14 SFA open-bored mini piles and reinforced concrete ground beams for a new house beside an existing one in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. All 14 piles were integrity tested and passed.
Geovex installed the piled foundations and reinforced concrete ground beams for a new SIP-panel house in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, built beside an existing house. Our team did both the piling and the beams.
The piles are Sectional Flight Auger (SFA) open-bored mini piles, cast in place. The client asked for open-bored piles to keep noise and vibration down beside the neighbouring houses. There are 14 piles of 300mm diameter, each designed for a working load of 150kN. Each pile has a cage of four H12 bars. The piles were bored with a Hutte piling rig on 23 and 24 September 2026.
The ground is made ground over very stiff clay, with tree roots in the upper clay. A former swimming pool lay under part of the footprint. The foundation design had been changed to ground beams carried on piles.
The ground beams are 450 × 450mm reinforced concrete in C28/35, with H16 top bars, H25 bottom bars and H10 links.
Work started on 22 September 2026. All 14 piles were integrity tested on 7 October 2026 and all passed.
Complete technical breakdown of the piling and foundation works delivered at Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
300mm
Made ground over very stiff clay, with tree roots in the upper clay
Hutte piling rig
Piles: cages of 4 H12 bars. Ground beams: H16 top bars, H25 bottom bars and H10 links
Ground beams: C28/35
450 × 450mm reinforced concrete ground beams
All 14 piles integrity tested on 7 October 2026. All passed
Started 22 September 2026. Piling on 23 and 24 September. Piles tested 7 October 2026
A former swimming pool under part of the footprint. Neighbouring houses close by
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We work from the drawings and site information you have, then recommend a suitable piling method for your project - not just the one we happen to have available.
The cost-effective solution for extensions and new builds. Our 750mm wide rigs access tight spaces while delivering high load capacity (up to 400kN) for residential and commercial projects.
High-capacity continuous flight auger piling for commercial developments. Fast installation (10-20 piles/day) with minimal noise and vibration. Ideal for urban sites requiring loads up to 2,000kN.
The specialist solution for low headroom and internal works. Operates in just 2.4m height, so we can pile inside existing buildings and below mezzanine floors without compromising capacity.
Steel cased driven piles for contaminated, wet, or unstable ground. The displacement method creates zero spoil, eliminating hazardous waste disposal costs while ensuring a dry, sealed casing for concrete.
Rapid, dry installation with immediate load capacity. No concrete, no curing time, and minimal ground disturbance. Ideal for eco-friendly builds, temporary structures, and working near trees.
Complete reinforced concrete packages including ground beams, pile caps, and rafts. We handle the piling and the concrete works together, delivering a finished base ready for your builder.
Three offices across the region means we're genuinely local to your project - not a distant company sending rigs across the country.
Extensions, new builds and commercial foundations across London and the South.
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Real feedback from homeowners, contractors, and structural engineers across London and the South.
4.9Google Reviews"What can I say, the team were a pleasure to deal with from start to finish. My wife and I did a fair amount of due diligence... Our experience was that they seemed to go the extra mile. A shout out to Barrie the project manager but of course not forgetting Lenny and Baz who worked tirelessly throughout. And a special thank you to Ben Crabb - right from our first conversation, you proposed options and were so helpful and informative."
"A really nice family business that we couldn't recommend more highly. We had a 14m x 11m foundation concrete slab with mini piles completed within their estimation of 4 weeks... The building inspector said he wished all his clients were up to their standards! From my many phone calls with Ben from the outset through to Ricky, Barrie and Shane (3 brothers) they are all so friendly and helpful."
"What a breath of fresh air to deal with a company that exceeds all of your expectations. From my first contact with Barrie in the office to the two hardworking men, Dan and Lenny who carried out the job, I have been so impressed with their professionalism, capability and friendliness. Thank you for a job 'very well done'."
"We chose them for our extension. The sales person Ben was extremely helpful with his comments and always available to discuss matters and never missed a call back. Ricky the project manager explained what was happening throughout the procedure with phone calls and I must mention Rachel for any issues we had. Overall very good job done."
"What can I say, the team were a pleasure to deal with from start to finish. My wife and I did a fair amount of due diligence... Our experience was that they seemed to go the extra mile. A shout out to Barrie the project manager but of course not forgetting Lenny and Baz who worked tirelessly throughout. And a special thank you to Ben Crabb - right from our first conversation, you proposed options and were so helpful and informative."
"A really nice family business that we couldn't recommend more highly. We had a 14m x 11m foundation concrete slab with mini piles completed within their estimation of 4 weeks... The building inspector said he wished all his clients were up to their standards! From my many phone calls with Ben from the outset through to Ricky, Barrie and Shane (3 brothers) they are all so friendly and helpful."
"What a breath of fresh air to deal with a company that exceeds all of your expectations. From my first contact with Barrie in the office to the two hardworking men, Dan and Lenny who carried out the job, I have been so impressed with their professionalism, capability and friendliness. Thank you for a job 'very well done'."
"We chose them for our extension. The sales person Ben was extremely helpful with his comments and always available to discuss matters and never missed a call back. Ricky the project manager explained what was happening throughout the procedure with phone calls and I must mention Rachel for any issues we had. Overall very good job done."
"What can I say, the team were a pleasure to deal with from start to finish. My wife and I did a fair amount of due diligence... Our experience was that they seemed to go the extra mile. A shout out to Barrie the project manager but of course not forgetting Lenny and Baz who worked tirelessly throughout. And a special thank you to Ben Crabb - right from our first conversation, you proposed options and were so helpful and informative."
"A really nice family business that we couldn't recommend more highly. We had a 14m x 11m foundation concrete slab with mini piles completed within their estimation of 4 weeks... The building inspector said he wished all his clients were up to their standards! From my many phone calls with Ben from the outset through to Ricky, Barrie and Shane (3 brothers) they are all so friendly and helpful."
"What a breath of fresh air to deal with a company that exceeds all of your expectations. From my first contact with Barrie in the office to the two hardworking men, Dan and Lenny who carried out the job, I have been so impressed with their professionalism, capability and friendliness. Thank you for a job 'very well done'."
"We chose them for our extension. The sales person Ben was extremely helpful with his comments and always available to discuss matters and never missed a call back. Ricky the project manager explained what was happening throughout the procedure with phone calls and I must mention Rachel for any issues we had. Overall very good job done."
We adhere to the highest industry standards for safety, quality, and environmental management.
Construction Plant Competence Scheme. Ensuring our operators meet the highest standards of safety and skill.
The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme. Demonstrating compliance with risk management standards.
Construction Skills Certification Scheme. Our site team carry CSCS cards, proving the training and qualifications behind the work they do on site.
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