Piling is a foundation-building technique that has numerous applications. It is most often used in underground construction, including basements and tunnels.
Southern Foundations and Piling Ltd is a reputable piling company in London that offers sturdy foundations for residential and commercial buildings. They offer underpinning, CFA piling, and mini piling services.
Underpinning
Underpinning a home’s foundation is the process of transferring the structure’s load to soil that is stronger and less likely to move. It can be used to stop foundation settlement and also add supplemental support to the existing foundation.
A house that has settled due to expansive soil, poor irrigation or water damage may need underpinning. Older buildings may also be susceptible to problems, as their foundations were not designed to today’s standards.
If your footings have sunk and dropped for a reason that is unlikely to reverse, underpinning is the solution. This can be done by constructing deeper footings that are joined to the existing building and then filled with concrete.
A structural engineer will need to inspect your property before recommending a suitable underpinning solution. They will need to know how much movement has occurred, the soil conditions that are causing the movement and whether or not it could reverse with a change in soil moisture levels.
CFA Piling
Continuous flight auger (CFA) piling is a method of foundation construction that is suitable for a variety of ground conditions. It’s a low-vibration, quick-build technique that can be used on sites that have limited access or environmentally sensitive areas.
CFA piles are constructed using a long, continuous auger that rotates into the ground to reach a design depth. Concrete is then pumped through the auger’s hollow stem, and a steel reinforcement cage is plunged into the wet concrete to complete the pile.
The process is faster than rotary piling, but it also requires less soil removal and is more suitable for challenging soil types. CFA piles are also a good choice for environmentally sensitive areas, as they cause little vibration and won’t damage nearby structures.
Miller Piling utilised its Casagrande 850 rig to install the foundations for this project, which is taking place in London’s Nine Elms. The firm’s operations director Colin Murphy explains:
Mini Piling
Piling is a popular construction technique used to strengthen the foundations of buildings. It’s also an efficient way to deal with a number of problems, such as subsidence.
Mini Piling is a form of piling that is smaller than most other types, which makes it ideal for domestic projects and those in areas where access is limited. It’s a cost-effective option that can be installed quickly.
It can be used to construct extensions for homes in tight spaces that would have been out of reach with conventional methods. It’s also useful for basements, urban spaces and back gardens that need a more reliable and efficient solution to building foundations.
Deep Foundations
Piling is a great foundation building technique for transferring loads to a deeper level than is possible with a conventional shallow foundation. It is especially useful for constructing deep basements in homes or commercial properties, but can be used for many other applications as well.
Pile or pier foundations are a good option for sites where there is not enough soil for a concrete or a steel deep foundation. They are often installed as part of a wider underpinning strategy and can be easily removed or replaced once the project is finished.
The best piling companies in London offer a range of solutions for all kinds of foundation construction. These include CFA (Continuous Flight Auger) piles, a small diameter pile called a mini pile, and a system of contiguous sheet piles.
