Piling: The Hidden Key to Complete Structural Stability

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If you’re about to take on your own home construction project, it’s handy to be clued up on some of the basics in construction. 

The tricky topic of foundations is likely to come up with any home construction project, and from there, you may hear the mention of piling construction. 

Piling techniques are a very useful tool that we can use to ensure a foundation is suitable and the structure being built is secure. Let’s learn more about piling works in construction. 

WHAT IS PILING?

Piling is a form of deep foundation. It works by driving slender columns, known as piles, deep into the ground to provide foundation support for structures, such as houses and bridges. 

By doing this, the structural load is supported by deeper layers of soil and rock – which are much more suitable for bearing heavy loads. 

Why Pile Foundations Are Used

Different areas have different soil conditions, ranging from weak soil and medium soil to hard soil. When we build, we will rely on different types of foundations – shallow foundations or deep foundations. 

If a small house that isn’t too heavy is being built on a piece of land, a shallow foundation may be used. But for larger structures, a deep foundation is needed. 

When we use the deep foundation method of pile foundation in construction, these piles are transferring the structural weight through the underlying weaker soil and into the lower level of hard soil and rock. 

Types of Piles in Construction

In piling, there are three different materials that we can use. These are cement, steel, and timber. 

As you may expect, the different materials have different advantages, so it’s important to choose wisely. Here’s a quick rundown of each material and why you may consider using it.  

Timber Piling

  • Economical material 
  • Easy installation 
  • Low risk of damage 
  • Timber piles can be pulled out if needed

Steel Piling

  • Easy installation 
  • Will reach a greater depth than timber and concrete 
  • Easy to join steel piles together 
  • Able to penetrate through hard layers of soil 

Concrete Piling

  • Great strength 
  • Can be driven underwater 
  • High resistance to chemical and biological cracks 
  • A pipe can be installed along the pile centre to help with driving 

Driven Piles Vs Bored Piles

There are different piling methods, with driven piling and bored piling being the most popular. But how are you supposed to know which one is best? To get you started, here is what each method entails. 

  • Driven piles method – with this method, piles, made of either timber, steel or concrete, are driven into the ground using a pile driver or hydraulic hammer. Piles can be installed via vibrations instead of hammering also. 
  • Bored piles method – firstly, holes will be drilled into the ground to the required depth. Then, reinforcements are added before the holes are filled in with concrete. This method is handy for a less noisy solution. 

Final Thoughts

Piling techniques are the hidden key to structural stability. If you’re building a house, a commercial building, or a structure like a motorway bridge, you need a building foundation that can withstand the stress of that load, and often piling is the answer. 

We’ve adopted this foundation construction method time and time again to ensure that the amazing structures we build are built to last. 

There are many benefits of piling in construction, but it takes a professional team to be able to utilise this foundation construction method correctly. 

Speak to us about your project – we’ll be able to let you know if piling is needed, and we can take the lead on implementing it into your build. 

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