Concrete Core Drilling Project – Booysens, Johannesburg

Rivicore recently completed a demanding Concrete Core Drilling project in Booysens, a well-established suburb of Johannesburg. The work formed part of a major building revamp, where the property owner plans to add additional floors to the existing structure.

The project scope involved drilling multiple concrete cores, each 200mm in diameter and approximately 1 metre deep, into the building’s existing footings.
These openings were required to allow a follow-on contractor to install mini piles through the cores, providing additional structural support for the planned vertical extension. Each footing required between four and six precision-drilled holes, all completed within tight tolerances.

As work progressed, the project proved to be significantly more challenging than initially anticipated.

The original concrete, poured in the 1980s, was exceptionally strong, with a high aggregate content and high MPa strength, resulting in slow and demanding drilling conditions. Persistent rainfall further complicated the operation, with water flowing through open services and filling footing cavities, creating muddy and difficult working conditions on site.

Despite these challenges, Rivicore’s drilling team maintained consistent progress through careful planning, controlled drilling techniques, and strict attention to safety. The project was successfully completed within the required timeframe, ensuring the next construction phase could proceed without delay.

This project highlights Rivicore’s growing capability in delivering specialised Concrete Core Drilling solutions. As a newly introduced service, it strengthens our offering within structural, geotechnical, and construction support work, allowing us to assist clients with complex drilling requirements on existing structures.