Groundworks: footings, concrete and drainage
Every Brick2Brick UK build starts in the ground. The team digs and concretes footings, lays bases and slabs, puts in drains and clears ground, using its own machines.
What groundworks does Brick2Brick UK do?
The groundworks the team takes on:
- Footings for extensions and walls, dug out and concreted.
- Concrete bases, such as a conservatory base in Dudley ready for the frame and roof (February 2024).
- Breaking out a concrete step, fitting new channel drains and laying a new concrete slab (February 2026).
- Ground prepared for concreting beside a new extension, with retaining walls to follow (September 2026).
- A new water main, a waste pipe for a new unit and a kiosk to house the main, in Derby (2024).
- A soakaway and a new lawn (June 2026).
- Garden clearance, such as a garden in Solihull in September 2025.
How are footings dug and concreted?
Trenches are dug down to firm, undisturbed ground, and concrete goes in as soon as they are ready. On a September 2026 job the order was: footings dug, a grab lorry in first thing to clear the spoil, then the concrete delivered.
All the footings are dug out and ready for the concrete tomorrow. The grab is in first thing to clear away the spoil, then we’re ready for the delivery Friday morning!
Why does the depth of footings vary?
Because the ground does. The Planning Portal lists what decides it:
- the soil: some clay soils swell and shrink with the weather, mostly in the top 0.75 metres or so, so footings go deeper
- trees: roots draw water out of clay, which can mean much deeper footings
- neighbouring buildings: good practice is to dig at least as deep as the next-door foundation, in short sections where it runs alongside
- drains: footings should normally go at least as deep as the bottom of a nearby drain trench
- the building: two storeys carry more load than one
- made ground: footings cannot go in until undisturbed ground is reached, and landfill may need piles or a raft
Do you need to tell the neighbours before footings are dug?
Sometimes. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, digging within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building and deeper than its foundations, or within 6 metres and below a 45 degree line from them, needs a notice at least a month before. The Party Wall Act guide explains.
Does Brick2Brick UK have its own machines?
Yes. The team runs and services its own plant, and hires out its 1.7 tonne mini digger: see mini digger hire.
Very very rare occasion for the team to be able to catch on the maintenance and servicing of all our plant which is important due to our work load.
Do groundworks lead on to patios and driveways?
Often. Fence2Fence UK lays patios and driveways on ground the team has prepared. In April 2026 the team built a boundary wall and left it to cure before the groundworks for 130 square metres of porcelain patio.
The retaining wall and driveway job shows ground put right after a customer was let down by a rogue trader.
Photos from recent jobs
What customers say
Liam and his team came and built our extension on our property and removed bushes from garden and installed new fence. Liam and his team were polite, clean, friendly, always on time and nothing was too much trouble. Liam was always there to help guide my wife and I throughout the build. We couldn't recommend Liam and his team enough 5☆. They definitely are the best 100%. We definitely will be Brick2Brick in the future. Thankyou again
A recent job like this
Questions people ask
How deep do footings need to be?
It depends on the soil, nearby trees, drains and neighbouring foundations. The Planning Portal advises speaking to building control or a structural engineer, and footings only go in once undisturbed ground is reached.
What happens to the soil that is dug out?
It is taken away. On a September 2026 job a grab lorry came in first thing to lift the spoil straight off site.
Do I need to tell my neighbours before footings are dug?
If the digging is within 3 metres of their building and deeper than its foundations, or within 6 metres and below the 45 degree line, the Party Wall Act needs a notice at least a month before.
Does Brick2Brick UK clear gardens?
Yes. The team cleared a garden in Solihull in September 2025, and Robert’s 2023 review mentions bushes cleared before his extension and fence.
Talk to Liam about the job
Call or WhatsApp 07805 010927, or send the quote form. Photos of the job help: send them on WhatsApp.