Marine piling involves putting a deep base into the bedrock under sea level to support offshore and nearshore-based structures, helping create a strong and stable foundation for construction to start. This is especially critical when a lake or ocean’s floor surface level isn’t sturdy enough to support heavy loads. Discussed below is what you should know about marine piling.
1 – Materials used in marine piling
Learning about the various marine piling materials is crucial to selecting the right one. Choosing the best pile for your project depends on where piling materials will be driven and the necessary load-bearing ability. The various piles you can leverage include:
- Timber piles: They’re among the most affordable piles, and their price is about half the cost of some popular options. Most timber piles have tapered shapes, which boosts their friction abilities while letting them support quite heavy loads. These piles are suitable for acidic soils and don’t conduct electricity
- Steel pipe piles: If you want piles driven deep under the soil into rocky areas, steel pipe piles are your best bet. They have a high load-bearing capacity and better-bending resistance compared to timber and concrete
- Concrete piles: They’re normally precast and prestressed. Concrete piles are a budget-friendly and hardy pile category and are often prefabricated depending on the specific needs of a project. These piles come in different shapes, including circular, octagonal, and more
- Sheet piles: These structural units make a continuous wall once connected to each other and can be used to exclude water or retain earth
With a marine piling export service, you can help you find the highest quality materials for your project.
2 – Marine piling cost
The cost of marine piling can be a big challenge because extra materials are needed for optimal strength and additional labor for the extended installation process. In addition, several other elements go into marine piling cost, including:
- The pilings required to accommodate the size of your structure
- Materials
- Building permits
- Piling size
- The length of the pile needed to accommodate water depth
- Seabed conditions
To get more realistic estimates of your marine piling project’s cost, consider getting at least three quotes from experts and compare them to find the most affordable. Remember to include maintenance costs, as piled docks need routine care to safeguard them from marine organisms and materials prone to corrosion.
3 – Benefits of marine piling
Marine project piling is the best way to ensure a strong and long-lasting foundation structure for what you’re constructing. Unlike strut and cable docks, marine piling can carry the weight of the biggest moored watercraft or boats. Marine piles are the strength required to break through rough terrain to offer the structural integrity needed for construction.
4 – How long does marine piling last?
Your marine piling’s lifespan varies depending on environmental conditions, the type of material used, and how it’s cared for. For instance, the lifespan of timber in an unsaturated environment is about 25 years. Wood positioned under groundwater level in an anoxic, saturated surroundings will rot at a slower rate, and its design life can be up to 100 years based on the timber species. Proper care and maintenance can help extend your marine piling’s lifespan depending on the piling material used.
Endnote
Marine piling comes in handy when looking to create a sturdy and long-lasting foundation for your offshore and nearshore structures. Consider learning more about marine piling to ensure informed choices.
