29 Dec How Are Construction Piles Injected?
Whether you’re constructing a new building or strengthening an existing one, strong foundations are essential. However, especially if you’re underpinning in a built-up area, you’ll also want to achieve this with a minimum of disruption and nuisance. In both respects, the ideal solution is often to use construction injection piles.
What Are Construction Injection Piles?
Piling was originally used for large-scale construction projects, with steel piles. They can also be concrete now and are increasingly being used for domestic properties. It’s quicker and less labour intensive than traditional methods of excavating foundations. It also creates far less displaced soil and debris to be removed.
This is the ideal approach when the soil immediately below the surface is of poor quality or the water table’s high. The piles can be drilled or driven deep into the ground, allowing the building’s weight to be evenly distributed and transferred down to a more stable level.
Drilling Construction Piles
Of the two methods of injecting construction piles, drilling (also known as boring) creates a hole into which the pile is inserted, usually by pouring in concrete or grout. This is particularly useful for going very deep into the ground, though the piles can’t be extended above ground. Drilled piles don’t cause ground heave and involve relatively little noise and vibration.
Among several types of drilled piles, perhaps the most efficient are:
- Sectional Auger Mini Piles — This is a versatile system, particularly useful for restricted spaces, in which the piles are inserted in multiple flight sections.
- Grout Injected Continuous Flight Auger — A continuous flight auger is drilled into the ground, providing support for the sides of the hole at all times and causing little vibration.
Driving Construction Piles
Piles can also be driven into the ground, either from the top or the toe. Although driving doesn’t take the piles as deep as drilling, it’s unaffected by ground water, and the piles can extend above ground. Driving tends to cause more noise and vibration than drilling, though this can be minimised with the right equipment. Options include:
- Steel Cased Bottom Driven Piles — Because the energy is delivered directly to the toe, allowing for high efficiency, the machines can be relatively small and access confined spaces.
- Steel Cased Grundomat Driven Piles — Powered by compressed air, the casing is injected in sections, each welded to the one before. This method causes less vibration than most driven piling.
All these methods offer the best option in different circumstances. Why not get in touch for a chat about what kind of piling would suit your needs?