Factors Influencing Your Choice of Piles
Where a deep foundation is required for a new building construction project, the use of piling systems is favoured. Piles are typically used in sites where the soil is susceptible to settlement, thus posing a risk to the safety of the structures built above.
Installing a pile foundation involves inserting vertical structural elements into the ground to provide a sturdier base for the construction of a project. The piles should have sufficient load-bearing capacity to support the weight of the entire structure. Not all piles are created equal. They come in a variety of materials and have a variety of installation methods to match the requirements of different construction projects. Take a look at some common factors affecting the choice of pile foundations below.
The weight of the structure to be supported.
Pile foundations are usually favoured for larger structures but not all large structures have the same weight. Different pile materials offer varying degrees of strength and this can affect your selection of piles. Generally speaking, steel piles offer the most strength and have the largest load-bearing capacity, followed by concrete and wood in that order. The appropriate choice of piles for your construction project should match the load of the structure you want to build.
The nature of the subsurface conditions on-site.
What are the characteristics of the soil at your site? The depth and condition of the soil may influence which type of piles you can and can't use. For example, end-bearing piles are a suitable choice for sites where the depth of the bedrock layer is reachable. Also, groundwater conditions are pertinent to the selection of steel and concrete piles because injurious solutions such as acid and alkali may be present.
The availability of equipment for installing piling.
Sometimes, your choice of piling systems for your building is limited by a lack of the necessary equipment for installing piling. In such cases, you can only choose from piles that have ready installation equipment.
Risk of damage to adjacent structures.
The presence or lack of other structures on-site may also influence your pile selection. Where there is a risk of the pile-driving activity causing damage to surrounding structures, bored or drilled piles may be preferred over driven piles because they don't cause strong driving vibrations.
There are several other factors to consider when selecting piles for your building construction project. A piling contractor can help explore and understand your options.