Croydon
Our groundwork contractors use a range of mini piling methods to create strong and stable foundation installations in Croydon, Haywards Heath, and the surrounding areas. One of the most important aspects of our restricted access piling and underpinning services is conducting testing to determine the pressure that piles and retaining walls can withstand and whether our foundation reinforcement is necessary to ensure structural integrity.
Without testing, projects such as basement conversions are at risk of structural damage and failure. Locating defects in piles allows us to mitigate risks. We always perform tests during the earlier stages of construction.
Our groundworks company inspect for defects along pile shafts. This is a non-destructive form of testing to ensure the piles will perform as expected. We complete testing using visual examinations and by taking measurements. We must assess the strength of restricted access piling and other piles at an early stage of construction, as further building work, such as basement installations and basement conversions, could exacerbate defects and flaws that may be deeper into the project.
When testing piles and bored piled retaining walls, we also look for any issues that may have arisen during transport and construction, due to design errors, drilling at sites in Croydon, or inadequate casing management.
Our groundwork contractors test in a way that won’t damage the existing foundation installations or the build. We employ safe and professional testing methods to ensure that piles are of high quality, extending deep foundations into the underlying strata and reducing the need for future underpinning services. We use a specifically low-strain process that has no impact on the surrounding ground.
Here, we will cover the 3 most important pile testing methods – important aspects of our groundworks company’s basement conversions and underpinning services:
One of the quickest ways to check the condition of restricted access piling is a pile integrity test. Here, we strike the upper part of the pile by hand with a hammer and measure the response of the impact. This test also allows us to measure the length of piles, their stiffness and their mobility. Other methods used to test piles and foundation installations in Croydon include dynamic load testing and static load testing.
A dynamic load test involves our groundwork contractors repeatedly blowing the head and taking measurements for acceleration and strain. This process is suitable for use on all pile types. Static load tests determine capacity by our contractors slowly applying constant loads to the pile. This is an automated test which removes the potential for human error and delivers more accurate results.
With over 30 years of design expertise and extensive onsite experience, our team proudly offer a range of groundwork services, including:
