether you’re building a new home, repairing a failing foundation, or installing a solar array, we can help you from the design phase all the way through to completion.
• Exceptional Customer Service: We pride ourselves on clear communication and a professional demeanor. From your first phone call to the final project walkthrough, we will keep you informed and make sure you're completely satisfied with our work. We're dedicated to making the process as stress-free as possible.
• The Right Solution for Every Project: We don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. We have extensive experience with a broad range of applications, including grade beams, residential decks, solar panels, foundation underpinning, and tiebacks. We will assess your specific needs to provide the most efficient and durable solution.

Helical piles, also known as screw piles or helical piers, are a type of deep foundation system used in construction. They are essentially large steel shafts with one or more helical (screw-shaped) plates welded to them.

Helical piles are a highly versatile foundation solution used for a wide range of applications, from small residential projects to large-scale industrial and commercial structures. Their ability to be installed quickly, with minimal disruption and in various soil conditions, makes them a popular choice.

• Decks, Porches, and Fences: They provide a stable and permanent foundation that won't shift or heave with freeze-thaw cycles, a common problem in colder climates like Minnesota.
• New Home Construction: Helical piles can be used as the primary foundation for new houses, especially in areas with poor or expansive soil, or where traditional foundations would be too expensive or time-consuming.
• Additions and Sunrooms: They are ideal for supporting new home additions, preventing differential settlement between the new and existing structures.
• Footing Repair and Underpinning: When a residential foundation is sinking or failing, helical piles can be used to stabilize and lift the structure back to its original position.
• Retaining Walls: Helical anchors (or tiebacks) are used to provide lateral support for retaining walls, preventing them from leaning or collapsing due to soil pressure.
• Telecommunication and Utility Towers: They offer a secure foundation for cellular towers, electrical transmission towers, and other utility structures, especially in remote or difficult-to-access locations.
• Pipelines: Helical piles are used to support pipelines, preventing damage from ground movement and environmental factors.

Both tiebacks and underpinning are repair methods for failing foundations, but they address different problems.

• Foundation Underpinning: This is used to fix a sinking or settling foundation. Helical piers are installed deep into the ground, beneath the existing foundation, until they hit stable soil. Hydraulic jacks are then used to lift the structure, transferring its weight from the unstable soil to the new, secure piers.
• Foundation Tiebacks: This is used to stabilize bowing or leaning walls (often in basements or retaining walls). Helical anchors are installed at an angle through the wall and into the ground. They are then tightened to provide lateral resistance, pulling the wall back into place and preventing further movement.

Helical piles offer significant advantages over concrete foundations for solar panels. They can be installed quickly, without the need for excavation or waiting for concrete to cure, which means your project can be completed faster. Additionally, helical piles are a more sustainable and eco-friendly option because they are easily removed and reused, unlike concrete, which creates waste. They are also ideal for Minnesota's climate, as they can be installed year-round, even in frozen ground.