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Foot of a galvanized steel signpost slotted into a headless T-Block ground screw, flush with the lawn, with no concrete footing.

The alternative to precast concrete footings: the ground screw

The precast footing avoids pouring, but not digging: the hole has to be opened, the footing has to be brought to the site and set to level, and then it stays in the ground. A T-Block® ground screw is screwed in directly where the post or pillar is needed.

No hole
and no concrete
Straight away
it takes the load as soon as it is in
Unscrewed
it leaves no trace

Precast footing or ground screw

The same jobs, done in two ways.

Precast concrete footing

  • A hole is dug for each footing.
  • The footing is transported, lowered into the hole and set to level.
  • The hole is backfilled and compacted around it.
  • At the end of its life it stays in the ground or has to be dug out and disposed of.

T-Block® ground screw

  • No hole: you drill the pilot hole and screw in.
  • The level is adjusted by screwing, with no fuss.
  • It takes the load straight away: the structure goes up as soon as it is screwed in.
  • At the end of its life it is unscrewed and leaves no trace.

Instead of the footing: for posts, pillars and structures

Where the precast footing is used today and what goes in its place.

Lighting poles

Street lamps and light fittings with no digging and no footing, even in the greenery of parks and gardens. At the Giardini dell'Orticoltura in Florence, T-Blocks carry the poles of the festive lighting in the green area and on the stage.

Public lighting

Fence and sign posts

The headless T-Block works as the post holder: it screws into the ground and the post, round or T-section, slots into it. In Città di Castello the posts of the warning signs are mounted this way, with no footing at the roadside.

Fencing without concrete

Timber pillars, pergolas and shelters

One T-Block under each pillar: the foot is fixed onto the head with its steel bracket or shoe, and the timber stays raised off the ground.

Pergola anchoring

Gazebos and light structures

A screw anchor under each post, in place of the footing or the ballast. At the end of the season it is unscrewed.

Gazebo anchoring

The signpost case, step by step: Città di Castello. The full comparison with concrete: ground screws vs concrete.

Frequently asked questions

What can be used instead of a precast concrete footing?
A ground screw: a steel element with a helix that screws into the ground and carries the structure like the footing, but without digging the hole and without concrete. For posts there is the headless T-Block, into which the post slots; for pillars, posts and structures there is the T-Block with a head onto which the foot is fixed.
Can a street lamp be installed without a footing?
Yes. Lighting poles can be founded on T-Blocks with no digging and no footing, even in the greenery of parks and gardens. The model is chosen according to the pole, its height and the ground: write to us with the pole data.
And for the timber pillars of a shelter or a pergola?
A T-Block goes under each pillar and the pillar foot is fixed onto its head with the steel bracket or shoe. The timber does not touch the ground and there is no hole to dig for the footing.
How much does it cost compared with concrete?
On average 30-50% less than traditional concrete foundations, looking at the total cost: materials, labour and time. Prices are given on request.
When is the concrete footing still the better choice?
In solid rock, for extreme loads per point and when a waterproofed basement is needed. In other cases the ground screw goes in in hours instead of days and unscrews without leaving a trace.

More answers on service life, soils and permits in the FAQ.

Need to replace some footings?

Tell us what has to be founded (post, pillar, structure), how many points there are and what ground it is: we will tell you which T-Blocks to use.

Use the configurator Ask for a quote