Helical anchors enjoy widespread use today to help stabilize and secure above-ground structures, especially when that structure is built on ground that may be or has become unstable. The anchors themselves are steel shafts with helical coils or plates welded on at an angle. The shafts are screwed into the soil beneath the foundation to a depth that enables the coil to support the load. When foundation drilling calls for helical anchors, the depth of the anchor is drilled into the ground is determined by precisely measuring the torque it takes to turn the anchor. Generally, the higher the torque value the more stable the soil. This gives soil and structural engineers an accurate indication of the load-bearing capacity of the helical anchors. Continue reading “Helical Anchor Installation Relies Upon Accurate Torque Measurements”
Common Residential Home Foundations
Homeowners don’t often think about the foundations of their home, but those foundations are critical components of any home, as they bear the entire load of the structure above. Foundations also have another critical function, in that they must prevent groundwater and soil vapors from penetrating into the home’s interior. When you’re trying to decide what kind of foundation your new home should have, there are four choices available to you, and each has advantages and disadvantages.
Choosing a Home Foundation
Helical Anchors a Great Choice for Solar Array Foundations
One of the typical methods for anchoring ground-mounted solar arrays has been to use a slab of concrete for the foundation. Helical piles are gaining popularity among designers and contractors, though, to provide solar array owners with a more stable installation. Helical piles provide some distinct advantages, so it is worth considering the use of helical piles as anchors for these solar arrays.
Benefits of Helical Piles
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Excavation Contractor – What Does the Business Involve?
What seems like a straightforward business, drilling and excavating, actually has a lot of parts to it that all have to work together. Here are some of the key aspects of running a business like ours.
The Work of an Excavating and Drilling Contractor
Moving Dirt Around Continue reading “Excavation Contractor – What Does the Business Involve?”
Pier Drilling Can Shore up a Sagging Foundation
All building foundations will settle with time, but problems arise when this settlement is uneven or extreme. Sometimes requiring pier drilling or helicals.
Are you wondering if you have foundation issues with any property that you own? All building foundations will settle with time, but problems arise when this settlement is uneven or extreme. Continue reading “Pier Drilling Can Shore up a Sagging Foundation”
Soil Improvements Provide Strength and Control Groundwater for Excavation
Before excavation and construction can begin at a construction site, ground improvements must be done to manage groundwater and improve soil strength. Otherwise the site may not be able to provide adequate support for the planned foundation. There are several methods which can be used to accomplish this, depending on the conditions of the soil. To determine the need to make soil improvements prior to the work of the excavating contractor, it may be necessary to consult with a civil engineer.
Methods for Stabilizing Soil for Excavation Projects Continue reading “Soil Improvements Provide Strength and Control Groundwater for Excavation”
Foundations: Building a Strong Base for Your Building
The long-term structural stability of any building depends on having a well-built foundation in place. In a region subject to earthquakes, it is especially important for a highly reputable Bay Area excavating company to set the stage for that strong foundation. It is easy to build something passable, but it takes a well managed, well supervised and well executed excavation to build a foundation that will stand the test of time.
How to Build a Strong Foundation
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How Does Pier Drilling Work?
Pier drilling is a process which uses an augur to drill deep down into the ground, for the purpose of establishing piers or columns upon which a foundation can be placed to support a structure above ground. It is very often used in locations where the ground is not particularly stable, and where it would be unsafe over the long haul for building construction. Piers are often drilled down deep enough so they can rest in either stable ground, or on solid bedrock, which can provide a very solid base for supporting anything above.
How Pier Drilling is Accomplished
Four Ways to Prevent Home Foundation Problems
Avoiding problems with your home’s foundation is critical to the long-term stability of your home, which will also save you money on costly repairs. In the San Francisco Bay Area, such problems can be prevented by installing deck piers, footing piers, helical piers, concrete piles, or other constructs which can provide foundation support to keep your home’s base completely stable. As a homeowner, here are some things to look for in in order to prevent foundation problems. Continue reading “Four Ways to Prevent Home Foundation Problems”
Pier Drilling – The Basics
Pier drilling is one of several deep foundation methods which can be used to bypass surface-level ground, which is usually relatively soft and unstable, instead of the favorable solid ground that would be found deeper down. Bedrock is the ideal layer sought by deep foundation drilling because it provides the best support for a structure for passive as well as dynamic conditions. Continue reading “Pier Drilling – The Basics”