Different Concrete Piling Techniques to Underpin Your Residence

If your home has started to succumb to subsidence, you would need to have it underpinned before irreversible structural damage occurs. Some of the telltale signs that the foundation of your structure has been compromised include cracked brickwork, uneven or sloping flooring and unexplained structural damage to your home. One of the more popular methods that are employed to underpin residences is concrete piling. However, not many homeowners are aware of the piling techniques that their contractors could apply. Read on for some of the different concrete piling techniques that can be used to underpin your structure.

Concrete pile driving

With this method of concrete piling, the contractors will force the pre-made piles directly into the ground. Therefore, they will not have to dig up the earth to install the piles, which makes this technique time efficient. Instead, the land becomes displaced as the piles are embedded into the ground. Pile driving is better suited for soft earth as this would facilitate easier installation into the ground. Moreover, driving the piles into the loose earth will work toward making it denser than it previously was. If the foundation is still relatively sound, you may choose to have micro piles installed to provide it with additional stability. These structures are much smaller than regular piles, they are quick to drive into the earth and are more economical.

Concrete pile boring

If your contractors choose to employ pile boring, they would have to start with digging up the ground where they intend to install the piles. Once the holes have been bored, concrete is poured into them and left to cure. Another option that the contractors could choose would be flight auguring. With this technique, a flight auger is continuously drilled into the ground as grout is injected into the subsequent hole. Once the grout is sufficient, the auger is then steadily removed from the ground. Pile boring is a convenient technique for densely populated urban areas, as they contractors will not require a significant amount of space to carry out their work. Additionally, pile boring is quieter than its driving counterpart since there are minimal vibrations involved in the process.

Contiguous concrete piling

With the previous piling techniques, the contractors will ensure that there is adequate distance between the piles. Contiguous piling, on the other hand, involves installing the concrete piles in a closely-knit row that look similar to a retaining wall. Contiguous piling is essential for structures that have been severely affected by subsidence and would require as much support as possible to prevent further damage to the foundation.