Groundworks & Foundations in Edinburgh

Yes. Our groundworks and foundation work is covered by our own workmanship guarantee, covering the excavation, drainage runs, and the concrete that everything above ground depends on. The foundations and drainage are built to comply with Scottish Building Standards and are inspected at the critical stages through the building warrant process, including before any concrete is poured. Because much of this work ends up buried, we walk the site with you and record the key stages before they are covered over, so there is a clear final check on what has gone in below ground.

They are. The products we put into the ground come with the warranties offered by their manufacturers, separate from our own guarantee on the labour. Geotextile membranes, drainage piping, and reinforced concrete are all specified and installed to the supplier requirements, which is what keeps those warranties valid once the ground is backfilled. We keep the delivery and specification paperwork and pass the relevant details on to you when the work is complete.

For a standard residential extension, foundation trenches must be dug down a minimum of one metre from the ground surface to get past the frost line and reach stable subsoil. If soft clay, tree roots, or old unmapped drains are encountered, we dig deeper until we find solid load-bearing ground.

Timescales depend on access, weather, ground conditions, drainage requirements, and the size of the structure. A smaller straightforward job can move quickly, while deeper excavation or more involved preparation will take longer.

Cost is affected by the depth of excavation, the amount of spoil to remove, site access, drainage needs, concrete volumes, and the overall size of the job. A site visit is the best way to price the work properly.

Before any digging, we open trial pits and arrange soil investigation where needed so the bearing capacity is known and the foundation is designed around what is actually below ground. We also scan for buried services first, but unmapped pipes or soft spots can still appear once a trench is open. If poor ground or old structural remains are found, we stop work, tell you straight away, and adjust the design or depth, often moving to a reinforced raft or piled foundation, so the finished structure still meets Scottish Building Standards.

Yes, but not if the ground is frozen or if air temperatures drop below freezing. Frost can damage wet concrete before it sets. We monitor weather forecasts closely and cover fresh pours with insulated blankets when temperatures are low.

Levels affect drainage, finished floor height, thresholds, and how the new work ties into the rest of the site. If they are wrong at the groundwork stage, problems can follow right through the build.

Groundworks pricing depends on the volume of soil to be excavated and the number of loads required to remove it off site. We give a clear cost breakdown after inspecting the site and reviewing the drawings.