What Machinery Is Needed for Groundworks?

Groundworks can be defined as the work carried out to prepare the ground and below ground so it is ready for the upcoming construction project. Groundwork is the first task required to be carried out on a construction site before the foundations are laid.

What’s Involved?

Groundworks involve several services, and they will differ for every construction project. Essentially involved in groundwork is an investigation, site clearance, installation of footings and foundations and the provisions for drainage, cabling and the installation of utilities way may include, telephone lines, gas pipes, and finally landscaping.  But it can also include any demolition works or site-enabling works that may need to be carried out.

Different Types of Groundwork Activities

Ground investigations – this is to determine if there could be any possible issues on the chosen land and to see the condition of it is suitable for the project. At this stage, a team of highly qualified engineers would establish if there were any problems before the construction starts.

Site clearance – this would be the next step to take, which is where any debris is removed from the area. This can be anything from soil to buildings to plants or roots. The best machine for this job is usually an excavator, these make the job a lot more efficient and safer.

Trenching – is basically a shallow hole in the ground, these are required for laying pipes, telephone lines or for manufacturing foundations. Again an excavator is usually the best tool for the job.

Retaining walls – are rigid vertical walls created to support soil, water or other materials horizontally. They are erected to hold materials and prevent them from slipping down a slope.

Sheet piles – usually required to produce walls to allow for excavations to take place or for the retention of soil. Piling rigs or hydraulic excavator attachments machinery is used to push the sheet piles into the ground to make sure that they are installed properly and safely.

Sewer Construction – is required when a channel or pipe is created to remove waste and water from a site. The safest bet is usually a 360 excavator with various attachments.

Basement Construction as the name states, it involves the construction of the part of the building that is below ground level.

Temporary and permanent drainage – usually required to remove groundwater from a construction site and prevent the site from becoming waterlogged.

Specialist tunneling – can be required for waterworks or rail lines. They usually require specialist direction drills and boring equipment to create said tunnels safely.

Landscaping – this involves altering the pre-existing landscape in whichever way, it could be the removal of older construction sites or trees or to the terrain etc.

Surfacing roads and car parks – are often required to make the area more durable and prolong the lifespan as wear and tear over time can break them down.

Foundations – Foundations are needed to create a steady base for construction to be placed on and to ensure the weight is distributed evenly.

What Machinery Do You Need?

Having the right equipment for the job is crucial. The reason why groundworks are so important is that a structure is going to lean on its foundation so if the groundworks are flawed, the entire building will not last for very long at all. Hence why groundwork must be carried out correctly to avoid any issues. Obviously, you will have the correct construction site equipment and machines to do the tasks required but those are what we believe will work best for the majority of groundworks.

Browse our wide selection of excavators below from leading brands such as Liebherr, Hitachi, Hyundai and Komatsu. If you have specific requirements for your excavator that are not shown below, please do not hesitate to contact our knowledgeable team who can help to source the perfect machine for you. Before shipment, we always ensure that our machines are up-to-date and are fully tested. Should you require something more specialist, please contact us and our expert team will aim to source the machine required for your project.