Some sites simply weren’t meant to be built on. The location could be fabulous. The potential is enormous. But the land itself is beset by problems – from a construction point of view at any rate. It may be a matter of access. It could be the water table level. Although there’s no such thing […]
Load testing of screw-piles can be a vital part of improving design performance, ensuring adequate safety factors and saving money for clients when performed well. Load Testing and Screw Piles – What Do You Need to Know? What is a load test? A screw pile load test is essentially a process to assess the load […]
Screw piles are a popular choice for foundations. Quick and easy to install, they are not weather reliant and are ready to use immediately. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to do your research before using them. And ground investigations are a key part of that. Here’s why. How Your Ground Investigations Will […]
One of the reasons why screw piles are such a popular choice of foundation is that they are so quick and easy to install. But that doesn’t mean that precautions don’t need to be taken. On bigger commercial projects tension testing can provide crucial data needed for project success. So, what do you need to […]
Lateral testing – also known as lateral load testing – assesses the lateral forces required to provoke movement in an installed pile. That is, forces coming to the side of the pile. A hydraulic winch or jack is often used to pull piles towards each other and push them apart. The results of the testing will show you how much lateral force is needed to move the pile before failure.
When you’re managing a construction project on an area that lacks sufficient load-bearing capacity, pile foundations provide a valuable alternative. Able to transfer the weight to deeper, more suitable soil structures, piles open up the building potential of a range of conditions. But you still have to find the right piles for the land and the project. And for many, the decision often comes down to a choice between screw piles and steel rammed piled. So, what do you need to know?
There are multiple reasons why you might need to use a pile foundation type. Whether because the top layer of soil is weak, there are too many obstructions in the soil, you want to cause minimal disturbance, or because you’re working in water or an area prone to flooding. But once you know that piles […]
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) can be a nightmare when you want to extend your home or build in a specific area. You don’t just have to work around the body of the tree, but take precautions to protect the roots. And given the nature of tree roots and how far they spread beneath the ground, that […]
Timber framed houses are enduringly popular. Construction is faster. The build isn’t weather reliant. And there is no need for a drying out period. But the ultimate success of the build depends on the foundation type. In areas where there is high moisture retention, timber frames have a tendency to rot, if not properly treated […]
One of the questions we’re most frequently asked is whether screw piles are suitable for house extensions. And it can be a difficult question to answer. Because house extensions come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and there can never be a single catch-all solution. But with the right ground conditions, screw piles can […]