Cracks and settlements are facts of life when it comes to building with concrete foundations. There have been many methods of repairing structures once they have settled, including helical piles, thrust piles, and micropiles. They each have their own uniqueness and applications where they should or shouldn’t be used. Helical piles are a simple and cost effective solution for light structural repairs. Thrust pillars are excellent for lifting heavy structures profitably. Micropiles are now gaining popularity to reduce the effects of settlement in new and existing structures.
There are many names for micropiles: minipiles, pins, and roots are the most common. These piles are small-diameter, grout-reinforced, rotary-drilled piles that can be driven to depths of 200 feet and through very dense layers of soil and rock. Unlike helical piles or push piles, micropiles are not affected by pavers and debris on the ground. Its sacrificial bit is designed to drill through these hard soils and embed into load-bearing rock layers, while maintaining a column of grout around a structural steel element in the center of the column.
Like helical piles and thrust piles, micropiles can be installed in limited access areas with relatively little equipment. This maneuverability makes them ideal for foundation repair applications. Portable equipment has been developed to allow access to foundations and other low-rise applications where soils or access limit other more conventional methods of foundation repair.
The Micropile installation process begins with drilling into bedrock using a specialized drilling rig. Soil cuttings are blown out with air, water, or grout, followed by column grouting created by the sacrificial carbide bit and threaded rod. The tips of the Micropiles are cut in elevation and a sleeve is inserted to fit the shoring bracket system. Load tests can be easily performed on production piles or test piles near the proposed locations.
Micropiles and their inherent advantages have gained popularity and acceptance by contractors and engineers in recent years. With advances in drilling equipment and shoring supports, micropiles are sure to become more popular in the foundation repair industry. For more information on foundation repair, visit a site like http://www.earthcontactproducts.com.
