How long is long? —- I was asked once “How long should wooden piling last?”
It was a quick answer for me- “Forever!”
Wooden piling, properly specified, installed and maintained, should last indefinitely.
I can site Ancient examples like Egyptian structures.
I can site Old examples like the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.
The examples that I like to mention are those that people work in everyday like the Orange County Court House, built in 1937.
Over 100 pilings, 30’ and longer, driven to a 20 ton load rating, were used. This project removed over 26,000 lbs of green house gases from our atmosphere. Those wooden pilings (and the gases contained therein) are holding up the court house today, tomorrow and for years to come. That is a much better use of green house gases.
Neither the building nor the gases are going anywhere soon. That’s Long!