Straight-talking guides on foundations, drainage, driveways and site prep - what the work actually involves, what to look out for, and how to get it done right the first time.
An honest comparison of block paving, resin and tarmac driveways, and why the sub-base underneath decides how long any of them last.
Read the guide →What holds a garden retaining wall up, when planning permission and a party wall notice are needed, and why drainage behind the wall decides how long it lasts.
Read the guide →Slab, pads or ground screws - what a garden room or garden office needs underneath it, plus the drainage, planning and building regs rules that catch people out.
Read the guide →If your extension sits over or within three metres of a public sewer you need Anglian Water's consent before you dig. What that involves, and what it means for the foundations.
Read the guide →What it takes to get a dropped kerb approved in Cambridgeshire - the Section 184 application, the fee, the six week decision, and the site rules that catch people out.
Read the guide →How surface water drainage and soakaways work on Cambridgeshire's clay and chalk ground - why fall matters, when you need a soakaway, and how to avoid a wet garden.
Read the guide →What goes into the ground under a house extension - strip vs trench fill, how deep on clay and near trees, and what building control inspects before you pour.
Read the guide →The UK rules on driveways in plain English - the 5 square metre threshold, permeable surfaces, drainage, dropped kerbs and when you actually need permission.
Read the guide →What actually drives the price of groundworks in the UK - from foundations and drainage to driveways - and how to compare quotes fairly before you commit.
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