Why choose the Postech Thermal Pile™ over poured concrete in cold climates? Here are the criteria that make the difference.
THE ONLY SCREW PILE ENGINEERED TO FIGHT FROST FROM THE INSIDE
Thermal Pile™ by Postech: an insulated steel foundation engineered to resist frost.
How Postech Thermal Piles™ Work
A standard screw pile transfers cold from the soil up along its steel shaft. This is called a thermal bridge. In regions where the ground freezes deep, the pile chills the soil around it, that soil freezes, expands, and lifts the very foundation the pile was supposed to support.
The Postech Thermal Pile™ solves this with with a solution that's as precise as it is effective: an insulation layer engineered directly into the pile shaft.
The insulation breaks the thermal bridge. Surface cold stops at the top of the pile. Below the frost line, the pile stays anchored in stable soil, year-round.
The result? While concrete foundations and standard piles heave in winter, your Postech foundation stays solidly in place.
THERMAL PILE™ SPECIFICATIONS AT A GLANCE
- Hot-dip galvanized steel, ASTM A123M compliant
- Patented internal thermal insulation layer
- Load capacity certified per project by a Postech engineer
- Compliant with NBC (Canada) and IBC (United States)
- Lifetime warranty on every pile
Thermal Piles™ are available in 4.5-inch and 5.5-inch diameters. Insulation thickness and shaft length are specified per site, based on local frost depth and design load.
Thermal Piles™ are exclusive to certified Postech dealers, in regions where winter construction is routine.
Every Thermal Pile™ installed is also validated by True Pitch™, the Postech installation validation method that confirms your foundation's exact load capacity in real time, right on the job site.
For full technical specifications on the Thermal Pile™, see our engineering spec sheets.
Find a certified Postech installer near you and get a free quote for your project.
INSIDE THE THERMAL PILE™
Insulated from the inside out
Galvanized Steel Shell
Hot-dip galvanized exterior provides corrosion resistance and long-term structural integrity in any soil condition.
Thermal Insulation Layer
Patented internal insulation maintains the base of the pile above freezing, stopping frost from bonding to the shaft.
True Pitch™ Helix Geometry
Precision-engineered helical plates lock the pile into load-bearing soil. One full rotation advances the pile a measured distance, so installation depth is calculable, not estimated.
SIDE BY SIDE
Thermal Piles™ vs Concrete Foundations
Poured Concrete
Thermal Pile™
Install time
5 to 10 days (with cure)
1 day, no curing
Frost heave resistance
None
Built-in thermal protection
Works in cold climates
Vulnerable to freeze-thaw cycles
Yes, engineered for it
Removable / adjustable
No
Yes
Environmental impact
High (CO₂-intensive, excavation required)
Low (no excavation, no concrete waste)
Certification
NBC, IBC compliant
NBC, IBC compliant
Warranty
Varies by contractor
Lifetime structural warranty
Engineered in Canada. Proven in the field.
Since 2007, Thermal Piles™ have been installed on thousands of projects across Canada, from residential decks in Quebec to commercial foundations in Alberta.
Every Postech installer is factory-trained and certified. Every pile is manufactured to consistent quality standards.
Key specifications
- Hot-dip galvanized steel (ASTM A123M Standard Specification for Zinc Coatings on Steel Products)
- Patented internal thermal insulation
- Load capacity certified per project by a Postech engineer
- Lifetime structural warranty. Useful service life estimated at 75 years minimum, even in the harshest environments.
- Compliant with the National Building Code (NBC) and International Building Code (IBC)
Ready to build on solid ground?
Find a certified Postech installer near you and get a free quote for your project. Most residential foundations are installed in a single day.