Jacked Piles is a method of underpinning for use below footings founded on weak fill spoil overlaying strong stratum, hard clays or weathered rock. This form of underpinning is particularly suitable for limited access situations where there is no room for drilling rigs of any capacity. The depth attainable by these jacked piles is directly related to the proof loading the building can sustain. It is not recommended for residential housing as this method relies on the weight of the building to reach the required loading capacity.

A pit known as a headstock is dug to a depth of 1300mm below the existing footing. The width of the headstock is the width of the existing footing.






Steel pipes of 1 metre length ranging from 170mm – 300mm in diameter are then driven down via a hydraulic jack. These metre length pipes are welded together until the required depth, as per your engineers report or the proof loading, is reached. Once that depth is reached, the pile is concrete filled and steel reinforced if required. An RSJ is welded to the top of the pipe and then 2 steel pipes are welded from the RSJ to a steel plate that is bolted into the existing footing which gives the existing footing and the building the support it requires.

The pit is then filled with concrete and backfilled.