Groundwork contractors manage all the work of preparing a site for construction. This is a very important part of building anything, since building foundations is what will keep the final structure strong.
Groundworks includes:
- Ground investigation
- Clearing the building site
- Substructures for stabilisation
- Landscaping
- Site service installation
All of these are quite important for the finished product, so it’s essential you plan for this as part of your construction project.
Ground Investigation
Groundwork contractors will look into what was previously built in the area or how the land was used before. They will also assess the ground conditions. This involves checking soil conditions, looking for contamination problems, checking the water table and how it may affect any structures, and looking for other potential issues.
Clearance of the Site
Before any construction is done, the area will need to be cleared. This is also when any inclines are levelled out and retaining walls can be created to help prevent the land from shifting.
Substructures for Ground Stabilisation
To ensure the stability of the finished building, you’ll need to plan on groundwork construction. These include retaining walls, basements, foundation construction, and other structures created by the groundwork contractors to ensure the stability of the finished building.
Essentially, anything below the underside of the screed or lowest floor is considered a substructure. This includes building foundations, retaining walls for basements, excavations that are necessary for stability, and damp-proof membranes. It’s all built under the lowest floor and designed to help the structure remain strong and stable, under all circumstances.
Landscaping
In some cases, groundworks include landscaping. It’s usually used when the shape of the site must be adjusted to make the area more suitable for construction, such as levelling the land or creating terraces where structures may be built. It may also include hard landscaping details, such as adding roads and car parks as a professional finish to the space. Paths, walkways, and other elements that make the building more accessible would also be included in this.
Site Services
A lot of thought goes into a building. Aside from building foundations, you need to think about drainage and utility connections. In a small shed, these are minimal. In a building of flats, however, you may need service ducts, tunnels, and cabling to ensure the building is properly supplied.
All these things are handled by groundwork contractors who will ensure the correct services can be connected. If there are existing services, these can also be adjusted to fit the new building.
Looking For Reliable Groundwork Contractors?
Groundwork construction is an essential part of building any type of structure, large or small. Even a garden shed requires a foundation. Groundwork contractors like those at Forth Valley Concrete can be quite helpful for ensuring your building is correctly built and stable. Need groundworks on your site? Contact us now for more information on how we can help.