Groundworks & Foundations

Build on certainty with Lees Builders Ltd. We provide end-to-end groundworks and foundation services for residential and commercial projects across Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, Bristol, Bath, Taunton, Clevedon, Nailsea and surrounding areas. From first excavation to final concrete pour, our teams follow best practice, structural specifications and Building Regulations to deliver safe, durable, and cost-efficient results.

What We Do

• Site Surveys & Setting-Out – Topographical checks, datum levels, temporary benchmarks, line & level control.

• Site Clearance & Enabling Works – Vegetation removal, demolition, muck-away, reduced level digs, soil stabilisation.

• Foundations – Strip/trench fill, deep trench, raft, reinforced concrete (RC) slabs, pad & beam, ring beams, piled caps and ground beams.

• Drainage & SUDS – Foul and surface water systems, soakaways, attenuation crates/tanks, interceptor traps, permeable sub-bases, inspection chambers, manholes and connections.

• Services & Ducting – Utility trenches and draw ropes for electric, gas, water, comms; service entry details and sleeving.

• Ground Improvement – Vibro stone columns (via partners), lime/cement stabilisation, CBR improvement layers.

• Underpinning & Subsidence Repair – Traditional mass concrete underpinning, needle beams, staged sequences with monitoring.

• Retaining Walls & External Works – RC retaining walls, crib/gabion systems, edge restraints/kerbing, paved sub-bases, access ramps.

• Damp Protection – DPC integration, radon barriers (where specified), DPMs, insulation and airtightness detailing.

• Compliance & Testing – Bearing strata validation, compaction testing, concrete cube tests, CCTV drain surveys and as-built records.

Groundworks, Done Right

• Experience – Decades of delivery on extensions, new builds, lofts with stair cores, garages and commercial units.

• Expertise – Structural drawings interpreted precisely; rebar schedules, starter bars, cover depths and pour sequences executed by trained operatives.

• Authoritativeness – RAMS, COSHH, plant certifications, temporary works control, and Building Control sign-off.

• Trustworthiness – Transparent pricing, milestone updates, photographic records, and warranties on structural works.

Our Process

1. Feasibility & Ground Investigation – Review SI reports, trial pits if needed, groundwater and heave risk checks.

2. Setting-Out & Temporary Works – Profiles, pins, batter boards, trench support/shoring plans.

3. Excavation & Inspection – Excavation to bearing strata; Building Control/engineer inspection prior to concrete.

4. Reinforcement & Pour – Fix rebar to schedule, install formwork, pour concrete, vibration and curing.

5. Drainage & Services – Levels, falls, gullies, chambers, ducting and backfill/compaction to spec.

6. Slab & External Works – DPM/insulation, RC slab pour, screeds; kerbs, sub-bases and hardstanding where required.

7. Handover – As-built drawings, testing certificates and maintenance notes.

Typical Solutions & When We Use Them

• Strip / Trench Fill – Competent, undisturbed soils; cost-effective for most extensions.

• Raft Foundations – Low bearing capacity or variable ground; spreads load across a larger area.

• Piled Solutions – Deep weak strata, trees/heave risk, restricted footprints; caps and ground beams.

• Underpinning – To stabilise subsiding structures or support new loads on existing buildings.

Case Study: Strip-to-Raft Re-Design, Nailsea (BS48)

Issue: Variable clay with shallow groundwater made deep trench fills uneconomic.
Solution: Value-engineered to a raft foundation with perimeter thickenings and A393 mesh; introduced sub-base drainage and a radon/DPM barrier.
Outcome: Reduced concrete volume by 28%, improved programme certainty and achieved a dry, thermally efficient slab ready for fast superstructure build.

Why Choose Lees Builders for Groundworks & Foundations?

• Geo-Focused Knowledge of local soils, clay/heave, limestone and water tables across North Somerset and the wider South West.

• Quality Controls – Engineer inspections, photographic evidence, cube tests and compaction results.

• Safety First – CAT scanning, permit-to-dig, trench shoring, banksman control and plant with certified operators.

• Clean, Organised Sites – Clear segregation, daily tidying, safe storage of materials and plant.

FAQs

Do I need a soil investigation?
For new builds, complex extensions or uncertain ground, SI data de-risks design and cost. We can arrange trial pits or boreholes.

How do you manage groundwater in trenches?
Pumps, temporary sumps, trench boxes and fast pour sequences; we also adapt to engineer guidance on bearing level.

Can you handle Building Control and inspections?
Yes. We coordinate all inspections and provide as-built records and certificates at handover.

What’s the lead time?
Small residential groundworks can often start within 2–4 weeks subject to approvals, plant availability and utilities checks.

Areas We Serve

Weston-super-Mare (BS22-BS24) • North Somerset • Bristol (BS1-BS16) • Bath (BA1-BA2) • Taunton (TA1-TA2) • Clevedon (BS21) • Nailsea (BS48) and nearby villages.

Get a Quote

Start your project on the strongest possible footing.
E: info@lees-builders.co.uk
T: Office 01934 525424 / Mobile 07798 910639
W: https://lees-builders.co.uk/

Additional Building Services

• Renovations

• Extensions

• Bathrooms & Wet Rooms

• Loft Conversions

• Professional Decorating