Trade Estimating
Groundworks estimates that account for what is under the ground
We measure excavation, muck away, foundations and slabs from your drawings so you can price groundworks without getting caught out by the dig.
In short
A groundworks estimate prices site clearance, excavation, disposal, foundations, drainage runs, hardcore and ground floor slabs.
We take quantities off your foundation plans and sections in cubic metres and square metres, then apply current UK plant and labour rates.
You get an itemised estimate branded as your own, with clear allowances for muck away and concrete so you can adjust them as the ground reveals itself.
Who it's for
Groundwork contractors, main contractors pricing the substructure, and developers needing the dig and foundations costed early.
Groundworks is priced in volumes, and volumes are unforgiving. The difference between a strip footing and a trench fill, or a 600mm dig and a 1.2 metre dig, changes the concrete and the muck away dramatically. We measure excavation and fill in cubic metres straight off your foundation plans and sections so the quantities are right before anyone hires a digger.
Disposal is the line that quietly eats jobs. Muck away is charged by the load and tip rates have climbed, so getting the bulking factor and the number of grab or tipper loads right is essential. We set it out as a clear allowance, because the ground conditions can move it, and we would rather you and the client see that line than find it as a surprise.
Beyond the dig, a groundworks package usually carries below-ground drainage, hardcore sub-base, sand blinding, damp-proof membrane, insulation and the ground floor slab or beam and block. We measure each layer so the build-up matches the engineer's detail, and we flag anything the drawings leave open such as ground bearing capacity or the need for a piled solution.
What the estimate includes
What drives the cost
The numbers that move the price on a groundworks job, and the detail we measure to get them right.
Dig depth and volume
Foundation depth drives both the excavation and the concrete. A deep trench fill on poor ground costs far more per metre run than a shallow strip footing.
Muck away and disposal
Spoil bulks up once dug and is charged by the load, so tip rates and haulage distance matter. Contaminated ground pushes disposal costs up sharply.
Ground conditions
Soft spots, high water table, clay or made ground can mean dewatering, extra dig or a piled foundation. The site investigation, where one exists, changes the whole approach.
Concrete volume and grade
Concrete is a major cost and the volume follows the foundation type. Pump hire for difficult access and the specified grade both move the rate.
Drainage and connections
The length of below-ground runs, the number of manholes and the depth of the connection to the existing sewer all add cost that a simple slab price ignores.
Floor build-up
Hardcore depth, insulation thickness and whether it is a ground bearing slab or a beam and block floor each change the rate per square metre.
Common pitfalls we help you avoid
- Pricing the plan footprint and forgetting the bulking factor on muck away.
- Assuming a strip footing when the ground needs trench fill or piling.
- Missing the below-ground drainage and manholes that sit inside the groundworks package.
- Leaving out dewatering or working space on a high water table site.
- Under-allowing concrete because the dig went deeper than the drawing suggested.
How it works
Send us the foundation plans
Upload your substructure drawings, sections and any site investigation. Tell us the foundation type if it is fixed.
We measure and price
We take off excavation and fill in cubic metres, measure drainage and slabs, and apply current UK plant, muck away and concrete rates.
You get a branded estimate
We return an itemised groundworks estimate under your own name, with clear allowances you can flex as the ground is revealed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a job that needs pricing?
Upload your drawings and we'll come back with a professional, branded estimate, a fixed fee and a turnaround time.
Upload Your Drawings