Vertical Structures: Three Essential Considerations for Building Using Bored Piers

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The Big Build: How to Use Heavy Construction Equipment

My name is Jerry, and I run a small construction company in Perth. My team normally completes relatively small jobs such as plastering walls, repairing electrical systems and constructing patios. However, one day a big client got in touch to say they wanted me to help them construct a large apartment building. I have never taken on such a big job before, but I thought it was a good chance to grow my business and gain some new skills. A friend who has completed large scale jobs before advised me on how I should hire the people and heavy construction equipment needed for the job. I learnt a lot from him, and my company has since completed several more big construction jobs. I have decided to start this blog to advise others how to hire and maintain heavy equipment.

Vertical Structures: Three Essential Considerations for Building Using Bored Piers

21 January 2019
 Categories: , Blog

Bored piers are the ideal choice for supporting a vertical structure. In general, this type of foundation consists of reinforced concrete piers, which are inserted into the ground to hold up the load exerted by a building. The piers are installed using drilling rigs or heavy-duty cranes, creating a stable base. If you would like to use bored piers for your structure, you should consult your specialist contractor for guidance. Here are crucial tips to consider before using bored piers in your foundation.

Consider the Surroundings

It is important to evaluate the area around your construction site before making a decision on bored piers. If you are building your heavy structure in an open area, deep excavation might not be a major issue. However, there are situations where the disturbance caused by excavation can cause a lot of problems. For instance, if it is imperative for the adjacent buildings not to be disturbed, you should opt for bore piers. This type of foundation can be placed into the ground without causing excessive noise and vibrations.

Obtain a Soil Report

You should obtain a thorough soil report on your building site before design and construction. Establishing a major structure on different types of soil conditions requires different foundation. A soil report will help you determine the best type of foundation for your piece of land. Bored piers are quite flexible, and they are particularly ideal for areas with poor quality ground. For instance, if your site has a high water table or sandy soil, the bored piers are perfect. These concrete units can be inserted deep into the ground where the ground can support more loads.

Determine Optimal Capacity

The specific capacities of bored piers will depend on the size, structure and composition. In simple terms, all bored foundation piers will not be able to support buildings of different sizes. Therefore, you will need to acquire units which are suited to handle the size and weight of your planned building. Your designers and engineers should be able to calculate the total weight of your building, including the load when the building is in use, allowing you to acquire the right piers.

Finally, you should be thorough when calculating the financial requirements for this type of pile foundation. Bored pile foundations are economical, but the costs can be quite significant. Therefore, you should take into account the costs of creating piers, hiring equipment and acquiring labour for the establishment of the building.