Types of pile foundations you should know.
Piles are one of the crucial factors to consider when buying a house, yet many may not think much about them, even though they affect long-term living. Because piles are a vital foundation and an indicator of a house's strength, understanding piles is essential when considering a home purchase to assess its durability and the appropriateness of the house's price.
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What are the types of piles and how should they be used?
Piles used in general houses and buildings are broadly divided into three types:
1. Prestressed Concrete Piles
These are widely used for commercial buildings and general residential housing. They are made from fast-setting cement and have an internal steel frame made from high-strength prestressed steel wire. The pile driving process involves hammering them into the ground using a pile driver, a simple, uncomplicated, and cost-effective method.
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2. Bored Piles
This is another type of pile, differing from prestressed concrete piles in its application. The construction process is more complex and must be done on-site. It involves drilling to the required diameter and depth before installation. Reinforcing steel is then inserted and concrete is poured to form the pile foundation.
Drilled piles are suitable for tall buildings that need to support heavy loads and buildings constructed close together, as they help prevent vibrations that could damage neighboring buildings.
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3. Centrifugal Prestressed Concrete Piles
Commonly known as spun piles, these piles are constructed using a high-speed spinning process in a mold. This results in a higher concrete density than conventionally cast concrete, thus providing superior strength and load-bearing capacity. Prestressed concrete piles are cylindrical, hollow in the center, with prestressed steel wires embedded within the concrete.
This type of pile can be driven in several ways, including conventional pile driving and drilling/pressing systems. They are suitable for use as foundations for tall buildings requiring high stability and strength to protect against strong winds and earthquakes.
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What type of pile foundation should be used for house extensions?
For house extensions, micropiles should be used. Their advantage lies in their ability to support 30-35 tons per pile and their ability to be driven close to the house. They are also hollow in design. This helps reduce vibrations that could affect nearby buildings.
The only drawback of micropiles is their relatively high cost. Careful planning is essential; otherwise, expenses may exceed expectations.
Theoretically, micropiles should reach the hard soil layer, but practical application often faces limitations, particularly due to space constraints, especially in Bangkok.
Home extensions often use short piles, no longer than 3 meters. However, the hard soil in Bangkok is only 17-23 meters deep, resulting in insufficient support for the house's weight, and homeowners may need to prepare for potential subsidence issues.
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For those who haven't found a suitable house with pile foundations and wish to purchase a plot of land to build their own home, it's important to study the relevant building laws in the article "Legal Information You Should Know Before Building a New House on Your Own Land" to ensure a problem-free and legally compliant construction process.
There's much more to know and understand about buying a home. You can find basic information about buying your first home in the article "How to Start Buying Your First Home: What Do You Need to Know?" This information can help you make an informed decision and find the perfect home for you.
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Thank you for the valuable information from DD Property.
