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Ready, steady, build!

How does the ground screw work?

Buildings and other structures need to be firmly anchored in the ground to prevent longer term problems. There are many different ways to build a foundation – you can pour a concrete slab, dig down and pour or use precast concrete blocks – or, alternatively, use ground screws. Stop Digging’s ground screws are especially suitable for small projects such as building wooden decks, fences or pergolas, but also for larger structures including timber or steel frame houses, transportable units and cabins, shipping containers, agricultural sheds and greenhouses.

The ground screw works in the same way as a concrete block: it can withstand heavy loads and supports many different attachments such as joists, pipes, posts and beams. Our ground screws are available in several different models to fit all kinds of projects and terrain or soil types. We can place the screws precisely according to your instructions and then you can start building immediately! There is no time lost to wet concrete!

Some examples of ground screw construction:

B
Wooden deck
A
Garden shed
F
Fence
H
Pergola
G
Carport

Some examples of ground screw construction:

B
A
F
Wooden deck
Garden shed
Fence
H
G
Pergola
Carport

Save time and work –

support with a ground screw

Save time and

work –

support with

a ground screw

25yearbadge
Is there an annoying rock in the way of your heavy concrete block? Ground screws avoid the need for tiresome digging and excavation! Let the installers do the work, and then you can freely build.

Our installers anchor the ground screws for you. Installation is quick and easy; for example, the supports for a medium-sized wooden deck can be ready in just a few hours. The ground is pre-drilled for each screw to ensure the best possible bite, regardless of the type of soil or rock. Our equipment is light and portable and does not wreck your garden moving into place. The drilling does not tear up the grass, tarmac or other terrain, and after we are finished we leave behind the minimum of mess. Our helical ground screws should not be confused with basic ground anchors or lightweight soil screws from DIY stores that you can install yourself – we only sell finished building foundations using mounted screws with a 25-year guarantee.

25yearbadge
b X Y
Simple and fast to install Clay, sandy or rocky soil – we anchor in everything A concrete support emits 50% more carbon dioxide on average than a ground screw
linje linje linje
Further advantages of the ground screw
1. We install ground screws throughout the country, all year round. 2. Durable and rustproof – made of strong galvanized steel. 3. You measure as normal – all our screws use metric.
4. Does not destroy any surrounding surfaces during installation 5. Thoroughly tested for tension, pressure and load 6. ISO-certified and CE marked with a 25 year warranty
25yearbadge
b
Simple and fast to install
linje
X
Clay, sandy or rocky soil – we anchor in everything
linje
Y
A concrete support emits 50% more carbon dioxide on average than a ground screw
linje
Further advantages of the ground screw
1. We install ground screws throughout the country, all year round. 2. Durable and rustproof – made of strong galvanized steel.
3. You measure as normal – all our screws use metric. 4. Does not destroy any surrounding surfaces during installation.
5. Thoroughly tested for tension, pressure and load 6. ISO-certified and CE marked with a 25 year warranty
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How, where, when?
Here you can get the answers

Every building project has its own unique requirements, which means our versatile range of ground screws are ideal for anchoring large and small structures in tricky terrain. If you do not find the answer to your question here, please do not hesitate to contact us!

01 Why use the ground screw?

Stop Digging’s ground screws provide a secure and stable foundation that saves both time and money. They make construction easier and smoother; no more lugging heavy concrete blocks or laboriously digging holes and shifting piles of soil to make way for the foundations. Ground screws are easy to place and move if a site needs to be adjusted due to an unforeseen discovery or for better support. Ground screws are ready to use after they are installed – no waiting for wet concrete to harden, and they can be installed in all soil types and weather conditions.

A ground screw from Stop Digging should not be confused with a lightweight, DIY ground anchor.  Our groundscrews are specified and installed only by our nationwide network of experienced and certified installs.

02 When can you use ground screws?

Ground screws can be used to support most types of construction. This includes lightweight timber or steel frame houses, Tiny Homes,  transportable units and cabins, shipping containers, decks, pergolas, sheds, playground equipment, carports, conservatories, greenhouses, fence posts, sign posts, street furniture and much more.We offer several different models and sizes such as the adapter, pipe, post and beam screw, all designed to tackle tricky terrain and soils. In addition, ground screws are ideal for flagpoles, signage or solar panels and for inaccessible locations where alternatives are not an option. By selecting from a range of models, you can tackle even the most challenging of terrain with our versatile screws – the question isn’t when you can use a ground screw, but when you can you not?

03 How deep can a ground screw go?

How deep a screw needs to be depends on the terrain and the required load. We offer screws between 580 mm to 2500 mm long, much deeper than conventional concrete foundations. Our experienced fitters will choose the right screw for each project and site, providing stable and long lasting foundations for your project.

04 How many ground screws do I need?

For example: when using a typical timber bearer size of 140x90mm, according to the NZ3604 span tables, this has a max span of 1.65m.  You would therefore need to have sufficient groundscrews installed to keep within this dimension.  A smaller bearer size of say 90x90mm would require more groundscrews as the maximum span of this is only 1.3m.

