Racking the same day
There is no concrete to cure, so racking can start once the piles are installed and checked.
Solar Foundations
Solar ground mount foundations in Hamilton
Screw pile foundations for ground-mounted solar arrays on homes, farms and commercial properties across Hamilton. No trenching for footings, no concrete to cure, and racking can go on as soon as the piles are in and checked.
Capacity checked at every pileTorque recorded as it goes in
Built for wind and frostUplift, lateral and frost loads
Ready for rackingNo cure time, no spoil piles
What we build
Foundations made for solar racking
A solar array is light for its size but catches a lot of wind. The foundation has to resist uplift and sideways load as much as it carries weight, and it has to stay put through Hamilton freeze-thaw cycles so the rows stay straight and the racking stays square.
Postech Hamilton installs engineered steel screw piles to the depth and capacity the racking design calls for. Each pile is driven with compact hydraulic equipment and its installation torque is recorded, so you know every post position is carrying its load before the racking crew arrives. Pile size, spacing and depth follow the racking manufacturer's requirements, the array layout, the soil and the approved design.
Residential ground-mount arraysFarm and rural solar arraysCommercial ground-mount systemsPole and single-post mountsEquipment and inverter padsArrays on slopes or soft ground
Capacity you can see
Installation torque is recorded at each pile and kept for the engineer and the inspection file.
Uplift and wind
Helical plates anchor into the soil, so piles resist pull-out as well as downward load.
Below the frost
Piles extend through frost-affected soil to stable bearing, which keeps rows level from season to season.
Light on the land
No footing holes, no spoil to haul and no concrete trucks crossing a lawn or a working field.
Year-round installs
Installation is not tied to concrete weather, so the array schedule does not have to wait for spring.
Why screw piles
The foundation is where solar schedules slip.
Excavation, forming, curing and weather are where most ground-mount projects lose time and money. Screw piles take those steps out of the job.
The install date holds
No digging, forming or curing. Piles carry load the day they go in, so the racking and electrical crews are not waiting on the foundation.
Fewer surprises in the ground
No open excavations, no spoil to remove and no dewatering, which are the usual causes of foundation change orders.
The property keeps working
Compact equipment works in a small footprint. Fields can be farmed around the array and yards are left without large holes to backfill.
Proof before you build
Each pile's torque is recorded on site as it is installed. A poured footing gives no equivalent reading on the day.
How a project runs
From array layout to racking-ready piles.
We coordinate with you or your solar installer early, so the piles land exactly where the racking needs them.
Send the layout
Share the array layout, racking make and model, site photos, access details and target date.
Confirm the design
Pile type, depth and spacing are matched to the racking requirements, loads and site conditions.
Install and record
Each pile is installed at its marked position and its torque is recorded as it goes in.
Hand off to racking
You receive the installation records and the racking crew can start without a curing delay.
Early planning guide
What shapes the pile plan for an array.
Every array is different. This guide shows what affects the foundation; final pile count, size and depth come from the racking design and the site.
| Project factor | Early planning consideration | Why it changes the foundation |
|---|---|---|
| Array size and row count | Pile count follows the racking post spacing along each row. | More rows and longer rows mean more support points to lay out and install. |
| Panel tilt and height | Higher, steeper arrays usually need more capacity at each post. | Height and tilt increase the wind and uplift forces on every pile. |
| Racking system | The racking manufacturer's foundation requirements set post locations and tolerances. | Pile caps and connections have to match the racking posts exactly. |
| Soil and slope | Soft, wet or sloped ground may call for deeper piles or larger helices. | Bearing and pull-out resistance depend on the soil the plates reach. |
| Access | Compact equipment reaches backyards, fields and fenced sites. | Tight access affects equipment choice and scheduling, not the foundation design. |
For solar installers & electrical contractors
A foundation subcontractor for your arrays.
Bring Postech Hamilton in for the piles only and keep your own crew on racking, panels and electrical. Send the array layout, racking specification, site photos and target date for a project-specific quote.
For installers with repeat work, we can coordinate scheduling around your crews and provide the installation records your engineer and inspector need for each site.
Talk to us about your next array →Trade-ready support
01Piles installed to your racking layout
02Scheduling coordinated with your install crew
03Torque records for engineering and inspection files
04Racking-ready handoff with no concrete curing delay
Solar foundation specialists
A cleaner alternative to concrete solar footings.
Concrete footings for a ground-mount array mean digging a hole at every post, hauling the spoil, forming, pouring and waiting for the concrete to cure before racking can start. On a farm field or a finished lawn, that also means trucks and torn-up ground. Screw piles are installed with compact equipment, leave very little displaced soil and carry load as soon as they are in.
In Hamilton, a solar foundation has to deal with frost, wind uplift and clay soils that move with the seasons. A properly designed screw pile extends through frost-affected soil to stable bearing, and its helical plates resist pull-out as well as downward load. Pile selection, depth and spacing follow the racking design, the array layout, the soil and the approved engineering.
Ground-mount solar foundations for homes, farms and businessesFoundation-only installation for solar installersTorque records for engineering and inspectionGalvanized steel piles with caps matched to the rackingRacking-ready handoff after installation and checks
Frequently asked questions
Can screw piles support a ground-mounted solar array?+
Yes. Screw piles are widely used for ground-mount solar because they resist uplift and lateral wind load as well as weight. The pile size, depth and spacing are set to match the racking system and the site.
Do I need a permit for a ground-mount solar array in Hamilton?+
Requirements depend on the size of the system, where it sits on the property and how it connects to the grid. Check with the City of Hamilton and your solar installer before work begins. We provide installation records for the permit and inspection file.
Will frost move the array?+
Piles are installed through frost-affected soil to stable bearing, which is what keeps them from heaving. That keeps the rows level and the racking square from one season to the next.
How much do solar screw piles cost?+
Cost depends on the number of piles, pile type and depth, the soil, site access and any engineering. Send the array layout and site details for a project-specific quote.
Explore more
Keep planning.
Get in touch
Grant & Kairi West
Your local Postech team for solar, foundation, excavation, slab and deck projects across Hamilton and surrounding communities.
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