Overseeing a construction project that is either directly within a source of water, or greatly affected by one is always a challenge. Over the past twenty years or so, the use of a cofferdam has become more prevalent when a construction area needs to be dewatered or a source of water diverted.
If you are about to use a water inflated cofferdam for your construction project, then you will need to follow best practices to make sure all aspects of your project run smoothly. Here are 3 tips to make sure that your cofferdam project is a successful one.
Determine the Conditions
If you are working in a static water source, then depth is the only thing you need to worry about, and this is the depth of the water once your cofferdam has been added to it. For moving sources of water, you need to consider flow as well. Your cofferdam must be of sufficient dimensions to cope with the rate of flow of the water.
Remember that flow rates fluctuate depending on the time of year, and the current weather conditions.
Determine What Lies Beneath
If you are working in a natural source of water, then you need to completely survey the state of the ground beneath the water’s surface. Rivers, lakes and even seas may look completely flat, but take away the water and you’ll find the same kind of geography you see in dry areas.
The condition of the riverbed and the amount of vegetation are two other important factors. Without a good understanding of what lies beneath the water source you are working in, your project will have a higher chance of delays and failure.
Experience is Vital
If you are seeking the services of a contractor to deal with your portable cofferdam needs, do not always go for the cheapest quote. You are looking for experience as – like with most elements of construction – experience is key. You are going to need to hire the services of a company with a proven track record of supplying, installing and removing cofferdams for construction projects.
It may seem sometimes the better thing to do is to give a new guy a chance, but if you are looking at a multi-million installation or repair, that’s a chance you should be unwilling to take.
To learn more about how you can make your cofferdam project a success, contact the good people here at Dam-It-Dams. With decades of experience manufacturing and installing water inflated cofferdams, we’ll easily be able to answer any questions that you may have. We can be reached by phone at 1-810-695-1695, or via email using our online contact form.