A pile is basically a long cylinder of a strong material such as concrete that is pushed into the ground to act as a steady support for structures built on top of it .

Pile foundations are used in the following situations.

  • When there is a layer of weak soil at the surface. This layer cannot support the weight of the building have to by pass this layer and be transferred to the layer of stronger soil or rock that is below the weak layer.
  • When a building has very heavy, concentrated leads, such as in high structures, bridge, or water tank.

There are two fundamental types of pile foundations (based on structural behavior).each of which works in its own way.

  • End Bearing piles.
  • Friction piles.

Shore Piling

Shore piling is a measure to prevent ground Subsidence while excavating for deep foundation of a super structure. Shore piling also termed as shoring, that may be denoted as temporary bracing used to prevent something , Such as a tunnel, trench , soil or wall from collapse.


Secant Piling

Total Foundation are specialists in the installation of secant piled retaining walls and basements. Secant piles are an innovative way of constructing retaining walls and are formed by a series of interlocking bored concrete piles. Secant walls primarily used in ground conditions that are not suitable for other systems or where there is a high water table.

  • HARD/HARD secant walls – where both primary and secondary piles are structural grade concrete
  • HARD/FIRM and HARD/SOFT secant walls – where the primary pile is lesser grade concrete.

Secant piled walls are the preferred option near buildings, roads, and other sensitive structures. Total Foundation can also offer a virtually zero tolerance secant pile installation when adjacent to existing structures. This can be extremely beneficial to clients in maximising space when working within built up environments such as city centre sites. Secant walls can be used to form a continuous watertight wall which can be an added benefit for the construction of basements and underground carparks. Total Foundation can provide full basement and foundation packages incorporating design, setting out, circumference piling, capping beams, bulk excavation, temporary load anchoring and propping. This includes foundation piling, pile caps and complete steel and concrete works from basement to ground level. In addition we can carry out all pile testing and associated vibration and noise monitoring to compliment any project.


Contiguous Piling

Total Foundation are capable of installing contiguous piled retaining walls ranging from 300mm to 1200mm in diameter to depths of up to 30m. They are most suited for applications were the retaining wall is only required to support soil and there is no requirement for water tightness. Individual bored piles are installed with a small gap between each pile.


Examples of such applications include:

  • Retaining walls
  • Road & embankment retention
  • Launch & reception pits for tunnelling operations
  • Strong retaining structures to aid excavation

The contiguous piled walls can be designed as per soil conditions and requirement of projects


Load Bearing Piling

Total Foundation are capable of installing load bearing piles ranging from 300mm to 1200mm in diameter to depths of up to 30m. We have extensive experience in varying ground conditions, from augering through waterlogged peats and sands to achieving rock sockets in mudstones, sandstones and basalt. This knowledge coupled with our versatile fleet of piling equipment ensures we can provide the most economic and appropriate solution for building foundations