Larger timber sizes would therefore require less groundscrews, however there is sometimes a balance between the sizes of timber you can fit to certain height requirements – especially with low decking next to concrete slab foundations.
Please contact us for design advice, and to estimate the number of screws you will need!

05 How long does the ground screw need to be?

This depends on the soil type, load bearing required and the nature of the project. We offer four basic models – adapter, pipe, post and beam screw – in a variety of lengths to meet your specific needs. In addition, we can install ground screws with our special attachments that are designed to support installations such as flagpoles or solar panel systems and other unusual projects. All of our screws are robustly designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions, and to exceed all requirements of the building code.

06 How do you use ground screws in difficult terrain?

Just as we would pre-drill hard stone for fixing a normal screw, we always drill a pilot hole before installing our ground screw in tricky terrain. This forces smaller stones or gravel aside and our equipment is powerful enough to split medium-sized rocks. If you are building on solid or large enough rocks, our installers can anchor with a drilled steel stud and use ground screws where the ground is more suitable. We offer a complete service with no need to wait for another specialist.

In newly excavated, soft or disturbed soil, our installers are trained to assess the ground and select longer screws if necessary to provide a secure and stable foundation. Our installers are specially trained to select the right screw for your project, install it correctly in whatever terrain they face and finish with the minimum of disruption.

07 When do we install the screw?

We can mount ground screws all year round, even during a cold, hard winter. Our screws were originally developed to cope with the harsher conditions found in Scandinavia, and are therefore perfectly suited to conditions in the U.S. Do you want to know more? Feel free to ask your local installer, who has a specialist knowledge of your area and useful reference materials.

08 How do ground screws handle slopes?

Easily! Our ground screws are ideally suited to work on slopes to anchor, for example, decks or stairs or other structures. Our equipment can install the screws in difficult to reach locations at the required depths. Furthermore, by combining the various ground screw sizes and models produced by Stop Digging, together with our attachments such as plates and L-supports, we can create a tailored solution whatever the terrain or slope your project faces.

09 Do ground screws settle after installation?

Just like concrete supports, a ground screw can be affected by the ground settling over time, but they are not generally affected by other forces such as frost heave. Settlement of soil is especially an issue with freshly excavated or disturbed soil and our installers are trained to identify this and select longer screws to provide a deeper, more secure, fixing as needed.

10 How do you calculate the screw load bearing?

You can employ the same calculations which you use to work out the load bearing of concrete supports. Our ground screws can replace concrete in every way and follow U.S. building standards. As a result you can safely use standard centre to centre measurements and calculate the span and strength just as for concrete. In the case of larger projects and heavier loads, we recommend that we undertake a tensile test so that our installers can provide you with the correct type of screw.

11 How much load can a ground screw bear?

All of our screw models have been rigorously tested to cope with load, pressure and tension bearing and you can read more about our screws here. Our tests were made in normal arable land which we use to calculate the performance of our screws in different soils and terrain. We can test your ground to provide precise feedback for your project planning.

Our steel ground screws (ISO 630 FE 3604) are specially developed and adapted to northern climates in terms of thickness (4 mm) and surface coating. All of our CE marked ground screws are hot-dip galvanized according to ISO 1461 – HDG600 and manufactured by ISO 9001 certified production facilities. They are designed specifically to exceed the requirements of the building code for durability.

12 How much do ground screws cost?

We offer a fixed price per installed ground screw. However, our prices vary depending on which screw you need to use and where in the country you are located.

Our vision is not only to provide a high quality product, but to deliver and install it to the highest professional standard. A ground screw from Stop Digging should not be confused with a lightweight DIY ground anchor. They are a standard, permanent pile foundation that is specifically designed for the application. We offer professional installation only, through our nationwide network of experienced and certified installer partners.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How, where, when?
Here you can get the answers

Every building project has its own unique requirements, which means our versatile range of ground screws are ideal for anchoring large and small structures in tricky terrain. If you do not find the answer to your question here, please do not hesitate to contact us!

01 Why use the ground screw?

Stop Digging’s ground screws provide a secure and stable foundation that saves both time and money. They make construction easier and smoother; no more lugging heavy concrete blocks or laboriously digging holes and shifting piles of soil to make way for the foundations. Ground screws are easy to place and move if a site needs to be adjusted due to an unforeseen discovery or for better support. Ground screws are ready to use after they are installed – no waiting for wet concrete to harden, and they can be installed in all soil types and weather conditions.

A ground screw from Stop Digging should not be confused with a lightweight, DIY ground anchor.  Our groundscrews are specified and installed only by our nationwide network of experienced and certified installs.

02 When can you use ground screws?

Ground screws can be used to support most types of construction. This includes underpinning decks, pergolas, sheds, children’s playhouses, carports, conservatories, greenhouses, hen houses and much more. We offer several different models and sizes such as the adapter, pipe, post and beam screw, all designed to tackle tricky terrain and soils. In addition, ground screws are ideal for flagpoles, signage or solar panels and for inaccessible locations where alternatives are not an option. By selecting from a range of models, you can tackle even the most challenging of terrain with our versatile screws – the question isn’t when you can use a ground screw, but when you can you not?

