Foundation piling in cold weather
Foundation piling presents its own obstacles during the colder months, as the interaction between the foundations and the ground around them can change significantly – particularly during extended periods of sub-zero temperatures.
If using concrete piles, for instance, pre-cast piles delivered from off-site can help to avoid the issue of the water freezing in freshly poured concrete before it has chance to harden.
Meanwhile, foundation piling in permafrost ground allows the temperature itself to become a beneficial factor – the shear forces between the foundation piles and the frozen ground add to the strength of the structure.
It is therefore important to know from the outset what kind of foundation piling you need for a particular project – and how the changing weather conditions year-round might affect their strength.
We can supply pre-cast concrete piles or pour fresh concrete on-site, with underpinning an option where poor ground conditions complicate the installation of your foundations.
Similarly, we offer soil nailing to stabilise slopes and banks, which can help to ensure ground frozen in winter does not become unstable as the warmer weather arrives in the new year.
What are Mini Pile Foundations?
Mini pile foundations work on a similar principal to other types of piling except, as the name suggests, they tend to be used on projects where a smaller scale is necessary. The purpose of mini pile foundations is to prepare the ground so that it can support the weight of a building; the mini pile has to be driven down into the ground so that the concrete foundations can then be poured on top of it in the normal fashion.
This type of mini pile foundation is often used on smaller construction sites, such as house extensions. For instance, if you were to get a conservatory that required foundations or were to extend your house outwards, it would be likely that mini pile foundations would be used.
Mini pile foundations can also be used as an alternative in some situations where environmental concerns play a role. Their primary function, though, is to allow an effective piling solution even in situations where access is tight, ensuring that all construction projects can be catered for and leading to safer and more efficient procedures.
Foundation Piling: An Overview
Foundation piling is a type of support for a building or other structure and can be made from a variety of different materials such as steel, wood, concrete or even a combination of different materials. Foundation piling provides stability so it needs to be incredibly sturdy so it can cope with extreme weight and pressure.
As well as different materials, there are also different types of piling available. The first method of piling is referred to as driven piles. Driven piles can be made from wood, steel or concrete and are inserted into the ground using a pile driver. The pile driver causes the surrounding earth the move which results in resistance against the driven pile – and therefore more stability.
Drilled piles have a very wide diameter which means that the insertion site needs to be sizeable enough to accommodate the piles. Drilled piles are commonly used in areas which have very dense, compact or hard layers of earth.
Continuous Flight Auger piles – or CFA piles – do not have any casing which means that the hollow drilling technique fills the hollow auger with concrete. A concrete pillar is then formed once the auger is removed.
Micro piles tend to be made from steel and are ideal for use on smaller construction sites. Micro piles are extremely versatile, convenient and great for use when space is very restricted.
Sheet piling is constructed from interlocking steel barriers which hold back earth and water which allows construction projects, which would otherwise be cancelled, to go ahead
Concrete Piles: The Right Choice
So, the architect who has assessed your building project has said that you require foundation piling. What is the next step? You will need to conduct some research to find a piling specialist who can carry out the required foundation piling work. There are several different types of concrete piles available so it will be up to the piling specialist to decide which concrete piles are most suitable for your construction project.
Concrete piles are drilled into the foundation of the structure to provide extra support and stability. Ask the piling specialist what type of equipment they use. Ideally, they will use a hydraulic top pile driver as this will ensure that the concrete piles are installed correctly.
Doing a simple Google search will produce countless piling specialists. Don’t just go with the first one you see or the one who offers to complete the work at the lowest price. It is essential that foundation piling work is carried out properly to ensure optimum safety.
How Piling Contractors Can Help You
First things first; do you require foundation piling for your particular construction project? There is no point spending time searching for a piling specialist if you don’t actually need one. You can find out from the project’s architect whether or not foundation piling is required.
If you do need foundation piling to be carried out, then make sure you find a piling specialist who is fully qualified to carry out the work. Shop around and find a decent quote, but remember; safety always comes before price.
Foundation piling should always be tested after completion. This is done using heavy weights that are placed on the foundations to test durability. The job of the piling specialist is not yet done. Depending on the nature of the ground which is being built upon, it could begin to change one excavation starts. The piling specialist needs to constantly analyse the soil conditions to observe if the conditions begin to change.
Working closely with a piling specialist will ensure that your construction project will go to plan and any hiccups can be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Get online and find a professional, qualified piling specialist. Job done!
Only the Best Piling Equipment Will Do
Piling is a critical part of the construction process which is why it is crucial that good quality piling equipment is used in order to get the job done safely and efficiently. There are many different types of piling equipment available so they type of piling required needs to be defined before the piling equipment is decided upon. Another factor when determining what piling equipment to use is what material the piles are made from. Most piles are made from wood, steel or concrete.
There are several different piling methods available which can be displacement pile driving or non-displacement piling. The size and weight of the piles are two of the most important factors when deciding upon a method of piling. Resistance, accessibility and noise restrictions are also considerations which must be taken into account when choosing a piling method and, therefore, appropriate piling equipment.
The use of the correct piling equipment, method and materials is integral to the safety and durability of a structure. Don’t cut any corners to save time or money as it could jeopardise the whole construction project.
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.
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.
About Foundation Piling
Before commencing any foundation piling work it is necessary to carry out a thorough site investigation so that all potential risk factors can be dealt with. There are several different factors which need to be taken into consideration when carrying out a site investigation and these will determine whether or not foundation piling is a suitable method to be used.
Foundation piling is an ideal option to be used on sites where ground conditions are poor. Piling is used more and more as quality construction sites are available less and less. A pile consists of a rectangular slab of concrete which contains reinforced steel bars for extra strength. Piles differ in size, depending on the type of structure they will be supporting.
The piles are driven into the ground as far as they will go and then the tops are cut off. Enough steel is exposed so that the pile can be tied to the beams. A mud-mat or layer of concrete is then laid over the piles. Around the perimeter of the site, a retaining wall needs to be built which creates a trench into which the foundations will be poured.
When this section of the work has been completed, reinforced steel is put into the site and tied in place, forming a steel cage. The concrete foundations can then be poured in to complete the process. Once the foundation concrete has dried it is ready for building the structure. This is successful foundation piling!