Tips & Advice Posts

Sheet pile driving techniques vary from contractor to contractor. Since flat sheet pile (PS27.5 and PS31) are typically driven in a cellular pattern, some of the driving techniques vary from z-sheet pile. Here are some suggestions on how to drive flat sheet pile efficiently on the jobsite:Handling Flat Sheet PileFlat sheet pile has very little section modulus (beam strength) and are highly susceptible to damage during handling. It is recommended for sheet pile longer than 70’ to have two or more lifting points. If you kink the sheet while handling it, it will make driving the sheet pile extremely difficult, if not impossible.Fabricate an Adequate TemplateThe diameter of the sheet pile template should be less than the theoretical diameter of the finished cell. This will help ensure the cell closes with ease. Once the sheet pile cell is filled, the cell should theoretically expand to the proper diameter.When you are driving longer flat sheet pile, around 70’ or longer, you will want to think about a two or three tier template. This will help with ensuring the sheet pile are properly set. As with any type of sheet pile, it is important to ensure each sheet is plumbed and secured when set.Mark the TemplateLayout marks on your driving template for each single or pair of sheet pile. This helps when making adjustments during the setting phase so you can close the cell.Driving Long Flat Sheet PileWhen driving longer length flat sheet pile, it may help to stiffen the starter sheet full length with a structural shape. This is to help ensure the first sheet is driven as plumb as possible. If the first sheet driven isn’t plumb, the problem will exponentially get worse as you move around the cell.Drive in PairsAfter the sheet piles have been threaded and set, you will want to drive them down in pairs. It is suggested that driving sheet pile in pairs requires approximately 50% more energy than to drive a single sheet pile.“Shake Out” SheetsAs noted above, it is extremely critical to make sure all sheet pile are driven plumb. However, when trying to close a sheet pile cell, the last sheet almost never fits perfectly. Picking up and dropping (shaking out) several sheets around the closure point until the sheet interlocks run smoothly helps ensure the sheets stay properly interlocked as they are driven to tip elevation.Drive Piles in StagesOnce you have all of the flat sheet pile set and interlocked, work your way around the cell alternating sheet pile pairs. On the first pass drive alternating pairs 4 feet, then drive the un-driven pairs 8’. It is also recommended to reverse the direction of driving for each pass around the cell, which helps to keep the cell plumb. Continue this procedure until all of the sheet pile is driven to tip elevation.Flat sheet pile can be very tricky to install and every contractor has their own best practices. As with any task, if you plan properly and have adequate tools, you should be able to achieve success relatively easily. If you are in the market to buy or sell your used flat sheet pile, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email at sales@eiffeltrading.com.Cheers,AndrewAndrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. Through his work in Project Management, he worked on several projects driving flat sheet pile with both open and closed cells.

Flat sheet pile are PS27.5 and PS31 sections manufactured by both Skyline and L.B. Foster. These sections do not have a high section modulus when driven in a straight line. However, when driven in a cellular configuration they are quite powerful. The flat sheet pile interlock is a thumb-and-finger interlock that allows for up to 10 degrees of swing – for building the cellular configuration. Flat sheet pile is used to build mooring dolphins, bridge protection cells, deep draft bulkheads, temporary bulkheads used in construction of locks and dams, among many others.Here are some of the advantages of using flat sheet pile:• Flat sheet pile provides a large self-sustaining structure that is extremely durable.• Flat sheet pile simplifies construction by providing a stable work platform after it is backfilled.• Flat sheet pile can be installed by the average marine contractor, because there’s not a need for extremely large equipment.• Flat sheet pile eliminates the need for maintaining slope protection because the cell provides a solid-faced wharf.Flat sheet pile is not as frequently purchased on the used material market as z-sheet pile. However, there is still a market for used flat sheet pile. If you are looking to sell your flat sheet pile, give us a call at 1-800-541-7998 or email us at sales@eiffeltrading.comCheers,AndrewAndrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. He has experience from projects driving both flat sheet pile cells and open-cell designs.

Steel sheet pile is a very versatile material in the construction industry. It can be used in multiple ways for temporary and permanent installations. We are going to cover some of the structures for used sheet pile:

Retaining Walls

Sheet Pile is frequently used for retaining walls. When driving down the interstate in construction zones you'll oftentimes see sheet pile used for temporary retaining walls. Since this is a temporary structure, the option to install used sheet pile is typically determined by the contractor.

Cofferdams

One of the most famous uses for sheet pile is in a cofferdam. Sheet pile is ideal for cofferdam construction due to the interlock's resistance to permit the passage of water. Cofferdams are most typically a temporary structure, especially in bridge construction, where installation of used sheet pile is very common.

