Foundations, drainage and site preparation — the part of a build nobody sees once it's finished, but the part everything else depends on.
Every extension, new build and renovation we carry out starts with groundworks, because getting the foundations, drainage and levels wrong is the one mistake that’s genuinely expensive to fix later.
Kent's ground conditions vary considerably even within Thanet — from the chalk found across much of the district to clay and made-up ground closer to the coast and on older, previously developed sites. We size foundations according to the actual conditions on your site, confirmed where necessary with trial holes, rather than a standard depth applied everywhere.
Groundworks on our projects covers strip and trench-fill foundations, drainage runs and connections, site levelling, and the sub-base work that everything above ground sits on. It's the first thing our teams do on an extension like the one we recently completed in Manston, and the reason that build has stayed solid through its first winters.
We also carry out groundworks as a standalone service — driveways, patios needing proper drainage falls, and drainage repairs or alterations where an existing run has failed or needs rerouting.
Foundation type and depth are matched to your site's ground conditions and the loads the structure above will place on them, agreed with Building Control before we start digging.
Surface water and foul drainage done properly the first time, since a drainage run that's been rushed or badly falls is one of the most common causes of problems years later.
Levelling, excavation and clearing a site properly before the build starts, including dealing with existing structures or hardstanding that need removing.
Groundworks for driveways and patios — including the drainage falls that stop water pooling against the house, which is easy to miss if it's not planned in from the start.
Our recent rear extension in Manston started, like every project, below ground — foundations and drainage sized to the site before a single wall went up.
View This ProjectWe check ground conditions, existing drainage and access before quoting, using trial holes where the ground type isn’t already clear.
Foundation design is agreed with Building Control before work starts.
Excavation, foundations, drainage and levelling carried out to the agreed design and inspected at each required stage.
Building Control signs off the groundworks before the build moves above ground level.
It depends entirely on the ground conditions and the load being placed on them — there’s no single standard depth. We confirm this for your site, sometimes with trial holes, and agree it with Building Control before digging starts.
Yes, we carry out standalone drainage repairs and alterations — blocked, collapsed or badly-laid drainage runs are a common call-out on their own, separate from any building work.
Yes, foundations and drainage for any extension or new structure are inspected by Building Control at key stages, regardless of whether the project needs full planning permission.
It varies — much of the district sits on chalk, but clay and made-up ground are common closer to the coast and on previously developed sites. We never assume; we check your specific site before finalising a foundation design.
Tell us about your project and we'll come back to you within one business day.
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