Timber Piles

Timber piles were the first driven piles. They have been used for centuries to support man-made structures. They are still used the world over to support a variety of structures and for marine applications.

Today timber piles are a mainstay of deep foundation systems. Many landmark structures in the United States and Europe are supported by timber piles. Engineers and contractors depend on timber piling to perform their intended function in all kinds of structures, including manufacturing plants, processing facilities, and commercial buildings. For example, thousands of pressure-treated wood pilings form the foundation of the new construction projects for JFK Airport in New York and Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia. Many structures in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, are built on timber piles.

The modern age of wood preserving began in England in 1832 with the concept of pressure injecting chemicals into wood. In the U.S. the first treating plant was built in 1848 for treating railroad ties. The advent of the pressure treatment process has made timber piles more durable and provided even more opportunities for use.

Original drawings prepared in 1896 of the San Francisco Ferry Building show it resting on 5,000 redwood piles, 14 inches in diameter which were driven down 80 feet into the San Francisco Bay mud. Investigation of the piles in 1981 showed the piles were in perfect condition.

The concept of using a pile for construction is credited to a Neolithic tribe called the “Swiss Lake Dwellers” who lived in what is now Switzerland about 6,000 years ago. They used piling, not for supporting heavy loads as we do today, but for elevation to protect themselves from wildlife. The Romans often used piles, and built many structures, including buildings, homes, bridges, roads and viaducts on piling. The Romans built the first bridge across the Tiber River in Rome on timber piles in B.C. 1620. Homes in the cities of Venice and Ravenna were built on piles from B.C. 100 to A.D. 400. The Romans also built the first bridge across the Thames River in London in A.D. 60 on timber piling. The still excellent condition of piles used for the Circus in Arles (France), built in A.D. 148 on wetlands, can be seen in the museum at the site.