Ranshaw Group · Lincolnshire
Groundworksin Lincoln& across Lincolnshire
Give your build a properly considered starting point, with excavation, foundations, drainage and site preparation connected to the work that follows.
Get a Free QuoteFree site visit · No obligation · 18-month workmanship guarantee
40+ years
Combined team experience
£10m
Public liability insurance
18 months
Workmanship guarantee
Free
Initial site visit & quote
Your project
Groundworks,
from the ground up
Groundworks create the starting point for the building or surface above them. Site preparation, excavation, foundations and drainage interact with the design, ground conditions and access available for construction. The visible result may be below ground or covered by later work, but its specification influences everything that follows. A clear plan is therefore about more than arranging an excavator: it identifies what needs to be built, what information is available and which inspection or design requirements must be resolved before work is concealed.
Groundworks are Ranshaw Group's core trade. Our family-run construction business works across Lincolnshire with full design-and-build capability from the ground up. The team brings over 40 years of combined experience across construction trades. We provide free initial site visits and no-obligation quotations, with every project priced individually. Foundations, drainage and site preparation can be considered alongside a complete building project, or discussed as a defined groundworks scope with the relevant drawings and responsibilities clearly identified.
This service is relevant to new buildings, extensions, agricultural construction and external works that depend on a suitable prepared base. Professional planning matters where the site has buried services, restricted access, nearby buildings or uncertain ground. Those conditions can affect excavation and the work required. Bring available surveys, structural information and drainage drawings to the discussion. A free initial visit identifies constraints and further information needed; it is not a substitute for every ground investigation, engineering decision or specialist survey a particular site may require.
Before work begins
Avoid the problems
that cost twice
Assuming the ground is suitable because a neighbouring building stands nearby can lead to the wrong construction assumptions. Foundation requirements depend on the design and actual conditions, not a standard depth copied from another project. Nearby structures and underground services also affect excavation. If work starts before these are considered, the method or scope may need to change. Avoid making irreversible decisions from a general drawing that does not contain the information needed for the proposed foundations and drainage.
Groundworks also involve hazards that require site-specific planning. Excavations can collapse, materials can fall and buried utilities may be present even where the surface appears clear. Relevant support, access and inspections must be considered for the work, with competent assessment where required. Common project mistakes include covering drainage or foundations before relevant checks, leaving levels unresolved and failing to coordinate the next trade. Clear sequencing helps avoid reopened excavations or a prepared site that does not match the construction it is supposed to support.
Our process
A clear route from first visit to sign-off
Site & design-information review
We discuss the intended construction, available drawings and known site constraints at the free initial visit. Access, existing services, surrounding buildings and previous work help identify the information needed. Establish whether specialist investigation or structural design is still outstanding before treating the groundworks scope as fully defined or ready for construction.
Scope, levels & sequencing
The excavation, foundation and drainage requirements need to connect with the design and the stages that follow. Agree responsibilities for design information and relevant inspections. Site levels, access and material movement should be considered before work starts, rather than relying on a sequence that assumes unrestricted space or identical ground conditions throughout the site.
Individual quote & arrangements
Every job is quoted for the actual scope. Clarify excavation, specified construction, drainage and any reinstatement or associated works included. Discuss how discoveries or additional requirements will be handled before booking. A useful quotation should make its assumptions visible, not present a universal groundwork price as if it covered every site and foundation design.
Preparation & execution
Ground preparation and construction follow the agreed design and site arrangements. Buried services, excavation precautions and the appropriate checks must remain part of the work as conditions become visible. Inspection stages need coordinating before work is concealed. No single excavation depth, support method or foundation type is promised as suitable for every Lincolnshire site.
Verification & next-stage handover
Review the completed scope and relevant records before the next construction stage covers the work. Confirm the agreed levels and interfaces with the following trades. Our 18-month workmanship guarantee applies to the works, with manufacturer product warranties matched where relevant. Good handover information helps keep the subsequent building or landscaping aligned with the preparation beneath it.
Built around your priorities
What a coordinated project gives you
A scope matched to the build
Connecting groundworks with the intended construction gives excavation and foundation choices a design basis. That is more useful than choosing a standard package that may omit drainage, levels or other interfaces needed for the building above it.
Constraints identified earlier
Access, services and surrounding structures can influence the work before excavation begins. Reviewing them early helps establish what further information is needed and avoids treating foreseeable constraints as surprises once labour and machinery are already committed to the site.
Checks before concealment
Coordinating relevant inspection stages with progress gives the project a clearer sequence. Work below ground is often covered by the next stage, so agreeing what needs review first is more practical than trying to reconstruct missing information after concrete or finishes are in place.
One team from the ground up
Where groundworks form part of a wider Ranshaw design-and-build project, the preparation and following construction can be discussed within one scope. That helps keep the interfaces visible rather than leaving the property owner to resolve conflicting assumptions between separately booked trades.
