Mini pile foundations perfect for green building
Mini pile foundations are the ideal option for construction where green and sustainable building standards must be met.
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.
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.
Making use of Concrete Piles
Concrete piles are one of the most common types of piling. They are often used on construction jobs taking place on houses as well as other buildings, meaning that they have a wide range of use.
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.
What is Sheet Piling?
As you may well know, there are different types of piling available to suit different construction jobs. One of these types is sheet piling, which has a very specific purpose in construction. Read on to find out more.
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.
The Benefits of Experienced Pile Driving Contractors
If you find that you need to have piling installed on a building project, it is always best to use experienced pile driving contractors such as MK Piling to carry out the work.
One of the reasons it is so important to use professional pile driving contractors is that there is a range of different piling available. From mini piling to CFA piles, there are different options to suit different jobs. For instance, if noise is an issue on one job it might be possible to use a particular type of piling that cuts down on the noise produced during the process. This is something your pile driving contractors will be able to advise you on.
There are also certain standards that need to be met when installing piling foundations. Any work needs to be signed off by a building inspector and it needs to fall into line with the plans specified for the project by an architect. In order to ensure your project is a success, is completed safely and meets all the relevant regulations, it is vital that you use experienced pile driving contractors.
What are Piling Rigs used for?
If you have ever worked on a construction site where foundation piling has been used, you are probably familiar with the site of piling rigs. These have an important part to play in the process of foundation piling, but what exactly is the purpose of piling rigs?
Essentially, the main role of a piling rig is to drill into the earth where the piling in question needs to be applied. Depending on the specific job, the earth could be clay, sandy soil or silt. They are commonly used for jobs involving foundations but can also have uses for diaphragm walls.
There are different types of drill available for use with piling rigs to take account of the fact that different ground conditions will have different requirements. Also, as some building sites are more restricted and harder to access than others, it is possible to get piling rigs of varying sizes so that difficult and hard to reach foundation piling jobs can be taken care of.
If you think you might need a piling rig for a job you are working on, you should always speak to an experienced professional to make sure you get the right equipment for the job in question.
What is Pile Testing?
If you are working on a site where foundation piling has been used, you might well be able to benefit from pile testing. This is something that can also be useful if you are assessing the condition of already existing piles for a particular building.
The aim of pile testing is to work out the condition of the piles in question and it is sometimes also known as a low strain dynamic test. The test involves applying a light impact to a pile, which produces a low strain on the pile – hence the name. This produces a wave that travels down the pile and the wave is monitored for any irregularities: it should travel at constant wave speed, but voids in the concrete or areas where parts of the piling might have worn away will produce what are known as wave reflections.
The pile testing, therefore, highlights whether there are any issues with the foundation piling that need to be sorted out. The process is normally carried out with a hand-held hammer and is most commonly used on piling that has not yet had a structure built on top of it, although pile testing can also determine the length of existing piles.
Why are CFA Piles Useful?
There are many different types of foundation piling available that can be used in a variety of situations. One of these types is CFA piling, but what is it and why is it useful?
CFA piles are a type of piling that is especially good for use on building sites where there is a need to keep noise to a minimum. CFA stands for continuous flight auger and the CFA piles work on a relatively simple premise.
A hollow auger is inserted into the ground once the necessary depth has been worked out, and then concrete is pumped down the hollow stem. At the same time, the hollow auger is withdrawn and, in order to reinforce the piling, a reinforced cage is used.
One of the benefits of CFA piles is that there is no casing involved and so there is minimal disruption associated with using them. They also help to keep vibrations to a minimum and can be used on large projects, making them a good piling solution for a range of situations.
Different projects will have different piling needs, so it’s important you speak to a piling professional to make sure you get the right solution for you.
What is the Purpose of Underpinning Foundations?
Underpinning foundations are used when the depth of a building’s foundations need to be increased. Normally, small sections of the ground below the existing foundations of the building will be excavated before they are underpinned. This will usually be done with concrete but when the quality of the ground is so poor that using concrete isn’t possible, piling can be used instead.
This allows for some flexibility in difficult situations as there are different types of piling available that can be used for underpinning. Underpinning foundations can be used for a few different reasons. For instance, if another storey is being added on to the building, the existing foundations might not be able to take the increased load and so underpinning will be required. Also, if a house has suffered from subsidence and the current foundations have been damaged or have moved, underpinning foundations could be used to help rectify the problem.
It’s important that underpinning foundations are put into place in the correct manner, or else they could cause damage to the building. This is why it is so important to always use experienced, professional services when making any alterations to the foundations of a building.
How Pile Driving Contractors Could Help You
If you are dealing with a construction project, you might well be able to make use of the services of professional pile driving contractors. Pile driving can often be a very specialised area of work so it is definitely worth making sure the job is carried out by people who know exactly what they are doing.
For instance, pile driving contractors will be able to look at the job in question and tell you what type of piling would work best in the situation. This can include things such as the material the pile should be made out of for best results, where the piles need to go, how many of them there should be and the specific type that needs to be used.
This is information that it might not be possible to get without pile driving contractors, but it could make all the difference in turning your building project into a success. Whether you are working on a small building project such as a house extension, or something much larger, the services of pile driving contractors will definitely be able to help you and make sure you get exactly the right piling solution for your needs.