Braced Excavations

Whether you're building a pipeline, subway tunnel or building foundation, sheet pile can be used to brace the excavation. Properly bracing an excavation is paramount to providing a safe work environment for the construction workers. Due to the fact that bracing an excavation is not typically a permanent part of the structure, used sheet pile is frequently the preferred material.

Cut-Off Walls

Sheet pile and cut-off wall are almost synonymous. Cut-off walls are mostly part of permanent structures flood control structures. During the unfortunate event of an oil or chemical spill, sheet pile will be driven to prevent the spill from spreading. Since these events are extremely time sensitive and temporary in nature, used sheet pile is always a great option.At Eiffel Trading, we have helped contractors procure used sheet pile to help fill all sorts of temporary applications. If you are in the procurement phase of your project, consider used sheet pile as a viable option. Used sheet pile will help your project save time and money! To learn more, please call 1-800-541-7998 or email us at sales@eiffeltrading.com.Cheers,AndrewAndrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management and Procurement he was involved on projects that drove many temporary structures constructed with used sheet pile.

Finding used sheet pile for sale is a challenge. Finding used sheet pile for sale at the exact length you need is an even bigger challenge. What if you find short sheet pile - can you splice them together to make the length you need? The short answer is yes, you can splice sheet pile. However, it is not recommended from the sheet pile manufacturer. If you must splice sheet pile, here are some tips:

1. Make sure you are splicing the same sheet pile section. This sounds like common sense, but it's very important due to the many various sheet pile sections available. For example: you won't be able to splice a PZ-27 to a PZC-18 - even though they have the same type of interlock they won't line up.
2. Avoid lining up the splices in the wall, make sure they are staggered. Manufacturers recommend staggering the splices in adjacent sheet pile by a minimum of 3'.
3. When splicing sheet pile it is nearly impossible to weld around the interlocks. You want to avoid distorting the interlocks from the heat of the welding. In order to achieve a full section modulus your splice will need to have flange plates to make up for the loss of section modulus at the interlocks.
4. Make a template when you weld the sheet pile together to ensure the two sheets are plumbed prior to welding. If the spliced sheet pile is not 100% true, it will increase driving difficulty substantially.

Again - splicing sheet pile is not a recommended practice. Always check with a professional engineer prior to splicing sheet pile. If your sheet pile is too short for your project design, check out our inventory of available used sheet pile. You can also sell your short sheet pile, while you're on the site! To learn more, please call 1-800-541-7998 or email us at sales@eiffeltrading.com.Cheers,AndrewAndrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management and Procurement he purchased thousands of feet of sheet pile.

From a structural standpoint, steel pipe is unrivaled when compared to other materials. The mechanical and physical properties make it an extremely versatile construction material. When compared to wide flange beams or h-pile, steel pipe can withstand much higher loads for long unsupported members. There are several applications for used steel pipe in the construction industry - here are a few:Structural BracingSteel pipe is an excellent resistor of buckling, thanks to the symmetry. In the construction industry you will see used steel pipe as structural bracing in temporary structures such as: cofferdams, deep excavations, crane access trestle, shoring, tunneling, among many others.Bearing PilesSteel pipe piles are one of the most tested structural elements in the construction industry. "A Driven Pile is a Tested Pile" - thanks to our friends at the Pile Driving Contractors Association for the use of their slogan. The most common ways we see used steel pipe as bearing pile is in temporary structures such as: crane access trestle foundation pile, dolphins, shoring, temporary navigation piling, temporary docks, among many others.Casing and Jacked and Bored PipeSteel pipe is frequently required when constructing drilled shafts. The casing pipe is used to hold back the soil from around the opening of the drilled shaft. In jacked an bored pipe, the used steel pipe is jacked under roads, railroads, homes, etc. After the pipe is jacked, the pipe is cleaned to allow for the utilities to be installed. The most common ways we see used steel pipe as casing and jacked and bored pipe is in structures such as: drilled shafts, waterlines, telecommunications, pipelines, among many others.Combination Sheet Pile WallsSteel Pipe is frequently used in combination sheet pile walls, thanks to the high bending strength characteristics of the pipe. The steel pipe acts as the king pile between the sheet pile pairs, which takes the majority of the load off the sheet pile. The most common ways we see used steel pipe in combination sheet pile walls is in structures such as: temporary terminals, breakwaters, cofferdams, deep excavations, shoring, among many others.Used steel pipe has many uses, I have only represented a handful of the potential uses. If you are in the market for used or surplus steel pipe you can view our pipe inventory anytime. Please feel free to call or email us for additional information - 1-800-541-7998 or sales@eiffeltrading.com.Cheers,AndrewAndrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management and Procurement he purchased millions of pounds of steel pipe for both permanent and temporary structures.