The details that matter
Methods, materials & site requirements
Foundation options & ground conditions
Strip, trench-fill and other foundation approaches are design choices, not interchangeable products to select by price alone. The appropriate solution depends on the structure, ground and relevant engineering information. Existing buildings, trees and site constraints may need consideration. We do not assume one foundation type or depth for every job; the quotation and execution must refer to the requirements established for the actual project.
Drainage, levels & external preparation
Drainage routes and site levels influence foundations, access and finished surfaces. New work may need to connect with existing services or buildings, so accurate information is valuable before excavation. Ground preparation for a driveway differs from preparation for a structural foundation. Define the intended loading and use, and clarify any testing, specialist design or connection work required rather than assuming a general groundworks description includes every external service.
Excavation safety & construction interfaces
HSE guidance highlights collapse, falling materials, falls and underground services as excavation issues that need appropriate precautions. Site-specific arrangements and competent inspections matter where required. The excavation approach must also consider nearby foundations and construction access. Public liability cover does not remove these duties. Agree the inspection and handover sequence so the next stage of construction can proceed from the actual completed scope rather than unverified assumptions about buried work.
General guidance: HSE: excavation safety. Requirements are checked for the individual site and proposal.
Your questions answered
Before you book groundworks
How much does groundworks cost in Lincoln?
Every project is quoted individually after we understand the site and the work required. There is no published fixed price or square-metre rate to substitute for that assessment. Access, ground conditions, existing services, specification and any necessary approvals can all change the scope. Your initial site visit and quotation are free and carry no obligation. Tell us the location, your aims and any available drawings so the discussion starts with the actual project rather than an assumed budget.
How long will the work take?
A standard completion time has not been provided. The programme depends on the agreed scope, design information, approvals, material availability, site access and any work that must happen before construction starts. We discuss these dependencies when reviewing your project, rather than promising the same timescale for every property. If you have a proposed move-in date, business opening or other deadline, mention it during the initial enquiry so its implications can be considered before you commit to a start date.
What happens at the free site visit?
The initial visit is an opportunity to explain the result you want, show us the site and identify the information needed for a meaningful quotation. Bring drawings, photographs, known constraints and details of any previous work where available. We discuss the proposed scope and the stages that may need further design or approval. A free visit is not a substitute for specialist surveys or a formal approval; where more investigation is needed, that requirement should be clear before the construction scope is finalised.
What guarantee and insurance do you provide?
Ranshaw Group provides an 18-month workmanship guarantee on all works and matches manufacturer product warranties. We hold £10,000,000 public liability insurance. A workmanship guarantee and a product warranty cover different things, so ask about the terms relevant to your chosen specification when reviewing the quotation. These are not promises of a fixed service lifespan or a replacement for routine maintenance. We do not hold trade-body accreditations and do not present membership badges or review scores that have not been supplied.
How are payments arranged?
For standard domestic projects, the payment schedule is a 10% deposit upon booking, 40% payable two weeks before the scheduled start date, 45% staged throughout the project and the final 5% upon sign-off. Commercial staged payments may be adapted for development loans or direct lender schedules. Each job is quoted individually, so review the written scope and payment stages together. Discuss any lender requirements at the outset rather than assuming they can be fitted around a construction programme after work has already been booked.
Do you cover Lincolnshire, and can you attend an emergency?
We cover Lincoln, Grantham, Boston and Sleaford, along with the other Lincolnshire locations listed on our website. Contact us with the site address so we can discuss your project. Our published hours are Monday–Saturday, 6am–6pm, and Sunday, 8am–6pm. An emergency or out-of-hours response service has not been provided, and we do not promise a response time. Call 07960 180466 to discuss availability; for an immediate danger, use the appropriate emergency service rather than waiting for a building quotation.
Can you quote from drawings before visiting the Lincoln site?
Drawings are useful for the initial discussion, but site conditions and access influence what must be included. Share the information you have and arrange the free initial visit. If investigations, structural details or service information remain outstanding, the quotation needs to identify that rather than treating a preliminary plan as complete. Every job is quoted individually, and a drawing-based discussion is not a guarantee that concealed ground conditions will match an assumption.
How long do foundations and prepared surfaces last?
There is no single lifespan for all groundworks. Foundation design, actual ground conditions, the construction above and ongoing use influence performance; drainage and external surfaces have their own maintenance needs. We provide an 18-month workmanship guarantee and match manufacturer product warranties where relevant. The guarantee is not a substitute for appropriate structural design, and it should not be confused with a universal expected lifespan for every buried element.
Free site visit · No obligation
Give your groundworks project a clear starting point
Tell us about your site and the result you want. We’ll discuss the work required and arrange a free initial visit, with an individual quotation for your project.
£10m public liability insurance · 18-month workmanship guarantee