Piles are long stilt-like supports which sit in deep foundations underneath large buildings and other structures to transfer the weight to the earth below and reinforce the foundations for that structure. Many types of piles exist, like mini piles, smaller versions of traditional piles used for underpinning and reinforcing existing foundations.
One such variation on traditional piling is sheet piling. Sheet piling is installing sections of wide, flat piles which can interlock to form one long pile wall or sheet pile. Sheet piles are most often constructed out of steel for strength and ease in shaping the sheets, but they can be created from concrete or wood instead, if the conditions of the construction project are right.
Sheet piles have a wide range of uses, including:
Sheet Pile Retaining Walls
When construction is taking place below ground level, such as a basement or subbasement level or underground parking, sheet piles can be used to create a retaining wall to protect construction workers from potential cave-ins while also keeping the site free from earth and obstructions. Sheet piles can be installed in advance and then excavated around to reveal the site and are usually removed once the structure is complete.
Permanent Sheet Pile Walls
When construction is occurring below ground level, it is also possible to leave sheet piles in place to act as permanent walls for the finished structure, rather than using them as temporary retaining walls to be removed once construction is complete. Retaining pile walls as a permanent addition provides strong load-bearing walls, which is especially useful at basement level. This practice is especially common for residential basements, and saves costs compared to extracting the sheet wall once construction is complete.
Sea Walls & Cofferdams
Sheet piles can be used to construct sea walls and cofferdams to allow construction near or within bodies of water. Cofferdams allow the drainage of water for access to the site while sea walls will keep the tides away from the area where the works are taking place. In a more general sense, sheet piles can also be installed to protect existing foundations or piles from water damage, or to prevent flooding.
If you’re looking for a piling company to help with piling in Manchester, get in touch today!