There are several variations of sheet pile sections manufactured today. You have PZ, AZ, PZC, NZ, Hoesch and several other types of sheet pile. Each manufacturer has designed sheet pile to meet a wide range of section modulus'. There are sheet pile with low section modulus and sheet pile with high section modulus. What happens when your design calls for a high section modulus, but you can't find a sheet pile section that can meet the design? One solution is to weld a cover plate to the face of the sheet pile.A cover plate is a strip of steel plate that is welded onto the front face of the sheet pile. The plate extends the range of the sheet pile by increasing the moment capacity in the area where the design moment exceeds the capacity of the sheet pile. A thicker plate will typically increase the section modulus of your sheet pile. The length of the plate is dependent upon the moment curve.You will need to consult with your engineer to figure out the specifics for the exact dimensions of the plate needed to increase the section modulus of your sheet pile. The engineer will design the plate size (thickness, length, width) and weld detail. As mentioned above, the thickness of the plate is where your section modulus increase will come from.From time to time we have used sheet pile listed with cover plate already attached. You can view our steel plate and sheet pile inventory anytime. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call 1-800-541-7998 or email us at sales@eiffeltrading.com.Cheers,AndrewAndrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. He has worked extensively with sheet pile during wastewater treatment plant, dam and flood protection construction.

As construction projects wind-down they become extremely chaotic trying to push through to the finish line. Everyone is focused on getting the project completed to meet the schedule (hopefully) or limit the liquidated damages (hopefully not). We all would like to think our project management skills help to bring organized chaos - more often than not - it's just plain chaos.By thinking ahead and past the substantial completion milestone - you can help bring organized chaos by smart demobilization. 12 months prior to substantial completion - before all hell breaks loose - take some time to think about what is going to happen when the project demobilizes.Think about the cofferdam in the middle of the river. Will you have a need for the long, heavy AZ36-700 sheet pile you bought for this specific project? Or the 250'x72'x16' ABS Deck Barge - do you need an ABS barge in the fleet when you have inland waterway construction projects coming up? What about the Cat D6N Dozer with the ripper attachment on the bank that's been idle for the past 3 months?Planning your demobilization in advance will pay large dividends at the end of your project. By deciding what material is for sale early - you will limit double or triple handling of material. You will be able to get rental equipment off rent in a timely manner - avoiding unnecessary rental costs when the equipment is idle. Idle equipment will be removed and onto the next project making your company more money. When you sell your assets and have someone else pay to ship them off your project - you save even more on demobilization costs. We love smart demobilization!For the assets that will not make the journey over to the next project - let Eiffel Trading help you find a new home for them. We allow our customers to list their used equipment and material at projected availability dates. You can find a Buyer for your used assets while they're still being used. To learn more, please call 1-800-541-7998 or email us at sales@eiffeltrading.com.Cheers,AndrewAndrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management and Procurement he managed the demobilization of several projects - liquidating pile hammers, cranes, sheet pile and crane trestle from projects.

Eiffel Trading 101: Purchasing a Used Crane Access TrestleIf you have ever had the pleasure of working on a project trying to procure a crane access trestle/work platform/temporary work bridge - this post is for you! Trying to purchase a used crane access trestle can be a very tricky process. The typical questions: How wide is it? What type of foundation? What model of crane was it designed?

How wide are used crane access trestles?

The majority of the used crane access trestle systems we come across are designed with either a 30' or 40' working surface. The decking material is typically comprised of 20', 30' or 40' crane mats. The 30' wide working surface system is wide enough for a crane to work. The 40' wide working surface system is wide enough for a crane and truck/light equipment passage.

What type of foundation?

Steel pipe pile is the most common type of foundation used on crane access trestle systems. Most frequently you see 24", 30" and 36" pipe piling used. The wall thickness and length of the pipe varies based on the piling capacity needed to support your system. Keep in mind, just because the superstructure of a trestle is rated for a 300 Ton Crane, does not mean you can use the same exact piling design as the person you are purchasing the used crane access trestle from. Soil conditions in Ohio are drastically different than Louisiana. Make sure you have your engineer figure out your pipe pile size and length based on where you are installing the trestle. Most commonly, you should be able to use the same diameter and wall thickness pipe, but your pile length may vary.

What model of crane was it designed?

Every used crane access trestle we've sold over the past several years has had a different engineer. However, one thing has remained the same - every engineer has designed a trestle for a specific crane. "The engineer designed our used trestle for a Manitowoc 2250, does that mean I can't use a Liebherr LR1300?" Not necessarily - here's why: Both cranes have a lifting capacity of 300 tons. However, their foot-print is a little different (26' for the 2250 and 26'-3" for the LR1300). Have your engineer review the crane girder spacing - they may make you move some stiffeners around and change the girder spacing. Regardless of moving stiffeners, it's much cheaper than designing and fabricating an entirely new system!As mentioned above, buying a used crane access trestle can be very tricky. We have the experience to help guide you through procuring the crane access trestle superstructure, crane mats and piling needs. However, your engineer will need to be involved to make sure the used crane access trestle design will work for your specific application.If you are reading this with a specific trestle need - check out our used crane access trestle inventory - as of the date of this posting we have over 3,000 LF of used access trestle for sale. For any questions please call 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.Cheers,AndrewAndrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management and Procurement he managed the design, fabrication and ultimate sale of a crane access trestle.

