Brian's House Building Blog

Your Guide To Different Piling Techniques

by Peyton Sanders

Do you have an upcoming construction project? It would be best to carefully consider the foundation because it will determine your building's structural integrity. For instance, piling is one of the most popular foundation drilling techniques worth considering. It entails drilling concrete, timber or steel piles, which are typically long poles, into the foundation. These piles transfer the building's load to strong strata deep underground, ideal for weak soils or areas with high groundwater tables.

However, different piling techniques are usually used. And here is an in-depth look into some of them.

Driven Piling

This is one of the most used piling techniques in construction. It entails driving or hammering steel, timber, or concrete piles into the ground using vibration techniques or piling hammers. Usually, the piles used in this piling technique are prepared offsite, meaning they are pre-cast piles. This offsite construction technique ensures high-quality piles because they are typically made in controlled environments.

Driven piling is usually best in non-cohesive and granular soils. The hammering and displacement of soil promote compaction that enhances the soil's density and bearing capacity. On the other hand, they aren't the best for soils with poor drainage that hinders soil compaction as the piles are driven in.

While most driven piles are usually pre-cast, you may also go for cast-in-situ piles. However, the latter is generally more labour-intensive because your workers will need to drill into the ground. Nonetheless, the benefit of this technique is that it allows for the piles to be tailored to your specific project needs.

Bored Piling

Bored piles are an alternative to their driven counterparts. This piling method entails auguring into the ground to create a hole that will be filled later with poured concrete. Bored piles are usually highly secure because they are typically cast into position. Because the technique entails soil removal and pouring of concrete piles on-site, it's also referred to as replacement piling. One of the top advantages of this piling technique is that it is less disruptive to the surrounding buildings. Unlike driven piling, vibrations are greatly minimised with this technique, which works well if your worksite is in a city or area with several surrounding buildings or structures.

Screw Piling

As the name implies, these piles are wound into the ground in a circular motion using specialised equipment. It is one of the less disruptive techniques, ideal if you are looking for quicker installation with minimal vibrations and noise. It's also well suited for a variety of soils.

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