Groundworks

Whilst you may not think it, groundwork can be one of the most exciting jobs there is - it's the starting point of a project and a process that is more technical than many people realise.

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How it works

When you begin a building project and you have your plans and designs draw up and approved, we work with engineers to understand how the construction below the ground needs to  Engineers take soil samples to test the bearing capacity and elasticity of soil - how it will react and how much weight it will bear when the building is erected. This enables us to overcome issues with poor load-bearing ground (poor soil, tree roots) and ensure that the foundations are adequate to fully support the building and avoid too much movement.

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Typically, we will then work with an external contractor to bore the piles and fill them with concrete.

 

The engineer designs the concrete ground beam, which is reinforced and designed to take the weight of the construction.

 

Understanding the construction below the surface of the soil - the incredible engineering part that no-one sees - is what makes groundwork so exciting for me. 

I guess that's how I know I'm in the right job!

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