Capital Piling Ltd Announces Sponsorship of Dorking Wanderers Football Club
We at Capital Piling Ltd are thrilled to announce our official sponsorship of Dorking Wanderers Football Club.
There's no denying that foundations are one of the most important factors in any large building or home. After all, they’re the glue that holds it all together and we’ve all heard of the fable where the man builds his house on the sand.
In the modern era, there are a variety of options available to new builders when it comes to foundation techniques but one of the most common is piling. The fast installation and fairly stress-free process has made piling a go-to choice for many contractors but what is it and how do different forms of piling compare?
In essence, foundation piling involves drilling a large metal cylinder into the ground to strengthen a building's foundations. Often the metal frame is then filled with high-grade concrete to add further strength to the pile. The reliable nature of the technique has meant piling has become the most common method for large or tall buildings as these structures in particular require extremely strong foundations.
The Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates for example is famous for having huge piles within its foundations. As the tallest structure in the world, the building is a flagship for piling and what it’s capable of.
Due to the influx in popularity of piling, there have been many famous buildings over the years that have used the method to strengthen their foundations. It’s no surprise really considering how efficient the technique is at securing a building. So, what are some of these buildings and what’s so special about their foundations?
We’re sure many of you will recognise the Burj Khalifa as the world's tallest building. Standing at an incredible 828 metres the United Arab Emirates building is astoundingly tall. Any building this large clearly requires incredibly strong foundations to protect the structure from high winds and unsteady soil beneath. The famous skyscraper like many other tall buildings around the world uses piles within its foundations. These metal and concrete rods are drilled 262 feet deep which makes them the fourth deepest in the world.
It might be quite surprising to read that the world's tallest building doesn’t have the deepest foundations as clearly this would be the natural progression. Though due to the soil nature and fairly calm conditions of Dubai the architects and engineers behind the building calculated that the foundation did not need to be any deeper than 300 feet. Having said that 262 feet isn’t exactly a small figure!
Standing at an incredible 508.2 metres the Taiwan skyscraper was the tallest building in the world for five years from 2004. The building stands upon some fairly uneven soil and Taiwan is famously earthquake-prone. Recently in 2016, the country was hit by a deadly quake which claimed the lives of 100 people. What's more, over 20 years ago in 1999 a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit the country which sadly killed over 2,000 people.
Due to these extreme conditions any building in the country rightly needs to be able to withstand the forces of a large-scale earthquake. This naturally makes building high-rise structures extremely difficult. However, reinforced concrete piles have made it possible for Taiwan to be one of the tall building capitals of the world. The Taipei 101 for example has pilings as deep as 262 feet which makes it more than safe to withstand the country's extreme conditions.
These Malaysian high-rise buildings are two famously identical structures with a bridge connecting them about two-thirds of the way up. The towers are both 451.9 metres tall and just like the other two buildings we’ve mentioned they have also held claim to the tallest skyscrapers in the world at some point. While their tallest building medal was taken from them in 2004 they still hold one another extremely impressive record. Their foundations remain the deepest in the world and stand at an incredible 400 ft deep.
Again, like the other two buildings in this short list, the Petronas Towers also make use of reinforced piles. These are so vital to the structure's integrity that there are a total of 104 piles within the foundations.
Before we mention mini piling it might be useful to discuss the other forms of piling and what they are most commonly used for. Due to the brilliant versatility of this building method, there are a multitude of varying techniques and many different uses for the technique. So, understanding their different forms of piling can at times be a touch confusing, but let’s break it down.
This method is best used for soils or ground surfaces which are perhaps a little more unstable. Rotary piling works well on uneven ground as the piles are extremely strong. The metal frame of the pile is drilled into the ground to whichever depth is desired. After the drilling is complete the pile is filled with incredibly strong concrete which creates a pile that can withstand almost any stresses to which it may be subjected. The minimal vibration and disturbance caused by this form of piling means it is the perfect foundation technique for built-up areas.
The clue really is in the name for this form of piling. The metal rods are hammered into the soil using either heavy impact or a vibration tool. There are two key tools which are used to achieve this which are hydraulic hammers and diesel hammers. This form of piling is commonly used for areas which have a particularly high water table or foundations which lie in the soft and non-cohesive ground. One of the largest benefits of the driven technique is the piles can be completely pre-prepared off-site and simply delivered and installed.
This form of piling uses a slightly different technique than some others to create the piles. A series of interlocking sheets are fasted together and then driven to the ground. The nature of the interlocking pieces means these piles are brilliant for unstable ground such as mudstone or sandstone. The sheets are usually driven into the soil using a crane or silent piler which adds a high degree of precision to the process. These piles are perfect for creating permanent retaining walls within buildings or landscaping walls.
Screw piling uses rounded hollow steel piping shafts which are driven into the ground. A steel frame is then attached much like a household screw. Once the metal piles have been driven into the soil it is then time to fill the pile with concrete. Much like many other piling techniques, this helps to strengthen the overall structure and ensure the pile stands the test of time. Screw piling is best used on building projects which stand upon alluvial soils and clay.
As the name might suggest mini piles are the smallest form of piling foundations and typically range from 100mm to 400mm in diameter. They have many other names aside from mini piles so watch out for experts referring to them as anchoring rigs, soil nailing, or drifter drilling. This form of piling while being smaller in size than many of the others is in fact extremely versatile. The nature of the metal rods means that the piles can be installed in areas which perhaps have restricted access or require a degree of intricacy.
So, what are the benefits of mini piling and why would you choose it over any other reliable forms of piling?
The first great benefit of mini piling is how easy the piles are to install even in tight access locations. This ensures that your building will be secure and strong no matter how built up the area is.
Due to the minimal amount of materials used in comparison with some other methods, mini piling is in fact very cost-effective to install. The shorter installation times also mean that less labour is required than usual further bringing the overall cost down.
The smaller nature of mini piles means that professionals are able to install the foundation-strengthening piles in extremely difficult conditions and sites where normal piling would be impossible.
Mini piling is clearly a great option if you’re in need of some foundations. Whether it's a building with difficult access or you’re after a cost-effective strengthening method, mini piling is a fantastic option. Contact our experienced staff today and find out more!
