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The foldable house on the golf course in Arona, anchored on T-Block screw foundations with no concrete slab.

Modular construction

Sustainable foundations for modular homes, container homes, extensions and passive buildings. Quick installation with no digging and no noise: sometimes a single day on site is enough.

No
waiting for concrete to cure
Removable
it leaves no trace
0
excavation needed

Applications in construction

Modular homes

Foundations for prefabricated houses in timber, steel or new-generation materials. The foundations and the modules can go in at the same time. Well suited to sustainable housing developments.

  • ✓ Precise tolerances for setting the modules
  • ✓ Even settlement
  • ✓ No ground preparation needed

The modular house case study

Container homes

Foundations for containers converted into homes or offices. They keep alignment and levels precise. A fast option for emergency or temporary housing.

  • ✓ Evenly distributed load
  • ✓ Settlement can be corrected
  • ✓ Unscrewed when no longer needed

House extensions

Foundations for extensions without invasive excavation. Suitable for street-facing plots, narrow gardens and protected areas.

  • ✓ Minimal access to the ground
  • ✓ No disturbance to the neighbours
  • ✓ Removable: it leaves no trace

Passive houses

Thermally separated foundations without thermal bridges. Compatible with nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEB).

  • ✓ Reduced heat transfer
  • ✓ Continuous perimeter insulation
  • ✓ Compatible with nZEB projects

Foundations in seismic areas

Screw foundations can be used in seismic areas: the check is made on the project, to the Italian NTC 2018 standards.

  • ✓ Per-screw check with the Pro configurator
  • ✓ Geotechnical calculation to NTC 2018
  • ✓ Structural check by the project engineer
CLT building under construction on a ventilated, inspectable base beam fixed to T-Block screw foundations: no excavation, no concrete slab.

Hybrid structures

Screw foundations combined with steel or timber to carry concentrated loads. A great deal of design freedom.

  • ✓ Adapts to complex geometries
  • ✓ Made-to-measure solutions
  • ✓ Lower structural costs

Ground screws for timber and prefabricated houses

For a house that people live in, the foundation is sized on the project: the Pro configurator gives the per-screw check to the Italian NTC 2018 standards, while the structural check remains with the project engineer.

T-Block screw foundation for the first house in Italy built with this technology, ours, in Tufillo, Abruzzo.

2013 · Tufillo (CH), Italy

The first home in Italy built on T-Block

The WARA project by architect Rainer Toshikazu Winter: a real house, built on T-Block screw foundations without concrete.

Research and testing

Side view of the Arona foldable house at lawn level: under the edge, a row of supports on T-Block screw foundations.

2018 · Arona, Italy

The first foldable house installed in Italy without concrete

An A-frame foldable house resting on T-Block. It is a different first from 2013: it concerns the type of house, which did not exist in Italy until then.

The Arona case study

Garden sheds, storage sheds and log stores are another typical DIY application: we cover them on the Garden sheds page.

Benefits for construction

Shorter schedules

Foundations ready for the modules in a short time: sometimes a single day on site is enough. No concrete to cure, so the job moves on straight away.

50% to 85% less CO₂

A significant cut in carbon emissions compared with conventional concrete foundations.

Reusable

Unscrewed and taken away in a few hours, they leave no trace. The screws can be reused.

No noise

No jackhammers, no vibration. Well suited to noise-sensitive residential areas.

Easy to adjust

Settlement? Add screws. Tolerances? Adjustable. Flexibility on site.

T-Block® products for construction

For construction we use the T4 to T10 families, depending on the load and the type of structure. In seismic areas the Pro configurator provides the per-screw check to the Italian NTC 2018 standards; the structural check remains with the project engineer.

T-Block T4 / T6

Families for modular structures, timber houses and containers, up to medium-high loads. Installed by hand (T4 and T6) or by machine.

See the catalogue →

T-Block T7 / T10

For high loads and greater embedment depths. Reinforced section with a double concentric tube. In seismic areas the model is chosen on the project, with a check to NTC 2018. Also available in AISI 304 stainless steel.

Ask for technical advice →

Frequently asked questions

Can you build a timber house on ground screws?
Yes. For homes, the foundation is sized on the project: the Pro configurator gives the check for each screw to the Italian NTC 2018 code, while the structural check stays with the designer. On this page you will find two real houses: the Tufillo house (WARA project) and the foldable house in Arona.
Can screw foundations be used in seismic areas?
Yes. The check is carried out on the project, to the Italian NTC 2018 code: the Pro configurator provides the check for each screw, while the structural check stays with the designer.
Which T-Block models are used in construction?
The families from T4 to T10, depending on the load and the type of structure. T4 and T6 for modular structures, timber houses and containers up to medium-high loads; T7 and T10 for high loads and greater depths, with a reinforced double concentric tube section, also in AISI 304 stainless steel.
How long does the foundation work take on site?
Much less time, with no excavation and no noise: sometimes a single day on site is enough. There is no concrete to cure, so assembly of the module can start straight away.
Do you need planning permission for a house on ground screws?
It depends on the structure built on top, not on the foundation. Residential buildings follow the ordinary building regulations, and the foundation is designed to the Italian NTC 2018 code.

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

Take your building project further

Find out how screw foundations speed up the work and cut costs on modular homes and sustainable construction.

Ask for construction advice