As the temperature begins to drop, the colder weather can affect the piling construction process. A site evaluation must be carried out in order to figure out which piles are better for the specific conditions around your construction project. Making sure to factor the weather into your plan is vital as the conditions can completely change how the building’s progress will carry out.
Here’s how the winter months can affect piling construction:
Wet Weather Can Weaken the Soil
Especially if you’re in the UK, wet weather is common. It’s not unusual if a project is delayed and temporarily called off if the weather is bad. Rainwater can easily waterlog the soil and will create an unsafe environment to work in. Wet or moist soil can lead to an inaccurate installation process.
Freeze and Thaw Effect
As the temperature changes, building foundations will expand and contract. The low temperature will make the ground freeze, then as the moisture helps the dirt expand and go back to the normal state, it will push against the foundations of the building. When the temperature rises even slightly during winter it will add to the soil’s moisture that will grow over time. As the temperature drops again, that’s when that moisture will freeze over.
The repeated cycle can cause pressure against the building foundations and can shift or even crack. This can lead to additional damage and result in a costly repair job.
Frozen Ground Can Be Difficult To Work With
Winter creates cold temperatures and unfortunately, there is no avoiding this. The soil can freeze over making the process extremely difficult to work with. For cast in-situ concrete piles, the concrete mixture has to stay consistently warm until it is ready to be used. This can add further difficulties during cold weather.
Frozen Pipes
Winter weather can be a tough time for the pipes that run through your home. Temperatures will rise and fall- again expanding and contracting.
The constant shift in heat can weaken the seal or prevent water from flowing through at all which can result in leakages or even bursting, which are more likely to occur if piling or other soil disruption nearby causes a shift around the pipes.
For more information about how to prevent subsidence through damages to your foundations during the upcoming winter months, or to make an enquiry about our piling services, then please reach out to a member of the Rhino Piling team today!
