Soil is subject to a lot of weather-related effects, and we recently told you about expansive soils, which can become unpredictable in particularly dry conditions.

However, when it is especially wet, all types of soil can experience heaving – this is when the level of moisture in the ground becomes high enough that the soil expands significantly, and can literally push foundations upwards out of the earth.

By underpinning foundations, you can tackle this effect by strengthening the position of your structure within the topmost layers of soil.

Alternatively, if you are working on a new construction project, concrete piles can give support to your foundation or basement levels from deeper underground.

When weather conditions are less than favourable, there is the option of using pre-cast concrete piles delivered from off-site.

These offer the strength of reinforced concrete, but are not subject to the vagaries of the weather during their drying time, ensuring that the necessary chemical reactions can take place to make them strong and reliable.

With many construction projects based on plots of land whose neighbouring units have already been developed, a non-invasive method of laying new foundations is increasingly important.

CFA piles – or Continuous Flight Auger piles, to use their full name – help to overcome this issue by cutting down on the vibration caused by downward drilling.

They are installed by drilling into the ground with a hollow auger, until the desired depth is reached.

Piling medium is then pumped into this hollow vertical pipe, while the auger is withdrawn – reinforcing cages can be inserted into the still-wet concrete once the auger itself is clear of the pile.

The process can be achieved with more compact piling rigs than some other methods, and causes relatively little disruption to the surrounding ground – this is good not only for nearby foundations, but also for underground infrastructure such as gas and water pipes.

If your project needs concrete piles, but you are short on room to manoeuvre, CFA piles could be the ideal option, as well as helping to ensure you stay within acceptable vibration limits if working on a site with occupied neighbouring premises.

The Hammersmith Flyover was closed in late December 2011, due to structural concerns, leading to reports of ‘concrete cancer’ in its supports.

But the Mineral Products Association has pointed out that the problem was not in the concrete itself, but in the internal steel cables of the flyover.

These had corroded due to saltwater – which, in turn, had been created through gritting the road, instead of heating it from beneath as originally intended.

“It is regrettable that concrete, which is such an essential material for both existing and future infrastructure, has been misrepresented in such tabloid terms,” says MPA chief executive Nigel Jackson.

The story highlights the importance of understanding the materials used, in order to keep them in good condition for the long term.

However, it is also important to recognise that the problem was not as reported by some parts of the press – and concrete piles are still a strong and reliable option.

With pre-cast concrete piles available to bring in from off-site, construction projects can continue at a good pace, while ensuring the most important parts of the finished structure are made to a high standard by specialists.

Expansive soils are a particular cause for concern – these are where changes in moisture content can make the ground expand or contract by quite a large amount.

Following a fairly dry 2011, soils in many areas are likely to be much drier than they would ordinarily be, making some construction projects unpredictable.

In England, for example, Met Office estimates for the whole of 2011 are that rainfall was just 84% of its normal level.

Even in December, England’s rainfall was down, at 99% of its expected average for the month.

With this in mind, builders could find dry soils are unable to support foundations as well as they ordinarily would do – and some already-completed buildings may well develop foundation problems, too.

By underpinning foundations to help improve their stability, construction projects can be kept on track, and completed structures safeguarded.

With the Met Office forecasting a warmer-than-average year for 2012 as well, the need to underpin foundations could arise more often in the future, as soils dry out and offer less support than they have done in years gone by.

But another use for sheet piling is to protect the site against the elements, as interlocking piling can create a temporary or permanent wall around the edge.

With wet weather likely in the weeks and months leading up to the summer, keeping water off of the site can be a good first step towards maintaining safe underfoot conditions.

HSE guidance warns that, if surfaces below foot are allowed to become muddy, they may need covering or treating with stone to avoid slips and falls.

Sheet piling is a good first step towards preventing this from happening – and even if the ground does become muddy, you should be able to avoid the worst of any minor floods that take place when the spring rains arrive.

Choose your sheet piling based on how long it needs to remain in place.

Temporary sheet piling is perfect for building sites that need privacy against passers-by, but where the wall created is not a lasting part of the plans.

Permanent sheet piling, meanwhile, can quickly create a retaining wall during construction, which can then be left afterwards for architectural or safety reasons.

With compact mini piling rigs, tighter access routes can be made viable, while less room is needed on the site itself.

Suburban environments are one example of where properties can be constructed at relatively high densities, putting room at a premium for any future projects.

However, according to a report from Policy Exchange, almost one million people moved away from urban residential areas in the years from 2001 to 2008.

“There are more jobs and higher wages in cities and nearly two thirds of people would prefer to live in the suburbs of urban areas,” the report notes.

As more people move to the edges of cities, this in turn applies renewed pressure to the availability of suburban housing – particularly when developing greenfield sites is not an option due to planning constraints.

With mini piling, even compact plots can be developed to their fullest potential, minimising negative environmental impacts and delivering the maximum benefit to housing availability in the area.

Analyst IBISWorld predicts that “revenue will soar” among the leading sustainable building specialists in the coming five years.

Regions with a higher concentration of residential properties are particularly expected to lead this resurgence in activity.

According to IBISWorld, a higher local population typically drives business activity higher, which in turn leads to demand for commercial and industrial properties in the area.

The forecast is based on performance in the US market, but might be expected to be repeated in the UK and elsewhere as growth returns to construction-related disciplines.

For companies keen to ride the green wave, mini pile foundations are one ideal option.

Mini pile foundations can be put in place with compact rigs, making them perfect for smaller projects such as those that might be available in an otherwise constrained market.

Their compact nature also makes them environmentally preferable, enhancing the sustainability of the structure from the moment its first foundations are put in place.

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.

There are quite a few advantages to using concrete piles, which is one of the reasons they are used so often. For instance, they have a long track record of success that makes them ideal for underpinning foundations. They can also be used straight after being installed and, as they are relatively fast to install compared to some other methods, they make a good option when time is of the essence.

Concrete pilings are designed to last as long as the concrete foundation itself, meaning that they have a long service life. To install them, they are pushed under a foundation into the ground, effectively underpinning the foundation to give it extra support. They are installed by digging a hole next to the foundation, which will normally end around two feet below the bottom of the foundation.

Then the cylinder is placed into the hole and kept in place by using a ram. This process is completed until the space has been filled. Once they have been installed and signed off on, any other work that was going on at the property can continue.

Typically, sheet piling is used to create a wall surrounding the area of construction. Depending on the needs of the specific job, this wall can either be temporary or permanent. Sheet piles can be found in a range of heights and thicknesses, and the walls are created by interlocking the piles. Sheet piling has two main purposes: to add protection or hide the construction site.

One of the main purposes of sheet piling is to prevent cave-ins. This is something that can be a risk if a construction job is taking place on soft ground. The sheet piling protects the ground and the construction site, allowing work to continue while reducing the risk of problems. It can also prevent flooding on building sites – something that really matters in a country with so much rain.

This means that sheet piling is very versatile and so it is often used in construction jobs. Metal sheet piling is the most popular variety, but it can also be made out of wood or vinyl depending on the needs of the specific job.