Get the job done with Concrete Piling
Safety and precision are the main key concerns when construction work is being carried out. It is important to seek the help and advice of an expert to make sure that everything has been carried out correctly, particularly when the work is foundation piling. One of the first decisions you will have to make is whether or not you require concrete piling. It is advisable to obtain advice from an architect.
If the building does require concrete piling then you will need to get in touch with a piling company who are experts in all matters relating to foundation piling. Make sure that you do thorough research before choosing a piling company as concrete piling is essential to creating stable foundations for your building. It is also important that you choose the most suitable type of concrete piling for your building as there are many different ones available.
Most concrete piles are drilled into the foundation of the structure in order to give extra support. When choosing a piling company, find out what equipment they use. The company that you decide on should be able to get access to a hydraulic top pile driver as this is the most effective way to install concrete piles. MK Piling use the best concrete piling equipment available we are so confident in our service that all concrete piling projects are backed with a 10 year guarantee.
Grundomat Driven Piles: The Ideal Piling Solution
Grundomat driven piles are designed to support and withstand force and pressure. Grundomat driven piles are installed using a pile driving hammer or a similar type of machinery. Grundomat driven piles are a popular choice of pile as they are cost effective, very accurate and can resist any level of weight or force that they are subjected to.
Not only are Grundomat driven piles extremely durable, they are also very flexible. There are a wide range of different sizes of hammer available to carry out the installation process and this means that Grundomat driven piles can be implemented in exceedingly small, tight spaces. This allows engineers to install Grundomat driven piles which are of a high standard, without using expensive installation techniques. Grundomat driven piles make working on sites with restricted access much easier and the process only requires a team of two to complete.
Grundomat driven piles also offer low vibrations rates. Low levels of vibrations mean that there is much less displacement and piles can be implemented with more precision. Grundomat driven piles are very quiet compared to other methods of piling so they are ideal for use on projects that take place in residential areas.
Retaining Walls and Soil Foundations
When constructing a new building, it is not possible to just simply start building on a plot of land. There is a lot of foundation preparation which needs to be carried out in the initial stages of a construction project. One of most important factor when carrying out foundation or retaining wall work is to ascertain what type of soil you are building on.
Soil is essentially the geological erosion or rocks and is made up of solid particles and then voids. These voids – or spaces – can be filled with water or air or a combination of the two. In the UK, most soils do not contain any air once they are one metre below the surface. This is known as saturated soil.
There are many types of soil but for building purposes soil is generally split into two categories; sandy silt and boulder clay. Soils which are made up of 25% clay particles have different properties to coarser soils and it sticks together. This type of soil also swells and contracts depending on the water content. The process of water being squeezed out of this soil is known as consolidation and is one of the main causes of building settlement. Buildings can still be going through the settlement process decades after being built.
Different soil foundations require different methods of stabilisation which is why it is important for contractors to carry out thorough site investigations and decide whether a retaining wall or other foundation works are appropriate.
The Underpinning Factor
If the foundation work of a building or structure has not been carried out properly, or it is an old building and time has taken its toll, then it is important to strengthen and stabilise a building to ensure that it is safe. This process is known as underpinning.
Underpinning is usually a one-stop solution for any sort of foundation issues. Underpinning is a sure-fire way to correct any problems with a building’s foundations. Underpinning may be required if the use of a building changes. For example, if a building which used to be a house is then turned into a shop, underpinning will allow that building to be able to withstand more pressure.
Over time, ground and soil conditions can change. If there has been any movement of the soil beneath or around a building, possibly through subsidence, then underpinning will help to strengthen the foundations of it. When a new building is erected near to existing buildings, underpinning may be required to strengthen the surrounding properties.
Underpinning can be a much cheaper alternative with increasing land prices. This could mean that underpinning would be more logical to make improvements to an existing property rather than paying large amounts of money for more land.