Advantages of Winter Installation of Hydraulic Structures: 5 Reasons to Install a Pier on Screw Pile Foundations

If you live by a river and enjoy fishing from a boat, you should consider a convenient and safe boat dock. To ensure a reliable and durable hydraulic structure, experts recommend building a permanent dock on screw pile foundations.

5 Reasons to Install a Pier on Screw Pile Foundations in Winter

Not only houses, garages, sheds, bathhouses, gazebos, and hangars are built on screw pile foundations, but also piers and docks. Five reasons to build a pier on screw pile foundations in winter:

1. No preparatory work is required – the shoreline of the reservoir does not need to be leveled. For example, if the shoreline has a steep two-meter drop, screw piles can be used to create steps with handrails for safe descent.

2. The piles are installed manually, without the need for heavy equipment, in two to three days. If access to the water is difficult due to the terrain of the shore or the shoreline is marshy, this is not a problem. A crew of four can easily handle the job, and the equipment will not disturb the natural landscape or ecology of the reservoir.

3. The service life of a pile is up to 70 years, so a pier will last at least half a century. If you save money and build a pier on wooden piles, it will be unsafe to walk on it the following year.

4. High-quality foundations are achieved when installed in winter—the piles are easily screwed into the ground because the soil does not freeze underwater. The smooth surface of the ice helps screw the piles in without tilting them.

5. A wide range of support sizes allows piers to be installed under the most adverse conditions and any reservoir characteristics. Current intensity is also taken into account—larger diameter piles are selected for foundation installation on bodies of water with strong currents. Installing a pier on a screw pile foundation in winter is cost-effective – materials can be purchased at discounted prices and delivered to the construction site at reduced rates, and finding a team of specialists is easier than during the construction season.

Winter Method for Installing a Pier on Screw Piles

To ensure a secure foundation, piles are screwed into the ground to a depth of 1.5–2 meters; if the reservoir bottom is muddy, the depth is increased to 4 meters. Installing piles in winter has the following advantages:

• Ice formed on the surface is a boon for construction workers. Ice provides natural support for the installation crew, and its surface makes it convenient to screw piles in and weld. Hand and power tools can be placed on the frozen surface, safely connecting electricity – something that is impossible in the summer.

If building a pier during the warmer months, special pontoon platforms must be constructed. The shore of the reservoir may be marshy, and the water may contain a lot of silt and grass, which will also hinder installation. Summer work will take longer and complicate the process, meaning it will be more expensive.

• Water freezes, creating a flat horizontal plane—a reliable reference point for installing piles level. In winter, the depth of the reservoir is easily and accurately measured, and piles of the correct length are then selected. A key requirement for a reliable foundation is screwing the pile to a sufficient depth. It's important to consider not only the distance to the bottom but also the amount of silt.

On ice, workers easily mark the area, drill holes, and screw in the piles. The foundation supports are secured together with strapping, and metal braces are welded on if necessary. This provides additional stability to the foundation and protects the supports from spring ice drift. The pile cavity is filled with a cement-sand mixture, which extends its lifespan in water.

Dock decking is made of wood and treated with a moisture-resistant coating, or of metal grating and enamel paint. For safety, handrails are installed on the gangway and the pier itself. A canopy is often installed on the pier to provide protection from the rain while fishing.

If the braces are improperly welded or the piles are the wrong length and diameter, the pier will begin to wobble and settle over time. To properly calculate the foundation, it's necessary to check the silt level on the bottom, consider ice movement, and the speed and direction of the current. A small decorative bridge can be built yourself, but it's best to entrust the installation of a pier or dock to trusted professionals.