Corrosion & Helical Piles: What You Really Need to Know
- vpinero7
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Corrosion is one of the most common questions we get and for good reason. Clients want confidence in their foundation systems. At Bron & Claude, we welcome these conversations because the reality is: corrosion is a well-managed design factor, not a fatal flaw.
With the right engineering approach, steel helical and driven piles can outperform expectations, often delivering 80+ years of service, even in challenging soil environments.
Why Corrosion Shouldn’t Scare You
Steel piles are typically installed below the surface, where oxygen levels are naturally low. This slows the corrosion process dramatically. In most soils, corrosion progresses slowly and predictably and that’s exactly how we design for it.
Using well-documented industry data and site-specific soil chemistry, we engineer every pile with sacrificial steel thickness built-in extra material that accounts for natural degradation over time. Think of it like a reserve tank: it’s there, it’s accounted for, and it ensures long-term performance without surprises.
Steel vs. Concrete: What Lasts Longer?
Concrete might seem like the corrosion-proof choice until it isn’t. Concrete can crack, spall, and degrade under the same aggressive conditions that bare steel may endure for decades when properly designed.
Helical piles offer a simpler, more predictable long-term solution, especially when reinforced with grout encapsulation in Pressure Grouted Helical Piles (PGHPs). That grout acts like armor chemically and physically shielding the steel.
Grout Encapsulation: A Built-In Advantage
In our PGHP systems, a high-strength cementitious grout surrounds the steel shaft. This isn't just for load transfer it also creates a low-permeability barrier that virtually eliminates corrosion in most soil profiles.
Grout encapsulation is similar to the protection rebar enjoys inside concrete it isolates the steel, blocks corrosive elements, and helps maintain integrity far beyond minimum design life.
Protective Coatings? Optional, Not Mandatory
In severe environments, additional corrosion protection (such as galvanizing or epoxy coatings) can be added. But the reality is: they’re often unnecessary. In typical soils, buried steel piles perform exceptionally well without coatings, keeping your costs and complexity down.
The Bron & Claude Difference
We don’t sell piles. We engineer trust.
Our team evaluates site-specific corrosion data, applies industry-backed corrosion rates, and factors in all durability requirements. The result?
Safe — Designed with decades of service life in mind
Cost-Effective — Protective measures only when they add real value
Reliable — Based on sound engineering and field-tested results
We take corrosion seriously and we turn it from a concern into a competitive advantage.
Let’s Build with Confidence
If your project involves deep foundations, Bron & Claude has the technical expertise, field experience, and proven execution to deliver results safely, on time, and on budget.
Let’s talk about how we can support your next project. Reach out to learn more about our deep foundation solutions and how we can be your trusted foundation partner.
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