We have been in the business of connecting buyers and sellers of used sheet pile for over 4 years now. Throughout the past several years we would get the same questions from different customers wanting to sell used sheet pile - What is my sheet pile worth? Are certain sections worth more than others? Are my short sheets marketable or should I scrap them?What is my sheet pile worth?The answer to this question isn't as simple as it seems. There are a range of factors that can impact the value of your sheet pile. Geographical location is one of the biggest factors in valuing used sheet pile, solely due to the cost to transport the material out of remote areas. If you are in one of the coastal regions - you're in luck - your sheets will demand top dollar!Are certain sections worth more than others?The short answer to this question is yes. However, it can also depend on the timeline for wanting to move the material. When you have a large section such as an AZ48-700, those aren't as common as a PZC-18 or PZ-27, which will mean you're one of the only guys on the block selling large sheets. By being the only Seller in town, you are able to demand a much higher price for your material. A word of caution - just because you can demand the higher price, doesn't mean you'll find someone needing that exact material right away. Lucky for you, I know a place where you can advertise them to a global audience.Are short sheets marketable or should I scrap them?The word scrap always makes me cringe when it comes to any type of used steel. Short sheets are very marketable, however they won't demand the price of a 30'+ sheet pile. You are still better off selling your short sheets at around $0.20/LB than scrapping them for $0.09/LB.Answer the Damn Question - What can I Sell my Sheets for?!We are nearing the end of the Q1 of 2018 and current market rates for new sheet pile are in the $0.55/LB range. In this same time frame we have moved millions of pounds of used sheet pile. On average in Q1 2018 our sellers have taken $0.32/LB to the bank.As mentioned previously, we hate seeing any steel go to the scrap yard. Let us help you sell your used or surplus steel at www.eiffeltrading.com. For any questions please call 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.Cheers,AndrewAndrew Norman is one of the co-founders of Eiffel Trading. His background is in Heavy-Civil and Marine Construction in Project Management and Procurement. While working in Project Management he liquidated a joint venture selling assets from used sheet pile, access trestle, pipe, vibro hammers, impact hammers and other miscellaneous items. He carried over experience from the joint venture liquidation into co-founding Eiffel Trading.

We had the opportunity this week to sit down with Bill Roden, Vice President at Triumph Commercial Finance. Bill’s experience in the construction equipment industry is deep – his career spans not only the finance side of equipment, but he’s also worked at equipment auction companies such as IronPlanet and Equify Auctions. Additionally, Bill is a Master Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraiser and a Business Certified Appraiser (you can learn more about that here).1. How did you get started in the construction equipment industry?Answer: Well, it was a fluke, really. My first commercial finance job was working for GE on general equipment loans. But it wasn’t until I was recruited to work at Associates that I got my first taste of yellow iron. I was (and still am) amazed by the sheer size and ability of the equipment. It’s amazing that a piece of dirt can be transformed into a mine or shopping center. I always marvel at construction equipment working together at creating something that would last for a long time.2. If someone were to ask you about entering the construction finance industry, what advice would you give them?Answer: The business of a contractor is unique. The value of the business is very dependent on the value of the equipment – both the book or depreciated value, and the actual value – which can be different numbers. And this can provide a lot of financial leverage for a contractor who knows this – in fact, Triumph has a product that takes this into account called the Contractor Revolver. So advice that I would give, first, is that it is imperative to understand the uniqueness of your customer and their business plan and how it operates.Second, personal relationships with decision makers make a difference. Being absolutely honest with your customers and bringing value beyond the price of your service or product is important. If a contractor knows that you understand his business, then he’ll know that you’ll be able to understand him as he goes through business cycles.3. What is the future of the construction equipment business?Answer: The business is becoming a lot more efficient. Online marketplaces and the Amazons of the world are adding more transparency to the industry – which is great for the customer._________________________________________________________________________________________________Bill Roden, Vice President at Triumph Commercial Finance, is a great asset to any of our customers interested in talking to someone very knowledgeable about construction equipment and finance.He’s got the industry expertise, the technical knowledge and the friendly, positive attitude to get the job done. You can find him on his LinkedIn Page at https://www.linkedin.com/in/billroden1/, email him at broden@triumphcf.com, or call him at 214-770-6264.