A shed is only as reliable as the foundation supporting it. Whether you’re building a small storage shed, backyard workshop, garden building, or larger structure designed to hold heavy equipment, choosing the right footing can help prevent settlement, movement, and uneven floors.
Shed footings using helical piers provide an alternative to traditional concrete slabs, concrete blocks, and other shallow foundation systems. Helical piers can be installed quickly with minimal excavation and provide structural support immediately after installation.
At FnD Piers, we install engineered helical pier systems for structures ranging from sheds and additions to residential and commercial buildings.
Here’s what you should know about the benefits, installation, and cost of helical pier shed footings.
What Are Helical Piers?
Helical piers, also called helical piles or screw piles, are steel foundation elements consisting of a central shaft with one or more helical plates.
Instead of excavating a footing and pouring concrete, hydraulic equipment rotates the pier into the soil until the required installation criteria are achieved.
The shed’s structural framing can then be connected to the helical pier system using an appropriate bracket or connection.
The result is a foundation that transfers structural loads into suitable bearing soil rather than relying only on soil close to the surface.
Why Does a Shed Need a Good Foundation?
It’s easy to underestimate the importance of a shed foundation because the structure may be considerably smaller than a house.
But sheds can still experience foundation problems.
Poor support can contribute to:
- Uneven floors
- Doors that won’t open or close properly
- Structural twisting
- Wall movement
- Moisture problems
- Settlement
- Premature structural deterioration
The risk can increase with larger sheds, workshops, or buildings containing heavy equipment.
A properly designed footing system gives the shed a stable base from the beginning.
Benefits of Shed Footings Using Helical Piers
1. Fast Installation
Traditional concrete footings require excavation, forms, concrete placement, and sufficient curing before construction can continue.
Helical piers are mechanically installed into the soil.
Once the piers and structural connections are properly installed, construction can proceed without waiting for the steel piers themselves to cure.
2. Minimal Excavation
Installing concrete footings can require substantial digging and soil removal.
Helical piers generally require much less excavation.
This can mean:
- Less soil disturbance
- Less cleanup
- Less damage to landscaping
- Fewer excavated spoils to remove
That is particularly valuable when the shed is being constructed in an established backyard.
3. Excellent for Limited Access
Backyard construction often presents an access problem.
Fences, landscaping, swimming pools, existing structures, and narrow side yards can make it difficult to bring large equipment to the construction area.
Helical piers can often be installed using relatively compact hydraulic equipment, making them useful for projects with restricted access.
4. Immediate Structural Support
Concrete needs time to develop the required strength.
Helical piers provide load-bearing capability immediately after proper installation and connection.
That means the contractor can potentially move from foundation installation directly into framing instead of waiting for concrete to cure.
5. Reduced Risk From Unstable Surface Soils
A shed sitting on blocks or another shallow foundation can move when the supporting soil moves.
This can be particularly problematic where soils experience:
- Expansion
- Shrinkage
- Settlement
- Erosion
- Moisture changes
Helical piers are installed deeper into the ground and designed to transfer loads to suitable bearing soils.
Helical Piers vs. Concrete Shed Footings
Both systems can work when properly designed, but they approach the foundation differently.
Factor | Concrete Footings | Helical Piers |
|---|---|---|
Excavation | Usually required | Minimal |
Concrete | Required | Not required for the pier itself |
Cure Time | Required | None for steel pier |
Installation Speed | Multiple construction steps | Typically faster |
Soil Spoils | Can be significant | Minimal |
Restricted Access | Can be challenging | Often well suited |
Load Support | Depends on footing and soil | Transfers loads to engineered bearing soil |
Site Disturbance | Moderate to significant | Generally minimal |
The best choice depends on the shed design, loads, soil conditions, site access, and local building requirements.
What Types of Sheds Can Use Helical Pier Footings?
Helical piers can potentially support many types of accessory structures, including:
- Storage sheds
- Garden sheds
- Backyard workshops
- Equipment sheds
- Large utility sheds
- Detached hobby buildings
- Small agricultural structures
As shed size and structural loads increase, proper foundation design becomes increasingly important.
How Are Helical Piers Installed for a Shed?
A typical installation follows five steps.
Step 1: Evaluate the Project
The installer reviews the shed’s dimensions, structural loads, site conditions, and proposed footing locations.
Step 2: Determine Pier Locations
Pier quantity and spacing are determined based on structural design and load requirements.
