Digging Deep: Piling Foundations Found In Construction Work
If you are looking to reinforce the foundations of a structure, learning more about piling foundations can help you find the right solution. Our guide to piling foundations and where they are used is sure to help you find the information you are looking for. To find out more, keep on reading!
What Is Piling Construction?
Piling is the process of drilling foundations through the ground in order to provide structural integrity to weak soil underneath. Piling is the process of preparing the ground to withstand heavy loads such as houses, complexes and other heavy structures.
The piles used to enforce this strength are usually long poles made from timber, steel or concrete. The size, shape and circumference may depend on how weak the soil is and how large the structure is going to be.
When Is Piling Used?
There are a range of factors to consider before using a piling foundation in construction. These are a few of the situations where piling foundations would be considered:
- Heavy structures need additional support
- Other foundation methods are too expensive
- Soil underneath is shallow and unstable
- If a structure is being built near a riverbed or seashore
- Deep drainage systems run near a structure
- Poor soil conditions
Common Pile Foundations
These are some of the most commonly found pile foundations in construction work.
Driven Pile Foundations
Concrete, steel and timber materials are most often used to make piles for the driven pile method. This method involves precast pile being driven directly into soil to help it become more solid. The piles displace some of the soil, helping it to become more compact and in turn increasing its density.
This method is not suitable for silty, saturated soils that have bad drainage capacity. Watery conditions make it difficult to compact the soil and the process can have an opposite effect, decreasing its ability to support heavy structures.
Cast-in-situ Pile Foundations
This method uses concrete piles but rather than using precast piles, holes are drilled into the ground and supported with steel reinforcements. These holes are then filled with concrete, allowing piling contractors to tailor the foundations depending on the project’s needs.
Combined Pile Foundations
Combined pile foundations use a mixture of the two methods previously mentioned. They retain advantages from both methods and create an extremely strong foundation for a range of different projects.
Below Ground
If you’re looking for reliable piling contractors, our team of piling contractors at Below Ground is here to help. For more information about our services or how we can help you, feel free to contact us today!
5 Reasons You Should Hire A Domestic Foundation Contractor
When it comes to the foundation of your home or property, you want the job done right. Designing and constructing home foundations can include a range of options, such as piling, reinforcing ground beams or installing slabs. No matter what kind of home foundation you are after, hiring a contractor to guide you along the way can be a huge help. To find out more about how foundation contractors could help you, keep on reading!
What Can Foundation Contractors Do For Me?
Foundation contractors can offer a range of services that can help your project run smoothly and hassle free. To find out what else they can do, read on!
Expertise & Specialised Knowledge
Contractors will have years of useful experience and in-depth industry knowledge, which will allow them to complete projects effectively and to a high standard. When it comes to the foundation of your home, you want a proper and thorough job to be done, and a contractor can do just that.
Access To Equipment
Trying to tackle a project like this can be a challenge on your own, and contractors have access to all kinds of new, or specialised equipment which allows them to do their job effectively. It means they can use the latest techniques and precise construction methods to install your domestic foundations.
Problem Solving
Due to their in-depth knowledge and experience, contractors may be able to spot potential problems or issues, which may be things you could have overlooked. They may have seen issues like this before, and can use their expertise to find the best solution or way around the problem.
Quality Service
Contractors have to follow certain regulations and ensure that your construction project meets certain standards, especially for domestic properties. This means that you can rest assured that you are getting a safe installation and a quality service.
Peace Of Mind
Having peace of mind that such an important part of your property has been installed at the highest standard, and in the best way possible is sure to give you peace of mind as a homeowner. This is another great advantage of hiring a contractor, as you don’t need to worry after the job is complete and you can rest assured that the foundations have been installed safely.
Below Ground
If you’re looking for a foundation contractor who can offer you all of this and more, visit our website to read about our domestic foundation services here at Below Ground. We offer a range of commercial and domestic foundation solutions across Bristol, London and Exeter.
To find out more about what we do or how we can help you, contact us today to speak directly to our team.
Is Piling Expensive? The True Cost of Piling in 2023
When it comes to constructing a building that will stand the test of time, a solid foundation is paramount. Piling contractors play a crucial role in creating stable building foundations through a process known as piling. However, the question often arises: Is piling expensive? Let’s delve into the true cost of piling in 2023 and explore why it’s a worthy investment for your building project.
Understanding Foundation Construction
Before we dive into the cost aspect, let’s briefly understand the importance of a strong foundation. The foundation of a building provides the structural support necessary to distribute the building’s weight evenly, preventing settling, shifting or collapsing over time. This is where piling comes into play.
