Steel Innovation: Changing the Economics of Below Grade Foundations

Below grade foundation design and construction can be a complicated, multi phase process. Conventional means and methods have additional issues that at grade foundations do not. The cost factors and systems are dependent on soil conditions and vary by region, but the process remains fairly standard. Install temporary shoring, brace as excavation proceeds to final elevation, build your foundations, construct a permanent wall, waterproof, and work your way up out of the ground. These multiple contracting phases require form work, curing time, and possible offset from the property line. Subterranean structures offer shelter from the elements, minimal temperature variance, and maximize use of the property. Those benefits are overshadowed by the costly variables of building a geostructure. It is no surprise that underground construction can be more than twice the cost of above grade. For the past three years, domestic owners, consultants and contractors have begun to realize the benefits of below grade permanent sheet pile walls for parking and basement structures.