In one of our recent contracts in Tameside, we tackled a unique challenge. The property required both piling and augering due to a tree near the new structure’s foundation.
Rather than traditional pile driving, we opted for augering. This involved drilling a hole slightly larger than the pile itself, allowing us to easily drop it to the required depth and fill it with concrete later.
Given the tight space in the property’s back garden, we had to navigate through an alleyway. Using a standard 3-tonne digger wasn’t feasible for augering, so we utilized a specially designed auger rig that could fit through the alleyway and create a hole large enough for the structural piles.
Once the holes were augured, we moved on to inserting the piles. We began by fitting clay board on the footing. This board would disintegrate after the concrete had set, leaving a 110mm void between the concrete and the earth, preventing any heave in the future.
To ensure the concrete didn’t seep under the clay board, we also installed clay master.
This particular job spanned approximately four days. The first day was dedicated to augering, followed by driving the piles on the second day. On the third day, we installed the cage, clay master, and clay board before pouring in the concrete.
