Easy pads or screw piles

[Paulsuffolk]

Hi,

Im looking to self build a single storey SIP panel rear home ext  6metres x 3.8 metres has anyone had experience of DIY screwpiles or used the product Easy Pads?

Many thanks

[saveasteading]

Careful!

 

If you look at this Easypad page (I just did) you see the whole story:

https://easypads.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2.EasyPads-How-to-install.pdf

 

You still need concrete pads, quite close together.

There is an open void under the building, ideal for rodents, or to close off with attractive chicken mesh..

 

This seems to me to be the modern equivalent of supporting a temporary classroom or caravan on piles of paving slabs.

 

Similarly screw piles are a great idea, and used for telephone masts. But you must get it checked out by an independent Structural Engineer.

I say this having been given the sales pitch by 2 suppliers at Ecobuild. Both said that screw piles were suitable for large , permanent buildings with high load.

 

I didn't think so, and checked it out, then never used them.

 

So should you. Nobody is likely to say 'don't use them' on this Hub as we might be wrong in your circumstances.

Only my opinion:  ok for small, temporary, separate buildings. There may be a reason why the classroom buildings shown on Easy Pads website were appropriate. Perhaps are deemed temporary.

I would welcome input from the suppliers.

 

Have now looked at Jackpad. They are very clear that these are for temporary use, stressing the reuse of pads and the original space.

[PeterW]

Easy Pads aren’t suitable for an extension, you need to put in foundations that match the house construction, or use one of the ground pile systems with a concrete ring beam. 

[Makeitstop]

Piling specialists / contractors are very likely to make suggestions on a method of solving your "problem" but, how much of their proposed solution is based on what's best in terms of achieving a sound and lasting result is open to debate.

 

A given method may be put forward as one that they might believe could work for you, sure. However, what you'll notice in the t&c's is that any failed , deflected or refused piles that are not driven to "set" will need resolving and will be at the clients expense. This can work out properly tricky and can become an expensive experience very quickly. With that in mind, accepting any method that "might" not be optimal in performance and yet attractive in a cost sense, could potentially prove to be a false economy.

 

From experience of discussing my own issues with numerous contractors in the UK, both large and small, it's been an education in how varied the advice on correct method has been. One thing is for sure though, seeing the lowest cost as the way to go isnt a smart way to make decisions when it comes to this kind of work.

 

It's the sort of thing you want to do once, and properly. 

 

 

 

[Makeitstop]

4 hours ago, PeterW said:

Easy Pads aren’t suitable for an extension, you need to put in foundations that match the house construction, or use one of the ground pile systems with a concrete ring beam. 

 

Agree 100% having been told exactly this by a very very good structural engineer.

 

You only have to read up on differential settlement to know that youd rather avoid it.

[saveasteading]

Easy Pads aren’t suitable for an extension, you need to put in foundations that match the house construction,

 

Agreed absolutely, but I avoided saying  it so clearly,  as the website shows use as a large extension!

Let us assume there was some particular  reason it was ok.....built on rock or temporary?

But no, PaulSuffolk, not for your house extension.

[Gus Potter]

On paper it looks like a nice neat concept  in part..but..

 

I wonder how much horizontal load they can take. When the wind blows you can generate some 100 -150 kg/square metre ball park wind force say on the sides of the building. I had a quick look at the brochure and they show a timber structure with a shallow pitch roof. These types of roof can generate quite a bit of uplift and really need to be well tied down. When you couple the uplift with the horizontal load one might conclude that you have a building on roller skates.

 

I wonder if there is some detailed load tables available for example that cover the above?

 

Extensions are a substancial investment. Don't skimp on the founds. Once you dig deeper into this you may well find that if you are using SIPS panels say you need something heavy in the ground to fix to, stop them overturning / lifting up anyway. Going for a light weight found could make a rod for your back later.

 

 

 

 

[Bozza]

I have done some research into screwpiles, due to a planning requirement to build near trees.  
 

For a smaller garden building I would consider DIY installation, but probably not for a dwelling / extension.    I would consider professionally installed screwpiles though.  If I recall they’re about £50 each installed something like that.