SFA Piling In Surrey
Project Overview Piling is not always picture-perfect. It is often carried out in difficult ground, adverse weather and under challenging site conditions. Our newly acquired Klemm 709 piling rig did not even have time for a clean-down before being put straight to work on a site in Surrey. The project required the installation of 31 no. 300mm diameter hollow stem SFA bored piles, delivered during one of the wettest months on record. Ground Conditions & Site Constraints The working area had already been excavated, with concrete blinding installed across the working platform. Persistent rainfall quickly turned the site into extremely challenging ground conditions, testing both access and stability throughout the programme. Despite the difficult environment, the Klemm 709 performed reliably from day one, completing the works safely and efficiently. Installation Method The scheme utilised Sectional Flight Auger (SFA) piling, a versatile bored piling technique suited to restricted and variable ground conditions. The hollow stem system allows controlled drilling and concrete placement, providing a robust and efficient foundation solution. Engineering & Delivery As with all DFE projects, the piling works were supported by in-house engineering expertise, ensuring the pile design met the required structural loading criteria and ground parameters. This project demonstrates DFE’s ability to deliver specialist commercial piling solutions in demanding conditions, maintaining programme and quality standards even when the weather does its worst. What’s Next Following completion of the Surrey works, the Klemm 709 moved on to its next project in Sevenoaks — hopefully with slightly drier ground conditions. To discuss an upcoming project requiring SFA or bored piling works, get in touch with the DFE team.
CFA Piling Works in Preston
Project Overview As the sun set on 2025, the Dawson Foundation Engineering (DFE) team concluded the year on site in Preston, delivering specialist Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piling works for a construction project requiring high-capacity foundations. The scope of works involved the installation of 300mm diameter CFA piles to depths of up to 13.0 metres. The piles were installed through a sequence of layered cohesive and granular soils, requiring careful control during drilling and concreting to ensure consistent pile formation. Pile Design & Installation All CFA piles were designed in-house by DFE’s Chartered Engineer to accommodate significant compressive, tensile and shear loads. This integrated design-and-install approach allowed the foundation solution to be tailored precisely to the ground conditions and structural requirements of the scheme. The use of CFA piling provided a fast and efficient foundation solution while maintaining excellent control of spoil and concrete placement throughout the installation process. End of Year Operations With site operations concluding for the year following completion of the Preston works, the DFE team successfully closed out a busy and productive 2025. While site activities paused for the festive period, the DFE office remained open, continuing to respond to client enquiries up until Christmas Eve. Our Expertise Dawson Foundation Engineering designs and installs a full range of specialist piling and foundation solutions, including: Sectional Flight Auger (SFA) piles Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles Bottom-driven steel cased piles ODEX piles Screw piles In addition to piling works, DFE also designs and constructs ground beams, slabs and pile caps, providing a fully integrated foundation service from concept through to construction. To discuss a forthcoming project or to learn more about our piling services, please get in touch with the team.
Bottom-Driven Piling Works for Residential Extension in Camden
Project Overview The Dawson Foundation Engineering (DFE) team travelled to Camden to complete specialist bottom-driven piling works for a key client, supporting a residential extension in a highly restricted environment. The scheme required the installation of 9 no. 150mm diameter bottom-driven piles to depths of up to 6.0m, providing a robust foundation solution despite significant access limitations. Restricted Access & Installation Method With the working area located around 30m from the road and one storey below street level, access was extremely limited and conventional rig set-ups were not feasible. To suit the constraints, the piles were installed using a Grundomat displacement hammer — a proven option for domestic and confined sites. If you’d like to learn more about this method, see: Grundomat piles explained. Working Within a Live Urban Environment As with many inner-city projects, logistics and day-to-day access played a major role in the programme. Despite overcoming the installation challenges, one obstacle was unavoidable — local traffic enforcement. Alerted by the first cycle of the Grundomat piston, a traffic warden managed to ticket the team within minutes of arriving each day. That’s London for you — if the tool thieves don’t get you, the money thieves will! Engineering & Design The piling works were delivered with support from DFE’s in-house engineering capability, ensuring the foundation solution aligned with the structural requirements and site constraints. You can read more about the value of engineering-led delivery here: Why work with a Chartered Engineer? This project demonstrates DFE’s experience delivering residential piling solutions where specialist equipment and careful planning are essential. Related Services Bottom-driven steel-cased piles Mini piling (restricted access) All piling services More case studies & piling news Talk to DFE If you need a piling contractor for restricted access works, contact Dawson Foundation Engineering to discuss a tailored foundation solution. Get in touch.
