Groundworks: the digging, levelling and bases everything else stands on
Excavation, levelling, footings, sub-bases and site clearance for gardens, drives, extensions and outbuildings.
The short answer
Groundworks is everything below the finished surface. We dig out, level, build footings and sub-bases, and put in drainage and ducting, using a mini digger and dumper, so the patio, drive, wall or building that follows has firm, level, dry ground to sit on.
Extensions from the ground up
Foundation trenches dug and poured, blockwork brought up out of the ground and beam-and-block floors laid, ready for the walls to go up. The same for garden rooms and outbuildings.
Machines
A mini digger and tracked dumper get through most side passages and do in hours what would take days by hand.
Spoil
Muck away is planned before the job starts so it does not sit on your drive.
How we do groundworks
- 1
Survey
Levels, access for machines, services in the ground, and where spoil will go.
- 2
Excavate
Mini digger and dumper to dig out and move soil, with care around services and roots.
- 3
Footings and bases
Concrete footings for walls and buildings; compacted stone sub-bases for paving and drives.
- 4
Drainage and ducting
Pipes and ducts put in while the ground is open.
- 5
Hand over
Firm, level ground ready for the next stage, whether that is us or another trade.
Groundworks we’ve done
Groundworks: your questions
Do you do footings for extensions?
Yes. We dig and pour the footings, build the blockwork up to floor level and lay the beam-and-block floor. Building control inspects the foundations for an extension before the walls go up.
What happens to the soil you dig out?
It is taken away by grab lorry or skip, or reused on site to build up levels where that makes sense.
Can a digger get into my back garden?
Usually, if there is a gap of around a metre. We check access at the visit.
Often done with
Groundworks near you
- Groundworks in Newton Abbot
- Groundworks in Torquay
- Groundworks in Paignton
- Groundworks in Brixham
- Groundworks in Teignmouth
- Groundworks in Dawlish
- Groundworks in Shaldon
- Groundworks in Totnes
- Groundworks in Dartmouth
- Groundworks in Dittisham
- Groundworks in Stoke Gabriel
- Groundworks in Kingsbridge
- Groundworks in Salcombe
- Groundworks in Hope Cove
- Groundworks in Bigbury-on-Sea
- Groundworks in Ivybridge
- Groundworks in Ashburton
- Groundworks in Noss Mayo
- Groundworks in Newton Ferrers
Get a groundworks quote
Send a couple of photos and a rough idea of what you want. We’ll come out, look at the ground and the levels, and give you a written quote.