When a site needs deeper foundation support than a standard slab alone can provide — because of reactive clay, sloping ground, or a heavier structure — the two most common methods we use are bored piers and screw piles. Both do the same basic job, transferring load down to more stable ground, but they suit different situations.
Bored Piers: The Traditional Approach
A bored pier is created by boring a shaft into the ground and filling it with reinforced concrete. It’s a well-proven method that works well on reactive clay sites and can carry substantial structural loads, which is why it’s a common choice for houses, retaining walls and larger structures. The trade-off is that it’s a more involved process — boring, reinforcement, and a concrete pour that needs to cure — so it typically takes longer than screw piles.
Screw Piles: Faster, Lower-Disruption
Screw piles are mechanically wound steel piles rather than a bored, poured shaft. They can typically be installed faster, with less spoil to remove and less disruption to the surrounding site, which makes them a popular choice for decks, verandahs, light structures, and sites where access or scheduling is tight. They’re generally better suited to lighter loads than bored piers, so whether they’re appropriate depends on what the piles need to support.
So Which One Do You Need?
- Heavier structural loads, reactive clay, or a full house foundation — bored piers are generally the more common choice.
- Lighter structures, tighter access, or a project where speed and minimal disruption matter — screw piles are often the better fit.
- Some projects use a mix of both, depending on what different parts of the site need to support.
The right answer always comes down to your specific site — soil classification, structural loads, and access all factor in. Our team assesses this during your free site visit and recommends the method (or combination) that suits your project, rather than defaulting to one option for every job.
Contact us for a free assessment, or use our free estimate tools to get a starting figure for your project.
