Piling is a deep-foundation method, used for transferring building loads underground, installed to support large structures. The foundation is comprised of columns of wood, steel, and concrete rods, beams, or tubes underground. They are normally much thinner in width or diameter than in length compared to other, shallow methods such as combined footings and isolated footings, which can provide an equal amount of strength at a much lower cost.
H-Piles
H-piles are a commonly used type of steel piling and are designed to withstand intense, large-impact stresses during hard driving and maintain a strong foundation. These girder-like piles resemble an H shape, giving them their name. The flanges and web are produced with equal thickness, which reduces damage on thinner parts when driving the pile. They can be driven with standard construction equipment, eliminating the need for more powerful pile-driving machinery. They are especially robust when there is a high amount of tension in the beam.
Tubular Piles
Tubular piles are another commonly used variation of steel piling, made of seamless or welded tubes. They are either driven closed-ended or open-ended. Open-end piles are driven underground, and the soil inside the tube is cleaned out afterward. The closed-end alternative has a driving point fixed to the tube. Open-end pipes can be driven further down as the pipe can be cleaned during the process. When cleaning the soil inside the pipes is difficult, closed-end pipes are preferred.
Screw Piles
Screw piles are a type of pile designed with a helix near the tip, allowing it to be screwed into the ground. Screw piles, depending on the usage and conditions underground, may have more than one helix. This is particularly needed when a higher load is required or there is softer ground on the site. They can be quickly installed using less machinery than other methods, do not require soil to be removed from the site, and can be easily removed when no longer needed.
If you’re looking to organise a piling project and would like some advice, or if you’re looking for more information about our mini piling services, get in touch with the best piling Manchester has to offer today!
