The MANY steps of making a pile...

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 It is unbelievable the amount of steps it takes to do one pile!  


Here is the beginning of the pile excavation.

                


Once the hole is dug, they put a casing down it and then they pump bentonite in it to help keep the hole from caving in. Then they put in a rebar cage that is lifted by a crane.  Then they put a tremmy pipe  down in the bentonite to the bottom of the hole and start pumping in concrete.  As the hole fills with concrete the bentonite rises and spills out of casing where it is pumped back to the holding tank to be used again.  You can see the bentonite coming out of the side of the casing. 

    

Once the cement has cured and they have tested it, they dig a hole around the pile. They dig EVERYTHING by hand with shovels and pick axes.  It amazes me how exact they are!

                 


Once they have the hole dug, they will score the bottom of the column to where they need to cut out the cement to expose the rebar.


Then they take a jack hammer and break away the concrete around the rebar.  Then they need to clear out all the broken concrete out of the hole.

                      


Next they will form up around the pile cap, getting prepared to pour cement.  They will insert more rebar to help it connect to the floor that will eventually be poured. 
















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