Poles & Pilings

Wood pilling is one of the oldest and most trusted method of footing

Engineers have been using wood pilings for building a variety of structure or barricades and possibly this is the oldest method of wood pilling. Although now so many other pilling options are available, but then also wood pilings never lost its credibility and engineers are still using it at various places where other conventional pillings cannot be used.

For example, conventional footing is useless at wet areas and engineers use wood pilling to create a footing for those structure. For creating these structure or foundation they use a series of post or wooden piling and they create the base for structure. These wooden pilings can be as large as 12-14 inch or more in diameter and depending on requirement; its length can vary from few feet to hundred feet or even more.

Engineers choose the design and size of wood piles according to specific requirement of structure and soil type and engineers install it with the help of professional equipment such as pile driver. For installing wood pilling, professionals put the piles at its place and pile driver hammer thump it from the top for driving the wood pilling into the Earth. It keeps on hammering and after some time hammer would not be able to thump it any further, this point is known as refusal point and it is sign of fixing.

Other than bigger structures, homeowner can use wood pilling for smaller project as well. These smaller projects can be shed or deck creation or creating a boundary wall or they can use it for any other purpose that fall in the scope of a home.

The Good Side Of Using Wooden Poles For Building Materials

In contrast to steel and concrete, wooden poles are more advantageous to use considering the number of benefits its can provide when it is chosen as a building material. Aside from being environmentally friendly, it is also easy to recycle. Here are their main benefits as listed below.

Storage And Ease Of Transport

When properly stacked on board a delivery truck it is more convenient to distribute mainly because of the lower transportation and storage costs that it will generate. Because it is light and tough it does not require special packaging and can be easily hauled into trucks even on rugged terrains. It can also withstand handling and surface damage very well.

Line And Foundation

It has a higher working load as compared to steel and concrete. A few meters of space uses only a few pieces of wooden poles to establish, this means lower cost in foundation requirements. It is also easy to settle it directly into the holes of the ground.

Elevation Qualities

Unlike steel that requires the use of cranes to be hoisted above its fixed bolts, wooden poles does not require heavy equipment use because of its lightweight qualities.

Simple Accessories

There are no special attachments and accessories to install wooden poles. It can be easily connected through the use of screws and bolts. Construction workers can easily climb and construct one on site. 

Fire resistant

Wooden poles that are coated with fire resistant chemicals (asbestos and creosote) can defy even the gravest forest bush fires. It causes only mild charring on its surface unlike steel wherein it is more prone to corrosion damage and collapse.

Electrical Properties

It has good insulating properties and considered a safe material than concrete or steel. It does not need to be earthed or grounded because it does not conduct any electricity at all.

Longer Life Span

Bulkheads and retaining walls are man-made structures which functions hand in hand. As a matter of fact, some people may term a bulkhead as a retaining wall. Despite the fact that a bulkhead may not be a retaining wall, the two share a similar functionality by preventing beach erosion from occurring. Normally, the two man-made structures are constructed along the shoreline to ensure that it conducts its functionality fully as desired after a wave action. The bulkheads can either be created from wood or from vinyl depending on the user's requirements however, the bulkhead design is the most vital aspect to consider while coming up with the bulkhead.

There are several designs which a user may choose from such as, the cylindrical bulkhead design, composed of a removable plate. The desirable design is established through the use of a similar standoff as the one at the backsplash to pave way for the act of transformer wiring. From a designer's perspective, the bulkhead design acts as a connector to an angular kitchen detail to the bow windows of the living room which is adjacent to the kitchen.

Timber bridges for durable structures

Timber bridges have gained much popularity with time in the whole of the USA. This is because professionals in the construction field have come to accept these types of bridges as efficient. As a result they have been used in numerous construction projects across the country. The design of timber bridges are determined by a number of factors which affect the structure of the bridge. This includes the durability of the bridge, maintenance and the purpose it intends to serve. In the construction of timber bridges, there are materials used to reinforce and enhance the durability of the bridge.

Steel screws are used to hold together the large wooden beams in place. The screws are stainless to improve on the quality of the bridge. They are designed in a way that they can hold much weight into position. Heavy duty bolts and nuts are also incorporated in the construction of timber bridges. They provide the extra reinforcement required for the bridge to stay into place. The bolts are galvanized to protect them from rust which can weaken them. The timber bridges are constructed by the use of hardwood timbers which are exotic in nature. As a result they allow the bridge to be durable. In addition to that the timber used to construct the bridges is chemically treated to discourage attack from fungus and insects like termites which can weaken the timber bridge.

When constructing timber bridges to provide a path way across a water body to the other side of the land, a bulkhead comes in handy. This is a retaining wall that is used to separate land and water. The bulkheads on either side of the land are used to connect the two sides. This is achieved through the linking of piers and docks to the bulkhead. The use of timber in the construction of timber bridges is essential as it is not prone to rust, cracks and rotting if properly treated. This makes it durable and hence the best material in the construction of timber bridges.

There are many kinds of treated lumber available.  Treated lumber has become popular among many people because of the following benefits.

1. Long lasting Pressure treated lumber protects wood from damages caused by pests, insects and fungal decay. These are the common cause of damage that make lumber last for a short period of time. However, treated lumber can last for a long period because of the ability to resist even water when submerged in water or comes into contact with the ground. The treatment applied improves the life of the lumber, thus making it offer long lasting services.

2. Economical Treated lumber is more costly compared to other lumber. However, in the long run treated lumber is more economical because there is no need for rebuilding, reassessment or remodeling like it happens to other lumber. You end up saving a lot of money, in addition to stress and time required to carry out such processes. The fact that treated lumber is long lasting means that you will spend less because there is no need to redo the structures making it friendlier to your budget.

3. Friendly to the environment Treated lumber may not be included as green products, but it has several benefits to the environment. Its durability compared to other choices means that the strain put on forest is reduced to a great extent. This is because you will not require lumber frequently in order to build. It also helps save fossil fuel used because there is less transportation needs. Copper is the main chemical used in treated lumber. The copper comes from recycled sources that would otherwise been thrown away as waste leading to environmental degradation.  The American Wood Protection Association is an excellent resource for information on the environmental impact of wood.

There are two ways of preserving wood; applying oil such as creosote and pentachlophenol solution in petroleum, and chemical salts that are applied as waterborne solutions. Most lumbers available in the market are treated with the second method, which is also known as pressure treated lumber. As the name suggest, the preservatives are forced under pressure into the cells of the wood to protect it from destructive organisms. Lumber treated on this manner usually last up to ten times longer than untreated lumber. Pressure treated lumber is categorized by how it is used; above the ground or in conduct with the soil. If any portion of the project will come in conduct with the soil, it is preferable to use the latter classification, even though it is more expensive. To put things more clear, there is also a difference between pressure treated wood used for decks and buildings, and pressure treated wood used for general purpose. This information are usually printed on the tag stapled to the end grain of the lumber you buy. If not, you can ask the salesperson to help determine if you are buying the best lumber for your needs. Rating may be simply having a label of pl-2 for above ground use, and pl-22 for below ground use. if you are planning to build a hammock stand and place directly on the lawn, it is recommendable that you purchase below ground treated wood.

You should always keep in mind that there are chemicals in treated lumber, therefore, you should always wear dust mask when you are cutting treated lumber. Never burn treated wood scraps. And if you skin is sensitive to treated lumber, you may want to wear leather gloves. After working with treated lumber, you should thoroughly wash your hands before eating, and wash your cloths separately from other laundry.