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.
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!
Piling Services are Solid as a Rock
A fundamental part of a building is stability. If a building is not solid then it is rendered useless. The ways in which to ensure the stability of a building is by the installation of foundation piles.
The main elements of a decent piling service are planning and skill. If you are planning on beginning a building project, it is essential that you find a first-rate piling service that can provide you with experienced and skilled piling specialists. Piling should always be carried out by qualified piling specialists who know what they are doing. You should work closely with the piling service company to make sure that you both understand the project fully.
Find a piling service is easy these days with the internet. Be warned, however, that anyone can get themselves a website but that does not mean they are who they say they are. Take the time to research piling services and read reviews by people who have used the piling service which you are interested is. A decent piling service is the key to a successful building project.
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!
Finding Stability with Ground Anchors
Ground anchors provide buildings and other large structures with permanent stability. Ground anchors are installed into the soil foundations of a structure, usually via a grout body. There are numerous sorts of ground anchors available. The type of ground anchor used for each construction projects depends on certain factors, including soil quality, the surrounding environment, failure risk and construction requirements.
At MK Piling, we are experts in all matters relating to foundation piling. We only used the best and most technologically advanced piling equipment. For ground anchors, it is no different. The key aim of installing effective ground anchors into the foundations of a structure is to ensure its safety and durability, whether the ground anchors are being applied to a temporary or permanent structure.
Ground anchors are a reliable and cost-effective way of providing stability to a structure. They are a versatile option to choose as they can be used on stone and masonry structures, as well as slopes and embankments. At MK Piling, our piling experts can offer advice and answer any questions that you may have regarding ground anchors and any other type of foundation piling.
Foundation Piling Experience is Essential
There numerous different methods of foundation piling and these can be used for a multitude of different applications and structures. In order for a building to be safe and secure, appropriate foundation piles need to be implemented. Think about a tree. When we see a tree, all that is visible to us is the trunk, the branches and leaves; however, deep into the ground, runs a complex system of roots which anchor the tree in place and prevent it from sliding or toppling. Buildings and other large structures work in much the same way; the roots are replaced with foundation piling.
It is crucial to the safety of a large structure that foundation piling is carried out only by a qualified piling contractor. The same applies if the piling foundations of an existing building are in need of repair. A qualified piling contractor has an in depth understanding of different pile types, piling methods and which are suitable for each project. It is more important to find a quality piling contractor rather than a cheap one. In the long-run, you will save money by spending more on foundation piling services as there will be less chance of having to pay out money on repairs after experiencing shoddy workmanship.
The Advantages of CFA Piling
Continuous flight auger piles (CFA piles) have become a popular choice over the last few years. CFA piles are a cheaper option than other piling alternatives but with careful planning and design, quality equipment and experienced contractors, they can be highly efficient.
CFA piles are a non-displacement pile, which means that the risk of damage to surrounding foundations and underground utilities from ground displacement or densification of sands is largely reduced. Damage is much more common when using displacement piles.
Installation of CFA piles can be carried out with limited noise and vibration. If any problems are encountered during implementation of the CFA piles, then it is a relatively straight forward process to re-drill the foundations and reinstall the pile. The pile group or caps, therefore, do not need to be redesigned.
Different elements of the CFA pile installation process can be monitored using a flow meter. Data that can be recorded includes penetration / uplift per revolution, auger depth, concrete supply per increment of auger uplift during placing, and injection pressure at the auger head.
Foundation Piling Methods
Piling is mainly used for the construction of properties in order to strengthen the foundations around the structure. Properties are built to last so it is important to create a stable base for the building to rest on. The basic idea of foundation piling is to wall in piles which have been stacked up, to create a solid foundation.
Piles are usually made from reinforced concrete and pre-tensioned concrete. However, this has not always been the case, as previously piles were made from wood and other natural materials.
Driven piles tend to be made from concrete, although there are cases of wood or steel being used instead. Driven piles are a versatile solution to foundation piling as they can be adapted to suit properties of all different types. They can be placed in different shapes, including squares, octagons and rounded cross sections. Extra support is given by the piles being reinforced and being made pre-stressed concrete.
Bored piling is used to create piled walls, which are particularly useful for vertical basement excavation faces and water holding constructions. Small gaps need to be left between the piles, the size of which will depend on the condition of the soil. The features of the construction ground and the nature of the job will influence the type of piled wall that is built.
Strengthen the foundations with a Retaining Wall
A retaining wall is constructed on sloping ground in order to create a stable structure and prevent the erosion and movement of the soil. The retaining wall will balance out lateral pressures that occur from the ground sloping. Seepage holes within the structure allow any ground water that has accumulated to escape, which makes the wall more stable by releasing water pressure.
Retaining walls can be made from a number of different materials. Concrete and stone are popular choices as well as special retaining wall blocks that are made from aggregate materials (sand and gravel) and light concrete. Some types of retaining wall blocks are interlocking, which means that they do not require mortar to be secured together.
Retaining wall blocks are a reliable and affordable option when stabilising a sloped area of ground. Creating a level surface is key to ensuring lasting stability. Each layer of retaining wall blocks needs to be backfilled with sand, stone, gravel or leftover soil, to bulk out the structure and also to allow water to drain out. Now your retaining wall will do its job.