COMMERCIAL FOUNDATIONS
Foundation Support System’s Pier Tech ® technology, skilled craftsman, and years of construction experience all combine to offer a number of municipal and commercial applications. Helical piers are suitable for a wide range of applications such as boardwalks, support for heavy equipment slabs, building foundations, tie-backs for retaining walls, etc. Here are some examples of commercial projects we have completed.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
- Boardwalks & docks
- Pole bases and communication tower foundations
- Utility and pipeline tie downs
- Tiebacks and wall anchors
- Deep foundation piers for new construction
- Existing foundation repairs
- Slope stabilization
- Concrete-less foundations
HELICAL PIER ADVANTAGES
- Environmentally Friendly
- Removable and re-useable
- Cost effective
- Quick installation in all weather conditions
- Low noise and vibration free installation
- No curing time
- Proven engineering
- Site verified loading
Call us today for more information 952-767-0777
A close-up of a light pole base.
An example of a radio
tower on a piling
foundation.
An example of a light pole on a helical pier base.
Piling foundation for a radio tower.
BOARDWALKS
Foundation Support Systems offers complete boardwalk construction services. Our helical piers provide the perfect foundation for poor soil conditions and areas sensitive to environmental impact, and our skilled tradesmen can build a boardwalk that is both solid and attractive.
Foundation Support Systems has experience installing wetland and bog boardwalks. Our helical piers provide the perfect foundation for poor soil conditions and areas sensitive to environmental impact. If you want your boardwalk to be solid and enduring consider building it on helical piers.
Helical piers provide an excellent support method for boardwalks and docks. Their extreme durability and corrosion resistance as well as minimal environmental impact place them head and shoulders above other methods. If you want a permanent and enduring dock or boardwalk consider helical piers. Speak to one of our sales engineers for more information.
The photos on this page show a recent boardwalk project under construction. This project consisted of replacing a dilapidated 1,200 foot stretch of boardwalk through a bog. In order to avoid disturbing the bog vegetation we worked on top of the old boardwalk. After marking the pier locations out we cut holes in the old framing and drilled the new piers right down through the old boardwalk. Once the piers were installed we began removing and replacing the boardwalk one twelve foot section at a time.
This project is a perfect example of construction expertise, environmental respect, and helical piers combining to resurrect an unusable boardwalk. With its function restored, pedestrians will once again be able to enjoy the wildlife and vegetation of this rare, Minnesota bog.
CASE STUDY 1 - BOG BOARDWALK
Project: U of M Landscape Arboretum
Location: Chaska, MN
The Challenge: This project consisted of replacing a dilapidated 1,200 foot stretch of boardwalk through a bog. The original boardwalk built on telephone poles had decayed to the point that it was no longer safe for pedestrian use and had been shut down. The customer wished to replace the boardwalk while preserving the natural character of the bog.
The Solution: After marking the pier locations out we cut holes in the old framing and drilled the new piers right down through the old boardwalk. Once the piers were installed we began removing and replacing the boardwalk one twelve foot section at a time. This project is a perfect example of construction expertise, environmental respect, and helical piers combining to resurrect an unusable boardwalk. With its function restored, pedestrians can once again enjoy the wildlife and vegetation of this rare, Minnesota bog.
Customer Benefit: The intended use of this boardwalk has been restored and the use of helical piers means that all of the wood connections are lifted up out of the bog extending the useable life of the boardwalk tremendously.
The U of M Landscape Arboretum contracted with us to replace 1,200 feet of dilapidated boardwalk through an unstable bog. The original boardwalk was a floating structure that lay right down on top of the bog and had decayed substantially. They wanted the new boardwalk elevated above the bog to lengthen the life of the lumber and to protect against movement from freeze/thaw cycles. Helical piers provided a perfect foundation for the new boardwalk given the poor soil conditions.
The boardwalk was designed for pedestrian use, but was further reinforced to allow utility carts and tracked construction equipment to drive on it. Ultimately this meant that each helical pier needed to be able to support 5,000 lbs. This loading capacity was easily supported by helical piers and was achieved at depths varying from 14’ to 56’.
Construction was a delicate process utilizing the existing boardwalk footprint in order to avoid disturbing the bog at all. Once the pier locations had been marked out we cut holes in the old boardwalk and installed the new piers right through the deck with our track machine. Once the piers were installed we began to tear out and replace the waterlogged framing one section at a time, working from the stability of a completed portion of the new boardwalk.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum requested replacement of 1200 feet of dilapidated boardwalk through
an unstable bog.
Installing helical piers for the Landscape Arboretum Bog Overlook.
Installation of a piling for the Bog Boardwalk.
A widened sitting area on the boardwalk under construction.
A picturesque view of the completed sitting area on the Bog Boardwalk.
A completed section of the Arboretum Bog Boardwalk.
A section of boardwalk over water.
Pedestrian and vehicle traffic crossing paths on the Bog Boardwalk.
GOLF COURSE WALKWAY FOUNDATION SUPPORT
Many Minnesota golf courses are located in pristine wetland and wooded areas. Constructing a boardwalk or bridge that is structurally sound and environmentally compliant can be a challenging undertaking. Thankfully Foundation Support Systems is here to help!
If you looking to create the perfect boardwalk or bridge for your golf course, but you are concerned about the impact and soil conditions, consider a Foundation Support System solution.
Foundation Support Systems offers complete boardwalk and bridge construction for foot or golf cart traffic. Many Minnesota golf courses are situated in wetland or boggy soil areas. Foundation Support Systems draws on our experience in boardwalk construction and craftsmanship to provide complete bridge building and boardwalk solutions for pedestrian or golf cart traffic.
CASE STUDY 2 – FOUNDATION UNDERPINNING
Project: Golf Clubhouse
Location: Otsego, MN
The Challenge: Repairs to a fire damaged golf clubhouse were done incorrectly leading to a structurally unsafe building. The replacement trusses were designed to bear on an interior wall that was not meant to support the load which lead to failure of the concrete floor as well as the trusses.
The Solution: The engineer and contractor brought us in to install 7 helical piers along the failed wall thus converting the non-load-bearing wall into a load-bearing wall.
Customer Benefit: This solution resulted in the least expensive solution to the structural problem and also saved time since the only other alternative was to take the roof off the whole building and rebuild it from scratch.
