When a company makes a decision to build a
bridge, tower or especially large, heavy or tall building, most general
contractors will say work needs to begin well below the ground. While business
owners may instinctively know the requirement will be necessary if sub-ground
levels are included in the design, excavation work may also be required in a
number of other circumstances. When a contractor says caissons are a must, for example, the recommendation is simply
being made to ensure proper foundational support for the above-ground
structure.
Caissons are supports that are built by
digging a hole into the ground with an auger. This hole is reinforced with
steel and then filled in with concrete. The idea is to create a stronger
foundation than straight building on top of the ground can provide. Like retaining walls that shore up the earth
while a basement is being built, caissons are necessary to ensure safety. They
are also, however, considered a must in many cases to ensure structure
integrity for years down the road by preventing issues with compression or
uplift as the true intended structure goes into place. Depending on the depth
of the excavation required, dewatering
work may also be required to ensure caissons are properly put into place.
Finding out a construction project that
involves a large above ground feature must begin with an excavation below the
earth can be a little disconcerting. This recommendation, however, is made to
ensure the final design is strong, solid and meant to withstand the test of time.
When contractors recommend caissons, retaining walls or
dewatering, they are
doing so to protect people and the required structure alike.
