Are you in the early stages of planning a construction or surfacing project in Stevenage? These jobs involve considerable investment and a period of disruption, so it’s vital that you get them right first time. Of equal importance, you should feel as confident as possible as work progresses from one phase to the next. As customer-focused groundwork contractors, Gibbons Groundworks takes the time to communicate in simple, understandable terms. And when we do need to use industry-specific language, we always explain ourselves.
Of course, terms like new driveways, patios and paving have universal understanding. But not everyone has the same knowledge of a foundation installation and bulk excavations, or what constitutes a drainage installation.
Below, we have listed and explained some of the key terms you may encounter before, during or after your groundworks project.
Aggregates – The nature of your work in Stevenage will define whether you encounter aggregates. Used as a supporting or filler material, our groundwork contractors often use aggregates in certain drainage installations and as part of bulk excavations. If you’re planning a new driveway of gravel or shingle, these materials are aggregates themselves.
Foundations – The concept of ‘foundations’ is widely known – they are a structural feature that supports the weight of a house or building, spreading its load to avoid movement in the subsoil beneath. A secure, robust foundation installation keeps your property safe and free of movement for many years to come.
Gibbons Groundworks lays all types of shallow and deep foundations, including:
Access Chambers – In our role as groundwork contractors, we frequently need access to existing drainage systems and other areas below ground level. Access chambers provide exactly this. They allow us to inspect vital features like sewage connections and stormwater pipes.
Drainage – From a new driveway to the construction of a house, the design, and overall quality, of the drainage installation goes a long way to making surfaces and structures a success. The entire process isn’t just laying pipes. We survey the site, carry out detailed inspections and perform bulk excavations before that. As your groundwork contractors, we draw up foul and surface water drainage schemes to suit your property’s exact needs.
Subsidence – Soils of every kind can move over time. For example, clay soils often shrink. Movement in the ground can then cause a shift in foundation installations. When this occurs, your Stevenage property may develop several issues, be it cracked walls, torn wallpaper or trouble with the doors and windows.
Bulk Excavation – This process usually starts the entire groundworks phase. Our team uses various plant to dig out and remove large quantities of soil, rock and other materials. Excavation work brings your land to the right height and level for the services that follow. This applies as much to a new driveway as it does a foundation or drainage installation. Depending on your needs, we can either have the excavated materials removed, or reuse them elsewhere on site to help with levelling off.
Hard Landscaping – This is a broad term referring to the man-made features in your outside spaces, such as a driveway, garden patio or any form of paving. A handy way to conceptualise it is in opposition to soft landscaping, which describes the natural elements of a garden, such as turfing, plants and trees. As groundwork contractors, we ensure your new driveway, patio or paths in Stevenage have a solid foundation installation for unmatched longevity.
