A Beginners Guide To Piling: What Is It & Who Needs It?
Piling is an integral part of many construction and development projects. Our blog dives into what piling is and what its applications are! To find out more, keep on reading.
What Is Piling?
Essentially, piling is a construction technique used to secure the foundations of a building. The foundations of particular buildings or soil being built on can be weak and unable to bear the weight of a building, meaning more structural support needs to be added. From regular construction sites to underwater marine structures, piling can be useful for a range of applications.
Types Of Piling
Some of the common types of piling you should be aware of are:
- End Bearing Pile – Rely on support from below, protecting weaker layers of soil and supporting weight on top.
- Friction Pile – The length of the piles is directly related to the amount of weight these piles can support.
- Bored Piles – Driven into the ground and then filled with concrete afterwards, used for large scale applications.
- CFA Piles – Continuous flight auger piles are similar to bored piles but are much smaller and designed for lighter loads.
- Sheet Piles – Common in marine scenarios and provides lateral support.
- Steel & Timber Piles – Having been around for centuries, they are used on both temporary and permanent structures.
What Kind Of Sites Require Piling Construction?
Piling can be used for a range of different sites, buildings and applications. The primary purpose of piling construction is to increase the strength and safety of the ground before anything is developed or built. A few examples of situations that would require pile foundations are:
- A heavy structure needs additional support underneath
- Other foundation types cannot support the weight of a certain structure, or they are too expensive
- If the soil on a particular site is compressible at a shallow depth pile foundations may be required
- If a structure is near a river bed or seashore, it will likely require additional support
- Deep drainage systems near the structure or canals
- Poor soil condition
- Foundations of a structure seem impossible to keep dry with other foundation methods
How Are Piles Driven Into The Ground?
Many piling rigs are specialised for different applications, and each type of pile infrastructure is used differently. Driven piles are hammered, vibrated or jacked into the ground. Hydraulic drivers and rams are commonly used for sheet piles, allowing the pile to slide seamlessly into the ground. Bored piles use a continuous auger, which is similar to a large drill bit, for larger operations.
Below Ground: Piling Contractors You Can Rely On
If you’re looking for commercial piling and foundation contractors, look no further. Here at Below Ground, we offer a comprehensive range of piling services for homeowners and commercial sites.
To find out more about our services or what we do, feel free to contact us today!
