Composite pilings.

[outhouse]

I was researching piling sources when I came across these:  http://www.pearsonpilings.com/  The data shows them to be more than sufficient for any building application where other piling types might be used.  Perhaps in time they will become more common and thus attainable.  Because of their light weight, it could even be worth a trip to a not-so-close fresh/salt water marina supply to pick them up.

[glenn kangiser]

I worked on a job where we installed helical piers once.

Works with a Bobcat attachment driver.

http://www.abchance.com/about/about-chance.html

[outhouse]

The Instant Foundation looks pretty nice. I guess they don't install by hand. Are you familiar with how rocky and solid a soil they can penetrate during installation?  I'm kind of thinking the composite pilings could be cut to size and installed by hand. The weight to strength ratio comparison to wood or steel pilings reveals great advantage. I also found the Monopile diagrams to inspire appreciation for structural value, ease of installation, and versatility of application.

[glenn kangiser]

I don't think any kind of piling can be successfully installed by hand as they are meant to be driven.  Used in that way they would only give you the same support as a poured concrete pier.  Pilings are driven by a big drop weight or air, steam or hydraulic hammer.

The helical piers are twisted down into the ground by a special gearhead with a tension measuring breaker on it.  It snaps  indicating the proper tension to support the specified load.

If your ground is harder than that or you are thinking of hand setting them, then possibly all you need is the Big Foot footing or something similar like an enlarged base footing with a sonotube rising above the surface and filled with concrete with some reinforcing steel.  The pilings are likely very expensive and since they are in the ground anyway cheap concrete and steel - though heavy is much more economical.  Hand set pilings would simply sink into the ground when loaded.  They need the hammering into the soil for friction and compaction sufficient to support the load.  Typically they are used in muddy or swampy areas and driven until they reach something sufficiently solid.  I have worked on many jobs in the Bay Area (SF) where they use them.

Search footings  or Big Foot on our site for more info.

http://www.countryplans.com/search.html
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[outhouse]

I have seen the Bigfoot pages. I see your point about the compaction in normal piling installation. I was thinking they could be used as posts with proper footing or high quality pilings. It's interesting because it could someday be used in other foundation types or components, and there are many that use recycled or refuse materials like wood and plastic.

I do realize that concrete slab is about the most durable foundation but many still fail after time and are often broke up and scrapped when a new house is built on an old lot. Just a thought in case the materials and production require less energy than concrete. One major plus is the weight, depending on how you look at it. No one wants to get caught in a hurricane without tie downs, or in an earthquake without solid footing.