How Do Grouting Piles Work?

Grout Piles

• Normal piles are essentially large columns of supporting material that are injected into the ground -- a mixture of complex drilling and foundation laying designed to support the building. Several types of piles exist. The grout pile uses three main materials to provide strength and stability: concrete, steel and grout.

Concrete

• The concrete is a part of the piping system and provides secondary support for the grout. While steel is vital for strength and flexibility, some parts of the piping that are used for the core of the pile are also made of concrete, which is cheaper and can be created on-site.

Steel

• The primary component of grout piles is steel. A steel and concrete composite pipe is screwed into the ground by large auger machines. This creates both torque -- the force that a screw produces -- and downward pressure. The force helps lock a foundation in place and re-direct shockwaves and other problems that might damage the building. Once the pipe is locked in place, it is time for the grout.

Grout

• The grout, which is a liquid mortar material, is pumped from a grouting system through the steel and concrete pipe. The pipe has openings in it that allow the grout to leak out into the surrounding soil. The grout cures there, cementing itself and the pipe into the surrounding earth. This provides not only extra support, but also increase the size of the pile and makes it easier to install the pile in tight spaces.