19 Sep Ten Advantages of Driven Piling
Of the two main methods of inserting piles to support foundations, driving is the preferred method across most of Europe. In the UK, though, there’s a stubborn loyalty to the more traditional technique of boring, also known as drilling or driven piling
While bored piles certainly have their place, the advantages of driven piles are clear for the majority of situations. Instead of creating a hole and then filling it with grout or cement, driving involves pushing a metal tube into the soil. This is then filled while in situ and can be withdrawn when the filling has solidified.
Here are ten advantages of driven piling.
1. Precasting Piles
Piles can be precast in a variety of sizes and shapes and brought to the site, helping work to proceed faster.
2. Extra Strength
Because driving compacts the adjacent soil, the pile will be more securely fixed into the ground. Its load-bearing capacity will, therefore, be significantly increased, whereas boring techniques can occasionally lead to subsidence.
3. Driven Piling Has No Spoil
Unlike boring, driving piles doesn’t involve excavating any soil. This means that no spoil will accrue on the site, making it far easier to keep the site neat and tidy.
4. Suitable for Sites with Groundwater
On some sites, it isn’t advisable to bore holes in case of groundwater. Because driving doesn’t create an empty hole at any point, this isn’t a problem.
5. Maintaining Shape
Unlike bored piles, driven piles don’t bulge in soft ground. It’s also rare that they’ll be damaged when subsequent piles are installed.
6. No Curing Time
Because driven piles don’t need time to be cured, they can be installed on the site in their natural sequence. This makes the process more efficient, saving time and cost.
7. Superior Structural Strength
Driven piles will tend to have greater structural strength than bored piles, with high levels of lateral and bending resistance. This makes them suitable for challenging conditions, as well as for more normal use.
8. Driven Piling Has Shorter Piles
Because driven piles tend to adhere better to the sides, it’s often possible to use shorter piles to achieve the same results.
9. More Eco-Friendly
The combination of more efficient deliveries to the site with no need to dispose of spoil reduces the CO2 footprint of driven piles.
10. Driven Piling is Cost Effective
All of this combines to make driving piles a more cost-effective technique than the alternatives. That’s better piles for less money — a win-win situation.
You’re very welcome to get in touch with us if you want to know more about the advantages of driven piling.