Step 3: Install the Helical Piers
Hydraulic equipment rotates each pier into the ground. Extensions can be added until the required depth and installation criteria are achieved.
Step 4: Verify Installation
Installation torque is monitored and documented as part of verifying that the pier meets the engineered requirements.
Step 5: Connect the Structure
Appropriate brackets or structural connections are installed so the shed’s loads can be transferred into the helical pier system.
Once installation is complete, construction can proceed.
How Many Helical Piers Does a Shed Need?
There is no universal number.
The number of piers depends on factors including:
- Shed dimensions
- Structural weight
- Floor loads
- Equipment stored inside
- Soil conditions
- Pier capacity
- Beam design
- Local building requirements
A small shed may require relatively few support points, while a large workshop or equipment building may require considerably more.
How Deep Do Helical Piers Need to Go?
Helical piers should not be installed to an arbitrary depth.
Required depth varies based on:
- Soil profile
- Bearing conditions
- Structural loads
- Pier configuration
- Installation torque
- Engineering requirements
The objective is not simply to reach a predetermined number of feet. The objective is to reach the soil and installation conditions necessary to provide the required capacity.
Are Helical Piers Better Than Concrete Blocks for Sheds?
Concrete blocks can provide an economical foundation for some small, lightweight structures, but they primarily depend on near-surface soil.
If that soil settles, expands, erodes, or moves, the blocks and shed can move with it.
An engineered helical pier system transfers loads deeper into suitable bearing soils.
For larger sheds, workshops, valuable structures, or projects on questionable soils, that additional foundation stability can make helical piers worth considering.
How Much Do Helical Pier Shed Footings Cost?
The cost of shed footings using helical piers depends on the specific project.
Important cost factors include:
- Number of piers
- Pier size
- Required depth
- Structural loads
- Soil conditions
- Site accessibility
- Required brackets
- Engineering requirements
Rather than comparing only the price of a helical pier with a bag of concrete or concrete block, compare the total installed foundation cost.
That includes excavation, labor, concrete, cure time, equipment, cleanup, and the long-term performance required from the foundation.
Why Choose FnD Piers?
FnD Piers specializes in engineered helical pier and deep foundation solutions.
We work with homeowners, builders, contractors, and engineers to provide foundation systems for projects ranging from smaller structures to substantial residential and commercial construction.
Our capabilities include:
- Helical pier installation
- New construction foundations
- Deep foundation systems
- Foundation stabilization
- Installation torque documentation
- Engineered foundation solutions
Instead of treating every property the same, the goal is to match the foundation solution to the structure, soil, and required loads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do sheds need footings?
It depends on the size, construction method, local building requirements, soil conditions, and intended use of the shed. Larger or heavier structures generally require more substantial foundation support.
Can you build a shed directly on helical piers?
Yes. Helical piers can serve as foundation support points for sheds when the pier system and structural connections are properly designed for the project.
Are helical piers good for backyard sheds?
They can be particularly useful for backyard projects because installation generally requires minimal excavation and comparatively compact equipment can often access restricted areas.
Do helical piers work in clay soil?
Helical piers can be used in many soil conditions, including clay. The appropriate shaft, helix configuration, installation depth, and capacity must be determined for the specific soil and structural requirements.
How many helical piers do I need for a shed?
The required number depends on the shed’s dimensions, loads, framing, soil conditions, pier capacity, and engineering requirements.
Can construction start immediately after helical pier installation?
Once the helical piers and required structural connections are properly installed, the piers do not require a concrete curing period before accepting load.
Final Thoughts: Start Your Shed With the Right Foundation
A shed may be a relatively small structure, but its foundation still determines how well it performs over time.
Shed footings using helical piers can provide a strong alternative to conventional concrete footings and surface blocks, particularly when a project requires:
- Fast installation
- Minimal excavation
- Limited site disturbance
- Restricted-access installation
- Immediate load-bearing capacity
- Support beyond unstable near-surface soils
The best foundation is not simply the easiest one to install today.
It is the foundation designed to keep the structure properly supported tomorrow.
Planning a Shed or Backyard Structure?
Contact FnD Piers to discuss whether helical piers are the right foundation solution for your project.
Our team can help evaluate the structure, site conditions, and foundation requirements and develop a helical pier solution designed for dependable support.
Call: (817) 402-7113 Today
