Should I keep applying more pressure

Hello! I'm working on installing piles and I've hit what feels like a rock layer about a meter down. I've been trying to force the pile through for the past 30 minutes with no progress. Should I keep applying more pressure, or is there a better approach to deal with this obstruction?

Hello! Stop forcing it immediately - that's actually one of the mistakes to avoid. Applying excessive pressure when you hit rock can bend the pile, damage your equipment, or cause the pile to tilt off-vertical. The proper approach is to relocate the pile slightly to avoid the obstruction. Sometimes moving just 15-20 centimeters is enough to miss the rock. Check out https://tips-for-working-with-piles.blo ... screw.html where they specifically address this situation. If you're consistently hitting rock across your whole site, you might need specialized equipment or a different foundation approach. Better to take the time to relocate than to damage your pile or create an unstable installation by forcing it.