Shoring

Shoring Techniques

Contractors perform different types of shoring techniques. First, the area around the building must be clear of any debris. Second, the workers will mark where they will dig the trench alongside the building, which are narrow excavations made below the surface of the ground and large enough for workers to access. Lastly, your contractor will determine what shoring method to use to build the trench.

The most common shoring techniques include hydraulic shoring, pneumatic shoring, or manual jacks. Hydraulic shoring is the use of hydraulic pistons that can be pumped outward until they press up against the trench walls. They are typically combined with steel or aluminum. Pneumatic shoring works similar to hydraulic shoring and uses air pressure instead of hydraulic pressure. Lastly, manual jack systems differ from hydraulic and pneumatic systems in that the struts of a screw jack system must be adjusted manually and the process takes longer.

 

Soil

Shoring techniques can also differ depending on the type of soil at your property, and we have hundreds of soil types in our area. Soil texture is generally a mix of different sized particles such as sand, silt, and clay. Our land is primarily made of clay that expands when it gets wet, and contracts when it is dry. Hence, poor soil conditions cause stress to older homes and damages the foundation. Hurricanes have hit our area hard, and we have seen an increase in foundation issues after major storms and flooding events. However, through the use of effective techniques, an experienced foundation expert can level your home and fix the building’s foundation problems without demolishing your structure.

• Sand – As soil separates, individual rock or mineral fragments from 0.05 millimeter to 2.0 millimeters in diameter. Most sand grains consist of quartz. As a soil textural class, a soil that is 85 percent or more sand and not more than 10 percent clay.
• Silt – As a soil separate, individual mineral particle that range in diameter from the upper limit of clay (0.002 millimeter) to the lower limit of very fine sand (0.05 millimeter). As a soil textural class, soil that is 80 percent or more silt and less than 12 percent clay.
• Clay – As soil separates, the mineral soil particles less than 0.002 millimeter in diameter. As a soil textural class, soil material that is 40 percent or more clay, less than 45 percent sand, and less than 40 percent silt.

 

Safety

During the construction process, safety is our primary concern for both the residents and our workers. Our workers perform continuous inspections frequently and before the start of each shift. Additionally, we make safety inspections to ensure that the trench is secure:

• after every rainstorm or weather event
• when tension cracks, water seepage, bulging, or other similar conditions occur
• when there is a change in the size, location, or placement of the excavated materials
• when there is any indication of change or movement in adjacent structures