Right, let’s talk CFA piling. We get asked about it on every job these days, so thought we should tell you what we reckon about it after doing hundreds of these installations across the country.
CFA (that’s Continuous Flight Auger for those wondering) has become really popular in the UK, and there’s good reasons for that. But it is not the answer to everything, despite what some people will tell you.
What’s CFA Piling Then?
Simple really, big drill bit screws down into the ground and concrete gets pumped down through the middle as the drill comes back up. You end up with a concrete pile cast in the ground without all the faff of separate drilling and concreting operations.
All done from ground level with one machine. Tidy.
Why We Like CFA Piling
It is Quick
This is the big one. We can bang out 150-200 metres of piling per day easily, sometimes more if conditions are right. Compare that to other methods, where you are lucky to get thirty metres done, and you can see why site managers love us turning up with the CFA rig.
We had one piling job in Manchester recently where we got 200 piles done in three weeks! Try doing that with driven piles.
Does not Shake the Place Down
No hammering, no pile driving, just drilling. Neighbours do not complain, existing buildings do not crack, everyone is happy. We have worked right next to Victorian terraces that would have fallen over if we had started pile driving.
Nice and Quiet
Well, quietER anyway. You have still got a diesel rig running, but there is no constant banging every few seconds. Planning officers prefer it, residents do not moan as much and our lads do not go home with headaches.
Works in Most Ground
Clay, sand, soft rock… CFA handles the lot. It’s not brilliant in hard stuff or if there are loads of boulders, but for your typical British muck, it does the job.
Carries Decent Loads
Done properly, these piles take serious weight. We have put in CFA piles carrying over 1000kN loads. The continuous concrete shaft is as strong as anything.
Where CFA Gets Messy
Contaminated Ground is a Pain
All the spoil gets mixed up as it comes out, so if you have nasty stuff at different levels, you end up with a right mess to dispose of. It can get expensive quick on contaminated sites.
Got contamination issues? Give us a bell, we know ways round most problems.
Hard Ground Stops You Dead
Hit rock or dense ground and progress grinds to a halt. Auger gets stuck, kit gets damaged, everyone stands around scratching their heads. We have been there.
Cannot See What’s Happening
Concrete goes down the pipe and you hope for the best. If something goes wrong down there, you might not know until later. That is why we are so careful about concrete quality and placement.
Need Proper Access
CFA rigs are big. You need room to get in, room to work, solid ground to sit on. Try doing CFA piling in someone’s back garden – it is not happening.
Weather Can Stuff You
A bit of rain and suddenly you are working in a swamp. Spoil goes everywhere; access turns into a mud bath and health and safety start twitching.
Weather looking dodgy? We can usually work round it, chat to us about timing.
Here is the Thing
CFA piling works well on most jobs. It is quick, it is not too noisy and it handles typical UK ground conditions without drama. But every site is different.
We have seen people try to use CFA where it was never going to work, just because someone told them it was the cheapest option. It ended up costing them more in the long run.
Best thing? Get us out to have a look. It takes half an hour to walk a site and we will tell you if CFA is going to work or if you need something else. No obligation, no sales pitch, just honest advice from people who have been doing this for years.
Piling isn’t rocket science, but it is not something you want to get wrong either. The wrong choice of piling method and you are looking at delays, extra costs and a lot of headaches.
Give Vxcel Piling a Call. We will come out, have a thorough look at your site, talk through the options and give you a straight answer about what will work best. No fancy sales presentation, just practical advice from people who know piling inside out.
Call us now or fill in the contact form. We are always happy to help sort out foundation problems before they become expensive mistakes.
