How Concrete Pilings Are Used in Construction

Concrete piles are used in a variety of commercial and residential applications. Made of concrete and high tensile strength steel, their purpose is to secure a foundation into the ground. They are precast in order to cure and gain strength before arriving at the construction site. Piles are needed when the upper layer of soil is not strong enough for a stable foundation, or when the structure will bear extreme weight. They are hammered down deep into the ground in order to access a stronger layer of earth.

Types of Pile Foundations

There are two types of piles. Even though both anchor into the ground they each work in a different way to ensure sound construction. Friction pilesare cylindrical and work by transferring the load of the structure down the full surface area of the pile. The longer the pile, the more weight it can support.
End bearing piles rest on an extremely strong layer of soil or rock. This enables the load of the structure to be transferred down through the end of the pile to the load bearing layer.

Concrete Piling Applications

Some of the uses for concrete pilings are deep foundations, retaining walls and embankments. Piles can also help a building withstand the vibration from an earthquake. Visit this website to learn more about concrete pilings in Leland.