What do the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Bradbury Building, City Hall, and the Wiltern Theatre have in common? Sure, they’re iconic landmark structures in Los Angeles. However, the reason they continue to captivate locals and visitors alike is a testament to the substantial foundational work that preceded their construction. As the saying goes, “You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation.”
If you’re new to construction, foundation drilling services might seem complicated and out of your depth. But this guide will help provide all the information you need to understand how foundation drilling works, its benefits, and the methods experts use to ensure your home or commercial property will stand the test of time.
What is Foundation Drilling?
By definition, foundation drilling is a construction technique in which drillers create large holes in the ground using specialized equipment or rigs to build the foundation for structures like bridges, buildings, and other heavy infrastructure. Contractors fill these holes with concrete and reinforcement materials to create a stable base, which gives a structure the best chance of remaining safe and sound for years.
The Importance of Deep Foundations
If you’ve ever played Jenga, you understand that without a solid base, the likelihood of your tower remaining steady diminishes drastically with each block you pull from the bottom section. Similarly, deep foundations are necessary for any building, particularly in a seismic-prone area like L.A. Some areas have even more unstable soil than others, which makes it more difficult for a building to stand tall. In such places, a deep foundation is the only workaround.
Drillers dig deep into the ground to penetrate solid layers and even the bedrock, if needed, to give a structure the stability it needs to handle the building’s weight safely and, in some cases, its sway, which depends on the height, wind speed, and design.
Deep foundations are necessary to prevent structural issues like settling or tilting. If you construct your building on weak or loose soil, it will shift, inevitably leading to its unfortunate collapse. Such scenarios can endanger many lives and cause considerable damage to surrounding structures. Situations like this usually happen in areas with high water tables or cities where soil conditions change, thus stressing the necessity of a deep foundation.
Essential Equipment for Foundation Drilling
Professionals employ essential equipment to manage varying soil and depths and complete the most challenging drilling tasks or projects. Various types of drilling equipment for hire allow drillers to do the job correctly and safely.
Excavators
Excavators dig and remove dirt or soil from a construction site. They feature large-sized buckets and other attachments that are employed depending on the complexity and requirements of a project. Drillers use them in foundation drilling to clear debris and dig trenches, whereas, for deeper foundations, these excavators use augers and drill bits to bore holes.
These machines are handy when prepping a site by removing sufficient earth to hit a specified depth, after which the foundation drilling process can begin without any obstacles.
Skid Steers
Many contractors refer to skid steers as the Swiss Army Knives of construction equipment. They’re compact machines that can easily navigate and squeeze into tight areas. You’ll find them employed when professionals build smaller project foundations or have limited space to work with.
They have various attachments, like augers, that contractors leverage to complete a digging or extraction job. Their compact size allows them to maneuver easily in narrow access points or residential areas. Their ‘get me in there’ design, flexibility, and compact nature make them crucial additions for foundation drilling in Los Angeles.
Trenchers
As the name suggests, trenchers are machines contractors use to make long, narrow trenches. These machines can work with different soil types and are excellent at preparing the ground for building foundations. Professionals employ them to make continuous channels, like piles or piers.
Depending on the hardness of the soil or the depth of the trenches, they can fit various attachments, which is a practical feature for large-scale construction industry projects that require numerous trenches. Their ability to create deep and precise trenches facilitates smooth project workflow.
Drilling Rigs
These are the machines that complete the task of drilling foundations. Designed to penetrate solid soil, rock, and any other materials contractors may encounter, they’re perfect for any project that needs a reliable foundation. Drilling rigs spin a prominent-sized drill into the Earth’s surface to make a deep hole where drillers place piers or piles.
These rigs can employ various drilling techniques, like percussion or rotary drilling, per the project’s requirements. They also feature practical casing safeguards to prevent a hole from collapsing during drilling. These rigs are crucial if a drilling contractor must achieve the required depth and accuracy. Drilling rigs enable extreme depths to ensure a structure can withstand its weight; without them, foundation drilling projects would take longer to complete and would be much less precise.
Different Methods of Foundation Drilling
Contractors employ various foundation drilling approaches to achieve project success, and they depend on factors like depth, soil conditions, and project management scale. Here’s a look at the most common foundation drilling techniques in use:
Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) Drilling
CFA is a drilling technique used to bore deep, cast-in-place piles, thus making it a practical and economical method of creating foundations for large building projects and highway bridges. This giant hole-digging machine spins and fills the cavity it creates with concrete. Any reputed Los Angeles foundation contractor uses it to make bored piles or sturdy supports for tall buildings and other prominent existing structures.
Their low operational noise and minimal disturbance or ground interference make them ideal for use in limited-size spaces or cities. The smooth bores they create allow the concrete to set in, thus leading to a robust and reliable foundation.
Reverse Circulation Air Injection (RCAI) Drilling
Perfect for drilling hard ground, like rock formations, reverse circulation air injection drilling uses super-high-pressure air to push a specific drilling fluid through its drill pipe. Simultaneously, it sucks soil and other debris from the drill hole. It’s a quick way to drill a deep, stable foundation construction, as this technique removes material at a rapid pace. When drilling contractors build foundations in tricky soil conditions, this technique works well where other methods may struggle.
Kelly Drilling
Kelly drilling is a rotary drilling technique that uses a telescopic Kelly bar to transfer torque and crowd force to the tool to create deep foundations and bored piles. Contractors use this method to drill through soft or loose soil. It is one of the oldest dry drilling methods in the foundation drilling industry. However, it is a practical approach for various new projects that require drilling.
Grab Drilling
This drilling approach is a great way to remove soil or rock from a hole while drilling. Professionals employ this method in soft to medium-hard soils. It features a unique grab tool that goes down the shaft/hole to remove material. It might not be as quick as other drilling methods, but it works well.
Down-the-Hole (DTH) Drilling
Professionals use this drilling method to penetrate tough soil or rock. It features a drill bit with a hammer that smashes the rock into smaller pieces as it drills to lower depths. The broken material is then pushed out of the hole using air or water. DTH drilling can rapidly break through hard layers, which makes it perfect for deep foundation creation.
Why Foundation Drilling Matters for Every Structure
The foundation of a structure is its backbone upon which it rests. It could be a home or a multi-story building, but without a solid foundation, its structural integrity is at risk due to sinking, cracking, or collapse. Foundation drilling methods create a stable, deep base that can support the structure’s weight and ensure the structure’s and its inhabitants’ safety.
This approach is crucial, especially if an area has unstable, inconsistent, or loose soil. A city like Los Angeles has different soil conditions. It is prone to seismic activity, which makes foundation drilling performed by a seasoned and experienced drilling contractor an essential first step when constructing a project. They possess the knowledge and foundation drilling support equipment to ensure a reliable and successful outcome.
Conclusion
A drilling foundation must be your first pursuit if you want to build your home or a large-scale project in Los Angeles and ensure it stands over time. It provides the necessary safety for the structure and its occupants. By giving your project a stable base, you allow it to handle the weight and other factors associated with the size of your structure. If you need comprehensive drilling foundation solutions, consult a specialist like Semper Drilling. Their experience in this field, knowledge of different soil conditions, and access to the right equipment to do the job will reassure you, thus guaranteeing project success and the safety of all its occupants.