The Role of Piling Contractors
Piling involves driving steel, concrete or timber piles into the ground to create a stable foundation for various structures. Piling contractors are specialists who have the expertise and equipment to execute this complex process efficiently. They assess the soil composition, load-bearing capacity, and other factors to determine the most suitable piling technique for your project.
Factors Influencing the Cost of Piling
Soil Conditions
The type of soil on your construction site plays a significant role in determining the cost. Challenging soil conditions may require specialised piling methods, impacting the overall expense.
Depth of Piles
The depth to which piles need to be driven depends on the building’s load and soil characteristics. Deeper piles can increase costs due to additional materials and labour.
Pile Material
The material you choose for the piles, such as steel or concrete, can affect the cost. Each material has its advantages and price points.
Site Accessibility
If the site is difficult to access, it may require special equipment or more time to set up, potentially adding to the cost.
Investing Wisely in Your Project
So, is piling expensive? While it may require an initial investment, the long-term benefits in terms of structural integrity and reduced maintenance costs make it a wise choice for any construction project. And if you’re looking for reliable piling companies in Bristol, consider partnering with Below Ground. Our team of seasoned professionals brings years of experience and a deep understanding of local soil conditions to every project. We pride ourselves on delivering cost-effective and tailored solutions that guarantee the stability and durability of your building’s foundation. Your building’s stability is our priority, so get in touch today.
The Many Benefits of Hiring Professional Piling Contractors
When it comes to construction, the most important part is laying down the foundations. Without strong and steady foundations, buildings will not last for long. Piling is one of the most popular methods of building foundations – and it’s a job that needs to be done properly. Read on to discover the many benefits of hiring a professional piling contractor.
A clear overview of the site
A reliable contractor will provide a clear and cohesive report that reviews the state of the land and soil before the start of a construction project. They’ll be able to check the soil to see if it can hold moisture and also examine the stability of the existing foundation trenches. These early insights will help you avoid construction issues midway through the project, saving you invaluable time and money.
Selection of quality materials
Piling contractors are experts in the field and will be able to select the most appropriate materials for your project. They understand that high-quality materials ensure the structural longevity of foundations, and so you won’t have to worry about any potential building collapse in the coming years. You can rest assured that piling contractors will provide specialist advice and recommendations on the materials that will be used during the construction project – for example, these experts will know that metal pieces rather than timber should be used when building skyscrapers, while timber is an important part of the equation while building a cottage-style home.
Saves time
Inevitably, constructing a foundation is a very time-consuming job that requires a lot of resources. Piling contractors are on hand to make the process quicker – they are well equipped with the knowledge and resources to get the job done faster and more efficiently. Knowing all tasks are being carried out swiftly and smoothly, you’ll be able to focus on other tasks and activities.
Fulfil legal requirements
Hiring a piling contractor is beneficial to you legally, as the work carried out will be licensed and insured. The installations provided also have a guarantee and this safeguards your investment into the property.
Reduce risk
As with all manual projects, building foundations carries an element of risk. Legal regulations require you to mitigate and insure the people working for you against any possible risk in the construction project. However, this task is not required to be done by you when you are working with a professional contractor as in that case it becomes the job and duty of the contractor to take care of all its workers.
Customised services
When you turn to professional piling contractors, you can count on customised services and solutions to ensure optimal customer satisfaction. You’ll be getting services that have been precisely agreed upon by all parties, which will be delivered with utmost dedication and professionalism.
Belowground Ltd specialise in performing the highest-quality piling construction, underpinning and foundation services. Our vast range of expert foundation services includes the installation of screw piles, ground beams, concrete piles and tailored pile foundation design – get in touch to find out more about what we do.
How To Tell if Your Foundations Are In Need Of Repair
Your home should provide sanctuary from the turmoil of 21st century life, where this domestic refuge becomes a place to eat, sleep, enjoy leisure time and socialise with friends and family. As such, it can be distressing when your property falls into disrepair, which is why it’s important to understand the warning signs that something has gone awry.
It is easy to forget about your property’s foundations, where these important supportive structures are a major part of any building. Read on for a guide to key signs that your foundations are in need of repairs or reinforcements.
Sinking Ground
If the ground beneath and around your home appears to be sinking, then this can cause structural damage to your foundations, putting your property at risk. Also known as subsidence, this can be caused by the shrinking of the ground during dry spells, where this should be corrected to avoid serious damage to your home.
Exterior & Interior Wall Cracks
Large cracks in your exterior walls in the pattern of a zigzag could be a sign that your foundations need reinforcing. This can also be observed inside the house, where diagonal interior cracks, as well as ceiling cracks, could indicate a foundational issue.
Bouncing Floors
If your floorboards are beginning to sag or bounce, then this could mean your foundations are in need of repair or that structural beams have started to rot. For concrete floors and basement spaces, this can manifest in the form of cracking.
