Piling in London – why local experience matters

Building in London isn’t just about drawings and a good builder – it’s about what’s under the building. Across the city you get heavy London Clay, patches of made ground and lighter sands, sometimes all on one street. If the foundation system isn’t matched to the ground, you end up with movement, cracking and problems with adjoining structures.

Since 2017, KHB Piling LTD has been installing piles and foundations for house extensions, basements and small commercial schemes in London and the surrounding areas. We’ve worked in places like Wimbledon, Blackheath, Clapham and Twickenham, so we know what local ground conditions usually look like.

Day to day we work with:

• mini piling – for restricted access and residential plots,
• CFA piling – for clay and sensitive locations,
• rotary bored piling – where loads are higher or strata are mixed.

We’re insured up to £5m, work to BS EN 1997-1 and liaise with local Building Control as standard.

If you’d like to see the way we approach London sites, have a look at Mini Piling Contractors or our project gallery.

Last updated: 2025

Why piling is so common on London projects

London ground is rarely uniform. One plot will have firm clay, the next one made ground from an old structure, and the next one a layer of gravels. Add to that narrow plots, party walls and basements – and a standard strip foundation simply isn’t always the safest choice.

We most often install piling for:

• basement conversions in older terraced houses,
• rear/side extensions on tight sites,
• new-builds on infill or previously developed land,
• projects where the engineer wants to transfer the load deeper.

KHB Piling LTD works regularly in areas with restricted access and close neighbours, which is why mini piles, CFA and rotary bored piles feature so often.

Additional information on our piling services page or see how we handle mini piling in London.

Methods we use most often

No two London plots are the same, so we don’t push one method for every job. We pick the technique that suits the ground, the load and the access.

Mini piling

Mini piling is ideal for houses, extensions and jobs where the rig needs to come through a driveway or garden. It’s low vibration, tidy and gives enough capacity for most domestic projects.

CFA piling

CFA piling is our go-to on London Clay and on sites close to existing structures. Drilling and concreting happen in one pass, so the bore doesn’t collapse and disruption is kept down.

Rotary bored piling

Rotary bored piling comes in where the building is heavier, the ground changes with depth or the engineer wants a larger diameter pile.

Underpinning

For existing buildings that need strengthening, or where a basement is being added, we combine traditional underpinning with mini piles – see our underpinning service.

See live examples in our project gallery or check the areas we serve.

London ground – what we look at first

Before we price or mobilise, we look at what the building is actually sitting on. Around London we most often see:

London Clay

Firm and reliable, but it moves with moisture – CFA works very well here.

Bagshot Sands

Lighter, often to the south-west – we usually need to go deeper, so rotary bored piling is sensible.

River Terrace Gravels

Closer to the Thames and in some south/central areas – good bearing, but you need to manage groundwater.

Made Ground

Redeveloped or infill sites – unpredictable, so we design piles to carry the load down to consistent strata.

More detail on this in our guide: what ground investigations are required before piling.

Quick guide to choosing a piling method

If you don’t yet have a full ground report or your engineer gave you a couple of options, we usually narrow it down like this:

Mini piling

• best for extensions and tight access,
• low noise and vibration,
• ideal for most domestic loads.

CFA piling

• good on clay and in built-up areas,
• little disturbance to neighbours,
• cost-effective on larger runs.

Rotary bored piling

• for higher loads or changing ground,
• needs a bit more room,
• commonly used on commercial sites.

Underpinning

• when the building already exists and needs supporting,
• or when you’re digging down alongside it.

If you’re not sure which way to go, just send us the address and drawings – we can advise based on location and access.

Where we work and what we’ve done

We’ve delivered piling packages across most London boroughs, so we’re familiar with both ground conditions and local requirements.

Regular areas for us:

• Clapham – mini piles and underpinning for older housing stock,
• Twickenham – deeper piles near riverside plots,
• Wimbledon – extensions and ground beams,
• Dulwich – clay, so often CFA,
• Putney – access through gardens, so mini piling.

See examples in our gallery or the full list on locations we serve.

How we work – from enquiry to handover

1. Enquiry

You send us the site address and scope – we usually respond the next working day.

2. Site / ground check

We look at access, neighbours and whatever ground information you have. If you’ve already got a report, we use it; if not, we tell you what’s needed.

3. Quotation

You receive a clear, itemised price: method, number of piles, timescale, cost.

4. Mobilisation

We agree the start date and bring our own plant and crew.

5. Installation and documentation

We install the piles, pour beams if needed and issue piling logs for Building Control.

Choosing a piling contractor in London

Foundations aren’t the place to take chances, so before you instruct anyone, check:

• that they actually work in London (not just “UK-wide” on the website),
• that they own their rigs and use in-house operatives,
• that they provide RAMS and proof of insurance,
• that they can read your engineer’s drawings and ground report,
• that they hand over piling logs and concrete test certificates at the end.

KHB Piling LTD does all of the above as standard.

Ready to price your job?

Send us the address and a brief description – we’ll tell you whether piles are needed, which method is suitable and what budget to allow.

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