Types of piling and their uses

Piled foundations are usually used to transfer the loads from structures to stiff soil and rock at depth, to increase the effective size of a foundation and to resist the horizontal load. As pile foundations are responsible for carrying a large load, they must be designed carefully, to ensure they are sufficiently strong. There is a wide range of piling methods available, to suit the many possible soil types and applications needed. Some of those methods include:

End-bearing piles involve the bottom end of the pile resting on a layer of strong soil or rock. The load of the building is transferred through the pile, into this strong layer. With end-bearing piles, it is essential that the bottom of a pile sits on the intersection of a weak and strong layer. The pile will bypass the weak soil layer, instead transferring its load to the strong layer of soil below.

Screw pile foundations rely on a helix near the pile toe, so that the piles can be screwed into the ground. The process is similar to that of screwing into wood. A screw pile can have more than one helix, depending on the usage and the ground conditions of the foundations. At Kisiel Piling we can offer a range of piling methods to suit any building requirements or ground conditions. If you would like to hear more about our offering, just get in touch.