1. Site preparations

In some instances where the ground is not too stable, piles have to be hammered into the soft ground to form a base on which the concrete foundation of the house can be laid. In Hamilton, the hilly soil is very firm and it is not common to see piling done, especially for single storey houses. However in areas near the gullies which have been filled in recently, piling will be done after doing a soil test by drilling a test hole or doing a piling test to determine the integrity of the ground.

2. Footing and foundation

If the section is located on firm ground, concrete is laid for use as a simple footing for the house. Otherwise piles are driven into softer ground to form a firm base for laying reinforced concrete as a foundation.