What is shoring in construction, and how is it installed?

You may have heard the term shoring used in the context of construction, and wondered what it meant. Let’s take a look at what shoring is, what it’s used for, and how it’s installed.

What is shoring?

Simply put, shoring is a supporting structure that’s used during the construction or repair of buildings and other structures to prevent collapse. The term shoring comes from the word shore, meaning a timber or metal prop. Shoring is usually temporary, and there are several different methods of shoring that may be used, depending on the situation. Shoring is most commonly used during the early stages of construction projects, also known as the excavation process, to reinforce below-ground work such as trenches.

Why is shoring important?

A shoring system can provide a solid and strong supporting structure in a range of civil construction projects, such as when installing the foundation of a building, or providing stability to an unsafe wall. Common applications of shoring methods include home and building construction, foundation installation and repairs, archaeological digs.

The primary benefit of using shoring technologies when carrying out construction or excavation work is safety – because the main purpose of shoring is to provide stability and prevent collapses, it helps to ensure a safe work site.

Shoring also promotes efficiency through enabling excavations to be completed safely and thoroughly, and avoiding the need for remedial work which can cause delays and wasted resources if a collapse should occur.

Similarly, this can help to save costs on projects that can be completed on time and within budget, without having to face the possibility of collapsed excavation sites that will require a great deal of time and therefore money to fix.

How is shoring installed?

The shoring installation process differs between each individual shoring method. There is a range of shoring methods available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the more common methods include:

• Timber shoring, a traditional and adaptable shoring system that can be applied to many situations, and is installed by propping up the structure in question with timber beams (or shores).
• Soldier piles, which are prefabricated H-shaped steel beams that are drilled deep into the earth to provide a retaining wall function, and are then supported by horizontal supports between each beam, known as lagging walls.
• Aluminium hydraulic shoring, whereby aluminium shores are fitted into place, and a hydraulic pump is then used to apply pressure through the shores to ensure sufficient support.
• Pneumatic shoring, which performs in much the same way as hydraulic shoring, except that it utilises air pressure and requires the use of an air compressor to do so.

Shoring should always be installed by, or under the supervision of, an experienced and qualified excavation professional. In most jurisdictions, there are rigorous safety standards in place to ensure that shoring is installed and maintained correctly, and that all risks are identified and remedied before they develop.

Shoring installation services in Sydney and NSW

At Perfect Contracting, we specialise in safe and cost-effective shoring installation methods for all kinds of projects throughout Sydney and New South Wales. Our qualified and experienced excavation and shoring specialists are committed to delivering high quality shoring while meeting deadline requirements and minimising the impact on the environment. If you’re needing a dedicated and professional team to carry out your next shoring installation project, contact us today.