Piling Works in Alloa, Scotland
Project Overview The Dawson Foundation Engineering (DFE) team spent several weeks on site in Alloa, Scotland, delivering a full piling and ground beam package despite challenging winter conditions. This project forms part of DFE’s growing workload north of the border, supporting domestic developments across the region. Learn more about our regional capability here: Mini piling in Scotland. Scope of Works The works were delivered on a full design-and-install basis and included: Pile and ground beam design by DFE’s Chartered Engineer and company owner Installation of 11 no. 220mm diameter piles to depths of up to 17.0m Excavation of ground beams and removal of spoil from site Pile cropping to finished cut-off levels Construction of 22 linear metres of 500mm x 400mm reinforced concrete ground beams Shuttering and steel fixing to ground beams Placement of concrete to complete the foundation works Ground Conditions & Weather Challenges Torrential rain and freezing temperatures made both excavation and concreting particularly challenging throughout the programme. Ground conditions required careful sequencing to maintain stability and programme control. To mitigate the effects of the weather, the team adapted the temporary works approach by switching to timber shuttering to provide improved ground support. Additional insulation was applied to the concrete once a suitable weather window became available, ensuring quality and durability were maintained. Engineering-Led Delivery All piling and ground beam designs were completed in-house, allowing the foundation solution to be tailored precisely to the site conditions and construction sequence. This approach ensured close coordination between design and installation, even in difficult working conditions. You can read more about DFE’s engineering-led approach here: Why work with a Chartered Engineer? Our Expertise in Scotland DFE continues to support projects across Scotland, delivering reliable foundation solutions for domestic developments. Our services include: Mini piling Bottom-driven steel-cased piles Overburden drill and case piling Residential piling Project Outcome Despite the demanding weather conditions, the project was completed successfully thanks to the experience and commitment of the DFE site team. A huge respect to all construction teams working across Scotland through the winter months — these conditions are not for the faint-hearted. To see more projects like this, visit our Our Work or Piling News pages.
Kitten Rig Piling at Porsche Centre Wilmslow
Project Overview The Dawson Foundation Engineering (DFE) team were on site at Porsche Centre Wilmslow delivering specialist piling works in a live commercial environment. With high-value vehicles surrounding the work area, the team kept focus on what mattered most – delivering a safe and compliant foundation solution. To avoid surcharging a newly constructed retaining wall, DFE installed the piles using a kitten rig, allowing controlled installation while managing site constraints. Scope of Works DFE installed 300mm diameter piles to depths of up to 12.0 metres, advancing through made ground and into stiff to very stiff clay. All piles were formed using site-batched grout and reinforced to suit the required loads, incorporating: A 4.0m long 6H12 reinforcement cage An 8.0m H16 central bar Engineering & Design All piles were designed in house by DFE’s Chartered Engineer and company owner. This ensured a coordinated design-and-install process, supporting efficient delivery and maintaining control over quality and compliance on site. Restricted Access & Installation Approach Using a kitten rig enabled the team to work within the constraints of the site layout and reduce the risk of additional loading near the retaining wall. This approach supported safe operations while maintaining progress and ensuring the piles were installed accurately to the required depth and specification. Our Expertise Dawson Foundation Engineering designs and installs a full range of specialist piling solutions, including: Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles Sectional Flight Auger (SFA) piles Bottom-driven steel-cased piles ODEX piles Screw piles Associated reinforced concrete works If you’d like to discuss a project with restricted access, sensitive adjacent structures or challenging ground conditions, please get in touch.
ODEX Piling and Ground Beams in Cockermouth
Project Overview The Dawson Foundation Engineering (DFE) team recently returned to site in Cockermouth, Cumbria to complete the installation of reinforced concrete ground beams following the successful delivery of ODEX piling works on this challenging scheme. This phase of the project completed the foundation package, with DFE providing a fully coordinated, turnkey piling and groundworks solution tailored to the site’s complex ground conditions. This phase of works follows the successful delivery of the piling element, detailed in our earlier case study: ODEX Piling Works in Cockermouth Under Challenging Ground Conditions. Scope of Works For this stage of the works, DFE delivered a comprehensive foundation package, including: Working platform design Pile design Installation of 13 No. 220/190mm ODEX piles, with 12.0m casing and 3.0m rock socket Excavation and spoil management Pile cropping Pecafil shuttering to ground beams Steel fixing to 700mm x 450mm reinforced concrete ground beams and plinths Timber shuttering to plinths Concrete placement to ground beams and plinths Ground Beams & Concrete Works The reinforced concrete ground beams were constructed to tie the previously installed ODEX piles into a single structural system, ensuring efficient load transfer and long-term performance. Pecafil permanent formwork was used to provide a clean and efficient shuttering solution, followed by steel reinforcement installation and controlled concrete pours carried out in coordination with specialist suppliers. Programme & Coordination Despite the logistical challenges of the rural location, the works were completed efficiently thanks to careful planning and strong collaboration across the project team. A special thanks to Camfaud Concrete Pumps Ltd and D.A. Harrison Concrete, whose experienced drivers went above and beyond to reach site following an unexpected local road closure on the day of the pour. Our Expertise Dawson Foundation Engineering provides specialist piling and foundation solutions across the UK, delivering integrated design-and-install services for complex and constrained sites. From ODEX piling and reinforced concrete ground beams to full foundation packages, DFE continues to support projects requiring technical expertise, flexibility and reliable delivery. We were sorry to leave this project behind — it has been a pleasure working with an excellent site team, supportive local suppliers and in such outstanding surroundings.