Local builders in Wiltshire, as well as self-builders and DIYers putting up their own outbuildings or home extensions, rely on us to provide the right foundations and footings to support the structure, suitable for the prevailing ground conditions.
We carry out the digging and concreting of foundations with our usual military precision under the very capable guidance of ex-army Royal Engineer Henry Timmis, who has been using his groundworking skills in civvy street since 2012.
Being so important foundations – which need to transmit the load of the building above safely to the ground – are usually designed with the advice of a structural engineer and are subject to numerous Building Regulations.
Our groundworks crew are knowledgeable and experienced about all the factors that need to be considered when installing foundations. We’re cognisant, for example, of the load bearing capabilities of different types of soils which affects foundation depth, the effect of nearby trees or shrubs, and the importance of not undermining the foundation of adjacent buildings.
Our foundation work is consistently approved by building control inspectors with whom we have a good working relationship, at each stage of the process.
The first step in preparing foundations is to use wooden pegs and string to mark out the position of the foundations, before digging down to the required depth. Excavating requires the use of a mechanical excavator (if access allows) which speeds up the process.
Once all the material has been dug out and removed levelling and compacting is necessary before the concrete foundation is poured on to a sub base and damp-proof membrane.
Henry Timmis has its own stable of plant machinery available to carry out all the work required on any building site – from wheelbarrows to mechanical diggers and compacters – and the manpower to lay and level concrete foundations expertly.
In fact, we can handle every aspect involved in site preparation and groundworks before building work gets underway – you can rely on us for demolition, site clearance, earthmoving, drainage installation, utility trenching and backfilling, as well as foundations footings.
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