Ecopile: The Foundation System You Can Install Yourself
Ecopile is a direct replacement for any 3604 style foundation with capacities up to 50 tonnes, making it perfectly suited for any residential or commercial use. The system uses just four micropiles driven directly into the ground. This means no pump trucks, no concrete trucks, and no waiting around on site for other contractors. As a builder, you can just go ahead and install yourself straight away, saving time and money.
The Essential Tools for Installing Ecopile
We often get asked what tools are the best to use to install Ecopile. Making sure you have the right gear will make your life significantly easier.
How To Get Started
To make life easy, we always start by using an overhead post driver. These are available from Bunnings, ITM, and PlaceMakers. They are very cheap and lightweight, which means starting off is a lot easier than using a big jackhammer.
The Key Driving Tool
The core tool for installing Ecopile is a jackhammer. Any 50 Joule jackhammer will install Ecopile.
In tough ground conditions, the only jackhammer we would recommend is the Hilti TE3000. It has the highest hitting power and the ability to blast through most rock and alluvial soils.
We supply a range of jackhammer drivers to suit almost any jackhammer available on the market. When you’re ordering, talk to the team at Ecopile and we will specify the right driver for you.
Protective Gear You’ll Need
Having the correct safety gear is really important:
Sturdy Gloves: You must handle steel piles, which develop sharp edges at the top during driving.
Safety Goggles: To protect your eyes from any shards flying off.
Good Set of Ear Muffs: Absolutely essential due to the noise of the jackhammer.
New Zealand Ground Conditions
When you’re dealing with really tough ground conditions, particularly if you’re drilling into alluvial river gravel or hard rock like basalt or granite, it’s going to be way easier to start and use an SDS Max drill.
In these conditions, we will pre-drill the hole down to the required depth and then drive the micropile in. There are a range of sizes and lengths of SDS Max drills available, so you need to choose one that suits your ground conditions and the size of the micropile you are installing.
Keeping Your Piles Level
We often get asked, “How do I keep our piles level while I’m installing?”
The simple solution is to get these really cheap little post levels. They simply bungee onto your post, and you use that to keep your pile level while you’re driving.
Finishing the Installation
Once you have driven in your micropiles and seated your Ecopile, you’ll then lock the system up using a tech screw and an impact driver.
The Future of Foundations
Ecopile is a fast, efficient, and very clean way of installing foundations for your house. Unlike concrete, there are no pump trucks, no augers, and no diggers. We’re not waiting around for anybody! The job will get in a few hours. Ecopile is super simple to install. It comes pre-assembled, ready to go. You literally line it up where you set your string line, take your micropile, install it, and then start driving.
Stop waiting for concrete and start building smarter today. Ecopile is the fast, reliable, and builder-friendly foundation system that saves you time and money on every project. Click here to view our specification sheets, or contact our team to discuss your next residential or commercial foundation requirement!
