Kent · Maidstone · Medway · Rochester
Groundworks & Landscaping
Foundations, drainage, driveways and hard landscaping: the work below ground that everything else depends on, and the finish that ties a site together.
Everything sits on this
Groundworks is unglamorous and completely unforgiving. Foundations that are the wrong type for the ground conditions, drainage that was never designed, a slab poured on inadequately compacted fill: these are the failures that show up years later as cracks, damp and settlement, and they are ruinously expensive to put right.
We investigate ground conditions rather than assume them, and we specify foundations for the site in front of us: strip, trench fill, raft or piled, depending on what the ground, the trees and the loads actually require.
Drainage, done deliberately
Surface water and foul drainage are designed in from the start: falls, gullies, soakaways, inspection chambers and connections. Retro-fitting drainage that was an afterthought means digging up work you have already paid for.
Hard landscaping and finishes
Driveways, patios, block paving and resin, retaining walls, steps, sleepers, fencing, decking and turfing. The finish is what people see, so kerb lines, falls and jointing get the attention they deserve. A beautifully laid patio that ponds water in the middle is a failed patio.
Common questions
Do you do groundworks as a standalone job?
Yes. We take on groundworks packages for other contractors and self-builders as well as delivering them within our own projects: foundations, drainage and slab, ready for a frame or a build to follow.
Does a new driveway need planning permission?
Usually not, provided the surface is permeable or drains to a soakaway within your own boundary rather than running off onto the road. Non-permeable driveways over five square metres draining to the highway do need permission. We design drainage into the job so this is not a problem.
What is the right foundation for my project?
It depends entirely on ground conditions, nearby trees and the loads involved, which is why we investigate rather than assume. Strip, trench fill, raft and pile are all appropriate in different situations. Getting this wrong is the most expensive mistake available on a building site.
Can you work on sloping or difficult sites?
Yes. Sloping sites need retaining structures, terracing and careful drainage design, and awkward access needs the right plant and a sensible sequence. Both are routine for us, and we will assess access and levels at the first visit.