Polymer Composite Timber Pile and Methods

1 . A support comprising:

a timber pile;

a sheath positioned about the pile and in spaced relation to the pile to define a gap between the sheath and the pile; and

a cured polymer disposed between the sheath and the pile and permeated into the pile.

2 . The support of claim 1 wherein the sheath is a wire mesh or a sheet.

3 . The support of claim 2 including metal bars disposed between the pile and the sheath and in the cured polymer.

4 . The support of claim 3 wherein the pile has holes and the cured polymer is disposed in the holes.

5 . The support of claim 4 including spacers disposed between the pile and the sheath.

6 . A method for reinforcing a structure comprising the steps of:

moving a support to a desired position below the structure, the support comprising a timber pile, a sheath positioned about the pile and in spaced relation to the pile to define a gap between the sheath and the pile, and a cured polymer disposed between the sheath and the pile and permeated into the pile; and

placing the support upright below the structure.

7 . A method for building a support for a structure comprising the steps of:

placing a sheath about a timber pile so a gap is defined between the sheath and the pile to create a reinforced timber pile;

filling the gap between the sheath and the pile with a polymer;

allowing the polymer to permeate into the pile; and

letting the polymer cure.

8 . The method of claim 7 including the step of positioning a form about the reinforced timber pile.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the placing step includes the step of placing the sheath about the timber pile while the timber pile is in place supporting the structure.