Groundworks & Foundations · Manchester & Greater Manchester
Groundworks That
Set The Job —
On Programme And Dry.
Strip, raft and pile foundations, drainage, slabs and site clearance across Greater Manchester — the substructure that the rest of the build relies on, done to engineer's spec and witnessed by Building Control.
FMB Member · Fully Insured (£2m PL & EL) · Fixed Written Quotes
Service Overview
Groundworks & Foundations —
The Brief, In Plain English.
What It Is
Groundworks covers site strip, dig, foundation forming (strip footings, raft slab, mini-piles, ground beams), drainage runs (foul and surface water), soakaways and attenuation, slab insulation and DPC, hardstanding, kerbs and retaining structures. The work that's invisible the day after handover but determines whether the building stands square for 100 years.
Who It's For
Self-builders and developers needing groundworks priced and delivered as a discrete package; main contractors subbing out the substructure; homeowners with extensions or garden offices needing proper foundations rather than a slab on hardcore; commercial developers needing site clearance and foundations under tight programmes.
When You Need It
After planning permission, structural drawings and ground investigation are complete. The ground investigation matters — soft Manchester clay, made ground and high water tables drive whether the foundation is strip, raft or pile, and getting that wrong costs more than the original works.
Why It Matters
Foundations are the one thing on a build you cannot inspect or fix after the fact. Insufficient depth, wrong concrete spec, missed reinforcement, drainage falls in the wrong direction — every one of them is buried under everything else as soon as the slab pours. Done right, no one ever thinks about them again. Done wrong, they are the most expensive failure on the project.
What Happens If You Wait
The Cost Of
Doing Nothing.
Groundworks failure is structural, expensive and almost always invisible until it's already happened. The cracks above the lintel two years after handover usually trace back to the day the founds were poured.
Risks Of Ignoring It
- →Differential settlement — one corner of the building sinks faster than the others, cracking masonry above.
- →Foundations too shallow for the soil class — heave from clay, frost-lift from sub-surface water, slab cracks the slab.
- →Drainage runs at the wrong fall — backing up, blockages, surcharging into the building.
- →Slab insulation skipped or specced wrong — cold floor, condensation, Part L fail at completion.
- →DPM/DPC continuity broken at the slab-to-wall junction — rising damp from day one, hidden behind plaster for years.
Common Mistakes Customers Make
- ×Building on existing slab without a structural assessment — no idea what's underneath.
- ×Hiring on day rate with no fixed dig depth or concrete volume in writing — open-ended cost.
- ×Skipping ground investigation on infill plots in former industrial Manchester — made ground and contamination both real risks.
- ×Pouring without the engineer or Building Control witnessing the dig — no record, no sign-off, problem at completion.
Our Process
First Call To
Final Sign-Off.
01
Site Survey & Setting Out
Drawings checked, site set out from boundary, levels established, services located (CAT scan), drainage runs marked.
02
Fixed Written Quote
Itemised against engineer's drawings — dig, muck-away, concrete, reinforcement, drainage, slab, insulation. Programme attached.
03
Strip, Dig & Drainage
Site stripped of topsoil, foundation trench dug to engineer's depth, drainage runs excavated at correct falls, beddings laid.
04
Pour & Slab Form-Up
Foundations poured (witnessed by Building Control), masonry built up to DPC, drainage connections tested, insulation and DPM laid, slab poured.
05
Sign-Off & Handover To Next Trade
Building Control DPC inspection, slab level checked, photos for record, clean handover to bricklayer or frame erector.
Credentials
What Stands
Behind The Work.
Fully Insured
£2m public liability and £2m employers' liability cover.
FMB Members
Federation of Master Builders — verified profile.
Structural Work In-House
Carried out by Ultra Build's own team — not subcontracted out.
Garden & External Works
Handled in-house alongside the main build.
NAPIT-Registered Electricians
Electrical work carried out by our NAPIT-registered specialist subcontractors, with certification on completion.
Gas Safe-Registered Engineers
Gas work carried out by our Gas Safe-registered specialist subcontractors, with certification on completion.
The Team
Around 7 full-time staff, and 20+ including long-standing subcontractors we've worked with for 5+ years.
Why It's Worth It
What You
Actually Get.
Engineer's Spec, Exactly
Concrete grade, reinforcement size and cover, depth and width all to the structural calc — no shortcuts, no substitutions without sign-off.
Witnessed By Building Control
Foundation dig and DPC inspections booked and attended. Photos of the dig before pour for the warranty file.
Drainage At Correct Falls
Foul at 1:40 minimum, surface water at 1:100 minimum, properly bedded and surrounded, tested before backfill.