Below Ground: Providing Essential Home Foundation Repairs & Reinforcements
At Below Ground, we’re fully equipped to deal with a range of domestic foundation issues, where we can deliver high quality concrete foundation repair and underpinning services. In addition to this we also offer pile foundation design for both commercial and residential properties. Contact us directly today to find out more about how we can help.
Everything You Need To Know About Clay Soil Foundations
The construction of a home, office block or community building is a complex process that demands a wide range of machinery and equipment to get the job done right. Everything from the foundations to the roof tiles needs to be expertly installed to ensure the longevity and durability of the structure.
But what happens if your building site consists of clay heavy soil? Clay is a natural soil type containing clay minerals, where this material tends to develop plasticity when combined with water. Read on to find out about the various risks and complications involved with building on clay.
Drainage
Clay is known for being highly absorbent, where it tends to retain water and cause problems for site drainage. This is because it is made up of lots of small, dense particles which become compacted easily.
Expanding & Contracting
Due to clay’s absorbent nature, it is also liable to expand and contract depending on its water content. Dry clay will shrink, whilst waterlogged soil will swell. Nearby trees can influence the changing water content of the clay, where removing large swathes of vegetation could result in flooding and ground collapse.
Erosion
Clay is also vulnerable to soil erosion which can further complicate building efforts. Its poor drainage qualities allow the soil to become waterlogged, which can contribute to landslides, flooding and instability.
Piling
In construction, piling or deep foundations are ideal for creating a solid base for a building project if you’re dealing with clay. This technique involves the drilling of solid piles into the ground, which help to transfer the weight of the structure throughout the soft soil.
Below Ground: Meeting All You PIle Foundation Needs
At Below Ground, we specialise in commercial and domestic piling and underpinning, where we can also install sheet piles and ground beams in Bristol, Exeter and London.
Contact us today to find out more about our high quality services.
The Secrets Behind Some Of The World’s Strongest Buildings
There is no question that in the 21st century, we have built some incredibly strong structures. Naturally, we have the industrial revolution to thank for most of the improvements to our technology. Though, there are a few secrets behind effective building design that have helped us to create not only strong buildings but earthquake-proof homes. Perhaps to your surprise, these advancements in technology and building processes often go a touch under the radar, especially to the outside world. In this blog, we are going to expose a few of those secrets and dive into the world of super-strong structures. Keep reading to find out more!
Vibrational Control Devices
One of the biggest risks, when an earthquake or other large force hits the area around a building, is vibrational force. As you will most likely already know, buildings are designed to withstand the force of gravity, which is a directional force from above pushing things to the ground. Though when an outside force hits, they usually come from a myriad of different directions and this vibrates the building. With Vibrational Control Devices, you can mitigate this vibration and keep your building safe and secure. They work by placing a damper onto a wall which uses pistons to relieve some of the vibrations from the outside world.
Pendulum Power
As we humans have progressed, we have continued to build higher and higher to save space and partly to prove that we can. Though there is one major issue that comes when we build tall buildings. If an earthquake or other outside factor makes the ground below move, then the building can begin to sway. This is, of course, extremely damaging to the building and can make it collapse if the movement below is strong enough. So, this is where Pendulum Power comes in. The Pendulum works to steady the building by moving in the opposite direction of the building’s swing.
Pile foundations
These foundations are, in fact, the starting point for almost any building in an earthquake-prone area or any building that has to be particularly strong. The large piles are drilled into the ground below, which makes the structure incredibly strong. The base foundation is then attached to these piles. This form of foundation building is also incredibly useful for structures that need to be built on partially weak ground. So, certainly, if you need to build any structures that need to withstand a large degree of force, then you should use pile foundations.
If you’re looking for your own pile foundation contractors, then make sure you contact us today. We have many years of experience in the industry and can certainly help you to create a strong and reliable building.
From Screw Piles To Soil Density: The Science Behind Foundations
While the world of construction has changed drastically over the years and in comparison to our first settlements, it is almost unrecognisable. Though fast forward a few thousand years and it is not actually as dissimilar as you might think from the times of the Roman Empire and Greek Empire. These civilizations pioneered this technology and now we use foundations in every large building we make and the technology has allowed construction to move on exponentially.
So, why do we need foundations, and how are they actually built? In this blog, we’ll explore these questions to give you a rundown of the science behind foundations.
Weak ground
There is no denying the fact that large buildings are extremely heavy. In fact, many of the world’s tallest buildings will weigh thousands of tons. So, it goes without saying really that there must be a pretty strong base to keep these heavy loads secure. While you may think that the earth is solid enough to handle these kinds of weights, you are, in fact, a touch wrong there. Many areas on the earth’s surface are in fact far weaker than people think, which means buildings can sink and become dangerous. Take the Leaning Tower of Pisa for example. This building was built upon weak ground and now it is famous for its unmistakable lean.
