In this week’s Property Surveying blog post topic, we thought we’d take a look at piled foundations and in particular driven piles and when they can apply within Party Wall Surveying procedures.
So, what exactly is a driven pile? A driven pile is a tubular steel pile that is driven into the ground via a piling rig.
The installation of driven piling works through the constant and reoccurring hammering of the steel tube that will be driven into the ground via a pneumatic weighted piling rig.
This rig system helps to hold the pile in its place whilst raising a weight and then dropping it onto the tube, thus driving the tube into the soil. This is further helped by the fact that the pile has a sharpened end on it.
Typically, the pile is driven into the ground until such a point as it finds the subsoil, or to the depth as designed by the designing engineer. Either, or, it will be the point at which the soil is capable of providing adequate support for the proposed structure, ensuring a sound design!
Driven piles face a challenge in areas with soft soil, as the water content is higher, the piles can be required to be more frequent and deeper, in turn increasing the overall cost and time it takes to undertake the foundation works.
Through the eyes of any experienced Party Wall Surveyor, driven piles are a bit of a “no, no”, the force of driving the pile into the ground results in vibration which in turn can result in damage to neighbouring properties and homes. For this reason the Party Wall etc Act 1996 sets out that deeper foundations that are within 6 metre radius of any property will require the service of a Party Wall Notice.
Here at Stokemont, we’ve had experience with all types of foundation types, the risky, the simple and the eccentric! Yes, there really is a foundation that is eccentric!
If you’d like to discuss your proposed works with us to confirm if Party Wall Surveying procedures are required, give us a call today, we’d be more than happy to assist.
