No side access. A 2.5-metre ceiling. A rear yard behind a terrace. Sites other piling firms turn down are the sites our restricted access rigs were bought for.
What counts as restricted access?
Any site a standard rig cannot reach or work on: terraced houses with only a passageway to the rear, basements and garages with low headroom, courtyards, live commercial premises, and gardens that simply cannot take a large machine. Across the North West's terraced streets, that is a huge share of all domestic piling work.
What our compact rigs can do
| Minimum access width | 750mm — a standard gate or doorway |
|---|---|
| Minimum headroom | 2.4m for internal working |
| Pile types | Sectional auger, bottom driven, SDA grouted piles |
| Pile diameters | 150mm – 300mm |
| Typical depths | 5m – 12m |
Common restricted access jobs
- Rear extensions on terraced and semi-detached streets.
- Internal piling for basement conversions and structural repairs.
- Piled underpinning where subsidence repair needs piles tight to existing walls.
- Machine bases and mezzanines inside working factories and warehouses.
- Infill plots and back-land developments with no vehicle access.
How we protect your property
Small rigs still need thought. We board or track-mat routes across gardens and paving, protect drains and services, bag or barrow spoil out rather than stockpiling it, and run electric power packs where fumes or noise would be a problem indoors. The working footprint is agreed with you before the rig arrives, and we leave the site tidy.
Does it cost more?
A little, per pile — smaller rigs work more slowly, and hand-balling materials takes time. But measured against the alternative (no piling at all, or demolition to create access) it is money well spent. Most restricted access domestic jobs still land in the £5,000 to £14,000 range including ground beams. As always, the quote is fixed after a site visit.
Where we work
Our teams cover the whole North West, with local crews in:
Frequently asked questions
How narrow an access can your rigs work through?
Our smallest rigs pass through a 750mm opening - a standard doorway or side gate. They can also work inside buildings with headroom as low as 2.4 metres, which covers most garages, basements and ground floors.
Can you pile inside an existing building?
Yes. Internal piling is common on basement conversions, structural repairs and machine bases. Low-headroom masts, electric power packs and dust control let us work within occupied and enclosed spaces.
Does restricted access piling cost more?
Rates are a little higher than open-site piling because smaller rigs install piles more slowly. On most domestic jobs the difference is modest, and it is often the only way to pile a terraced or landlocked plot at all.
What about the mess in my garden?
Compact rigs on rubber tracks spread their weight, we board pathways where needed, and augered spoil is bagged or barrowed out. The working footprint is small and we leave the site tidy.