03 How deep can a ground screw go?

How deep a screw needs to be depends on the terrain and the required load. We offer screws between 580 mm to 2500 mm long, much deeper than conventional concrete foundations. Our experienced fitters will choose the right screw for each project and site, providing stable and long lasting foundations for your project.

04 How many ground screws do I need?

How many ground screws you need depends on the size and weight of the particular construction project. For example, when installing decking it is advisable to mount the supporting ground screws at 2 metre intervals when the rim joist is at least 45 × 170 mm in size. For a decking terrace of 4 x 8 meters, for example, that would mean installing 15 ground screws.

05 How long does the ground screw need to be?

This depends on the soil type, load bearing required and the nature of the project. We offer four basic models – adapter, pipe, post and beam screw – in a variety of lengths to meet your specific needs. In addition, we can install ground screws with our special attachments that are designed to support installations such as flagpoles or solar panel systems and other unusual projects. All of our screws are robustly designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions, and to exceed all requirements of the building code.

06 How do you use ground screws in difficult terrain?

Just as we would pre-drill hard stone for fixing a normal screw, we always drill a pilot hole before installing our ground screw in tricky terrain. This forces smaller stones or gravel aside and our equipment is powerful enough to split medium-sized rocks. If you are building on solid or large enough rocks, our installers can anchor with a drilled steel stud and use ground screws where the ground is more suitable. We offer a complete service with no need to wait for another specialist.

In newly excavated, soft or disturbed soil, our installers are trained to assess the ground and select longer screws if necessary to provide a secure and stable foundation. Our installers are specially trained to select the right screw for your project, install it correctly in whatever terrain they face and finish with the minimum of disruption.

07 When do we install the screw?

We can mount ground screws all year round, even during a cold, hard winter. Our screws were originally developed to cope with the harsher conditions found in Scandinavia, and the U.S. climate, by comparison, is much gentler! Do you want to know more? Feel free to ask your local installer, who has a specialist knowledge of your area and useful reference materials.

08 How do ground screws handle slopes?

Easily! Our ground screws are ideally suited to work on slopes to anchor, for example, decks or stairs or other structures. Our equipment can install the screws in difficult to reach locations at the required depths. Furthermore, by combining the various ground screw sizes and models produced by Stop Digging, together with our attachments such as plates and L-supports, we can create a tailored solution whatever the terrain or slope your project faces.

09 Do ground screws settle after installation?

Just like concrete supports, a ground screw can be affected by the ground settling over time, but they are not generally affected by other forces such as frost heave. Settlement of soil is especially an issue with freshly excavated or disturbed soil and our installers are trained to identify this and select longer screws to provide a deeper, more secure, fixing as needed.

10 How do you calculate the screw load bearing?

When designing pile foundations for timber or steel subfloors, the spans of the specified timber or steel size will dictate the quantity of piles needed.  In New Zealand a typical design using the span tables from NZ3604 will result in design loads that are well within the load bearing capacities of our groundscrews.   We offer a professional in-ground pile test on our groundscrews, in accordance with AS2159, to confirm that we are specifying the correct length of groundscrew to achieve the required design load in the site specific ground conditions.  We have a variety of lengths of groundscrews available which allow us to achieve good results even in poor ground conditions.

11 How much load can a ground screw bear?

All of our screw models have been rigorously tested to cope with load, pressure and tension bearing and you can read more about our screws here. Our tests were made in normal arable land which we use to calculate the performance of our screws in different soils and terrain. We can test your ground to provide precise feedback for your project planning.

Our steel ground screws (ISO 630 FE 3604) are specially developed and adapted to northern climates in terms of thickness (4 mm) and surface coating. All of our CE marked ground screws are hot-dip galvanized according to ISO 1461 – HDG600 and manufactured by ISO 9001 certified production facilities. They all come with a 25 year warranty.

12 How much do ground screws cost?

We offer a fixed price per installed ground screw. However, our prices vary depending on which screw you need to use and where in the country you are located.

Our vision is not only to provide a high quality product, but to deliver and install it to the highest professional standard. A ground screw from Stop Digging should not be confused with a lightweight DIY ground anchor. They are a standard, permanent pile foundation that is specifically designed for the application. We offer professional installation only, through our nationwide network of experienced and certified installer partners.

INSPIRATION

WE HAVE THE GROUND SCREW TO UNDERPIN YOUR VISION!

A smart deck to relax on, or a stylish pergola to sit under, or a smart greenhouse to potter about in, Stop Digging helps you turn your dream into a reality.

GET IN TOUCH

Stop Digging is rapidly growing and is looking for contractors, builders and landscape specialists who are interested in becoming an authorized dealer and partner in the U.S. Contact us here if you want to know more.

GET IN TOUCH

Stop Digging is rapidly growing and is looking for contractors, builders and landscape specialists who are interested in becoming an authorized dealer and partner in the U.S. Contact us here if you want to know more.

CONTACT ME!

If you would rather have your local installer contact you, leave a message here and we will be in touch shortly.