Dry Slab
Compacted hardcore, sand blinding, full DPM, PIR insulation to current Part L, slab poured and power-floated where appropriate.
Clean Handover To Next Trade
Site left to a fixed slab level with DPC ready and drainage stubs in the right positions. Bricklayer or frame team walks onto a finished, square substructure.
Workmanship Guarantee
Written Into
The Contract.
Every Ultra Build Northwest contract carries a workmanship guarantee in writing. It covers defects with the structural build and plumbing issues such as faulty fittings — not just a verbal promise.
10
Years
On Roofs
2
Years
On Extensions
Up To
5
Years
On Internal Renovation Defects
In Detail
Groundworks & Foundations —
Every Variation Covered.
Materials, methods and the situations each variation applies to — so you know what you're buying before you buy it.
Working across
Manchester · Cheshire · Oldham · Salford · Stockport · Alderley Edge · Altrincham & Hale
Full Service Area MapStrip Foundations
Standard for one-off houses and extensions in firm Manchester clay — trench foundations 900mm–1.2m deep depending on tree proximity and soil class, concrete to engineer's spec (typically C25 or C30), reinforcement where required by the design.
Raft Slabs
Used where ground bearing is poor or where a thick reinforced slab spreads load more evenly — common for garages, garden offices and lightweight extensions on made ground. Designed and reinforced to engineer's spec.
Mini-Piled Foundations & Ground Beams
For very soft ground, made ground, contaminated land or sites adjacent to mature trees — driven or augered mini-piles with reinforced ground beams spanning between. Designed by the structural engineer; we install to spec and tolerances.
Drainage — Foul, Surface Water & SUDS
Foul drainage to public sewer or treatment plant, surface water to soakaway or attenuation crate (sized to SUDS), all at correct falls, properly bedded and tested before backfill. Manhole chambers and inspection chambers at every change of direction.
Site Strip, Clearance & Hardstanding
Topsoil strip and stockpile, removal of obstructions and old slabs, level reduction where required, hardstanding for site access and skip / lorry standing. Type 1 sub-base for driveways and parking.
Residential vs Commercial Groundworks
Domestic groundworks tend to be tight access (small plant, single-lorry muck-away), commercial work larger plant and faster turnover. We run both with appropriate plant scaled to the site — see commercial building works.
Questions
Straight
Answers.
Cost, timeline, guarantees, lifespan, emergency availability — the questions everyone asks, answered before you call.
Ask YoursHow much do foundations cost for an extension or new build?
+
Greater Manchester 2026: standard strip foundation for a single-storey extension £180–£260 per linear metre at 900mm depth, including dig, concrete and reinforcement. Raft slabs from £140 per m². Mini-piling priced per pile after engineer's design. Fixed itemised quote.
What depth does my foundation need to be?
+
Driven by soil class and tree proximity — typically 900mm minimum in firm Manchester clay, 1.2m+ within influence of mature trees, deeper on very soft ground. The structural engineer specifies the depth from the soil investigation or trial-hole findings.
Do I need a structural engineer for groundworks?
+
For anything beyond a simple shed slab, yes — engineer's design and calcs are required for Building Control approval. We can recommend engineers we've worked with successfully.
How long do groundworks take?
+
A typical extension substructure (strip, foundations, drainage, slab) is 2–3 weeks. A full house substructure 3–5 weeks. Mini-piled foundations add 1–2 weeks for the pile install. Programme issued with the quote.
Do you handle drainage as well as foundations?
+
Yes — foul and surface water drainage runs, soakaways, attenuation crates, manholes and inspection chambers, all part of the groundworks package.
What's CDM and does it apply to my project?
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Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 apply to virtually every construction project. We operate as compliant contractors — risk assessments, method statements, welfare and PPE all in place.
Can you work on tight access sites?
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Yes — we scale plant to access. Mini-diggers, conveyors over fences for muck-away, small mixer wagons for restricted sites. Domestic side-access foundations are routine work.
Do you cover Manchester and the surrounding area?
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Yes — all of Greater Manchester and Cheshire. See service areas.
Will Building Control inspect my foundations?
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Yes — Building Control attends the open-trench inspection before pour and the DPC inspection before bricklaying. We book and coordinate both as standard.
Do you guarantee the groundworks?
+
Workmanship guaranteed for 12 months from completion. Concrete and drainage materials carry manufacturer warranties. Structural performance is covered by the engineer's design and Building Control sign-off.
Next Step
Start The Build On Solid Ground.
Free site survey across Greater Manchester, fixed written quote — no obligation. FMB member, fully insured with £2m public liability and £2m employers' liability, Manchester-based.
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