Groundworks & drainage, done to last
Excavation, engineered sub-bases, SUDS drainage, kerbs and edgings, the work beneath the surface that decides whether a driveway or patio lasts three years or twenty-five.
30+ years · Free survey · Fully insured · One accountable team
What are groundworks?
Groundworks is the excavation, sub-base engineering, drainage and edge restraint that goes in before any surface is laid, the structural foundation a driveway, path or patio is built on.
It is the part nobody sees and the part that decides everything. A resin drive that cracks, block paving that sinks, a patio that ponds after rain, almost every one traces back to the same thing: a thin or badly compacted base, weak edges, or drainage that was never really thought through.
We treat the groundwork as the job, not the bit before it. We dig out to the right depth for the load, build and compact the sub-base in layers, set the kerbs and edge restraints that hold everything together, and lay the SUDS drainage so surface water goes where it should, away from the house and back into the ground.
Get that right and any surface on top has a chance of lasting. It is also the same crew from the first dig to the finished level, so there is no gap where responsibility slips between trades.
Why the groundwork matters
The foundations decide the lifespan. Here is what a properly built base actually buys you.
An engineered sub-base
Dug to the right depth and compacted in layers, so the surface above stays flat under foot traffic and vehicle loads.
SUDS-compliant drainage
Permeable build-ups, channel drains and soakaways that meet sustainable drainage rules and keep water off the house.
Kerbs & edge restraints
Haunched kerbs and edgings that stop paving spreading, sinking and creeping. The edges are what hold a surface true.
Correct falls & levels
Set out so water always runs the right way and thresholds, manholes and gullies finish flush and neat.
Load-rated for vehicles
Build-ups specified for cars, vans or commercial traffic, not a one-size base that fails under weight.
One team, start to finish
The crew that digs the base also lays the surface, with no gap where responsibility gets lost between trades.
What groundwork covers
Every element specified to the site and the surface it will carry, not lifted from a standard detail.
Discuss your project
Excavation & sub-bases
Dig-out to the right depth and a MOT Type 1 or permeable sub-base, compacted in layers for a stable, free-draining foundation.
Drainage & SUDS
Channel drains, linear drainage, gullies and soakaways sized to the area and ground, so water runs away and stays compliant.
Kerbs & edge restraints
Concrete, block, brick or natural-stone kerbs and edgings, haunched in to lock paving and resin at the perimeter.
Foundations & sub-structures
Footings and slabs for outbuildings, bin and bike stores, and garden rooms, built to the same standard as the drive.
Groundworks & drainage FAQs
Why does the sub-base matter so much?
What is SUDS drainage and do I need it?
Do you install kerbs and edging on their own?
Can you fix a driveway or patio that floods or ponds?
Do you need a dropped kerb for a new driveway?
Building a drive, patio or extension?
The base is where the job is won or lost. We'll survey the ground, advise on the build and drainage, and give you a clear written price with no obligation.
07957 229284- ✓ Free, no-obligation quote
- ✓ 30+ years' specialist experience
- ✓ Fully insured, all projects
- ✓ Free, no-obligation quote
- ✓ 30+ years' specialist experience
- ✓ Fully insured, all projects