Commercial structures such as office buildings and apartment complexes create heavy loads on the ground beneath them. During severe weather or an earthquake, they are at risk of collapsing. One way to prevent this is with the use of reinforced pilings in the foundation. This process strengthens the soil so that it can bear the weight of the structure.
What Types of Projects Require Piling?
Piling is effective for more than just a building’s foundation. Sheet piling works to shore up sea walls and bulkheads. Many underground parking structures include piling in their foundations along with pump houses and basements. Almost any commercial building would benefit from piling along the foundation walls.
What Is Involved in the Process?
The first step is to dig the foundation. How deep the foundation needs to be depends on the size of the building. The contractor will then use a special piling rig to drive the piles into the soil. They are set below ground level so that the foundation can be built on top of the piles. This reinforces the ground and creates a barrier to groundwater flow.
The steel piles interlock to form a wall that creates lateral earth support. When more reinforcement is needed, the contractor will add anchors. This ground treatment works for all types of soil conditions and commercial construction projects.
What Types of Piles Are Used?
Piles come in a variety of materials. Sheet piles are generally used to create a supporting wall. Other types of piles include screw piles, auger-bored piles, and steel cased driven piles. One of the more common types of piles used in most construction is screw piles. They are easy to install with a minimum of noise and work in almost every type of soil.
How Do I Choose the Best Contractor for the Job?
You can ask your friends and colleagues for recommendations if they have completed similar projects. If not, an online search for commercial piling services should bring up a list of companies in your area. Visit a few websites and look for testimonials from previous customers. These reviews can help you narrow down the list.
Next, check their websites to see what services they offer. If they offer a free consultation or assessment of your property, schedule one. Make sure that the consultation includes an estimate of the costs and the types of materials that they plan on using.
Make sure to check if they offer any other services that your project may need. Do they install reinforced ground beams or slabs? Do they also offer underpinning solutions? Underpinning is another method used to stabilise a foundation or add more stability if the building’s use should change.
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