Buildings with greater potential
Today, in 2023, we are always striving to push boundaries and create things which we would have never been able to do. Of course, this logic also applies to the building industry and as our nation becomes more and more populated, we will need to continue to build innovative and groundbreaking buildings to accommodate these new people. With strong foundations, we will be able to build far higher than ever before, which will pave the way for some of the most impressive buildings the world has ever seen. Of course, this will mean that cities will have far more space while also accommodating more people.
Pile foundations
Pile foundations are one of the most popular forms of modern foundations and after a brief explanation, we are sure that you will understand why. Modern buildings are incredibly tall and as we have discussed, they are also incredibly heavy. Pile foundations drill a series of long reinforced concrete tubes into the ground so the building can rest upon these. This creates an incredibly strong base and one which can withstand some of the harshest forces the world can throw at it. For this reason, pile foundations are some of the most popular foundations found in the UK. So, who can provide you with high-quality foundations?
Here at Below Ground, we are experts in piling foundations, so make sure you contact us today to hear more about what we can offer.
What Is Piling? A Simple Guide To Piling Contractors
If you are thinking of making developments to your home or a property, then hiring a piling company might be a wise decision. Keep reading to find our simple guide to piling contractors and who might need them!
What Is Piling?
Piling is the process in which structural piles or pile foundations are put into the ground to reinforce the base of a building.
They are a cost effective way to strengthen the base of a building and to improve the life expectancy of different construction projects. Piling and mini piling can be carried out on structures to help keep them strong.
What Are Piling Structures Made From?
Pile foundations are made from a range of materials such as:
- Metal
- Concrete
- Wood
- Steel
Because they are made to support heavy structures, pile foundations are carefully designed. They are driven into the ground by hammering and there are two main ways that pile foundations are used.
Replacement Piling
Replacement piling is a method where the pile foundations are driven into holes in the ground to replace the existing earth that is underneath a structure.
Displacement Piling
Displacement piling is where the pile foundations are pre-formed and driven into the ground to displace the earth that was there beforehand.
What Kinds Of Buildings Might Need Piling?
Piling is usually required for structures that are particularly heavy or large. And, if soil is underlying a particular building, piling can be a wise reinforcement to make.
If you are building or living in an area with a lot of soil that is weak or oversaturated with water, piling reinforcements is a good idea.
Below Ground
Here at Below Ground, we have a team of professional and experienced piling contractors. So, if you are looking for a reliable team to help you with one of your properties, feel free to get in touch with us today. We will be happy to answer any questions and give you our best advice!
The Top Three Most Popular House Foundations To Know About
The role of home foundations is essential to the structure of your property. Having a proper foundation is crucial to keep your building secure and durable. The weight of your domestic build needs to be stable on the foundations, be able to withstand the test of time and also keep it standing straight. Keep reading to find out about the three most popular home foundations.
Concrete Slab Foundation
This is one of the more common foundations found under domestic properties. It requires the least amount of preparation for contractors to start building and the installation process is nice and simple in comparison to other foundation types.
Their simplistic design and installation makes them extremely common in the majority of new homes. Additionally, because they are more solid, concrete foundations are far less susceptible to mould and pests in comparison to other domestic foundation types.
Basement Foundation
Basement foundations are relatively common too. When homeowners want a bit of extra storage and square footage, a full basement can be dug out, with approximately an 8ft basement dug in the ground. They can be insulated, for temperature control purposes and they are ideal for those who want to expand their homes downwards rather than upwards or outwards.
They can be quite expensive overall, but a major benefit is the long term investment. A basement can add significant square footage to your home, and increase the value of the property if you ever decide to sell.
Crawl Space Foundation
Crawl space foundations typically raise a house about 2 to 3 feet from the ground and support the property on short columns. Usually a barrier is placed over the soil underneath, to prevent issues like mould. You might find these foundations under bungalows and cottages.
If you are looking for more storage space or easy utility access, then a crawl space foundation can be perfect for you. Crawl spaces are also good if you are conscious of your energy efficiency. Insulating your crawl space can help you to save money long term too, with better energy efficiency that helps your systems to run for longer and more smoothly.
Below Ground Ltd
Here at Below Ground Piling & Underpinning, our team is committed to helping you with any domestic foundation concerns you have. From concrete foundation repairs to piling and underpinning solutions, we’ve got you covered. Our piling contractors are trained and dedicated to providing an efficient and quality service.
For any further enquiries, feel free to get in touch with us and find out more from our team!
