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[Home](/) 2. [Services](/services) 3. Ground Preparation & Drainage The Foundation Every Surface Depends On Service · Hampshire # Ground Preparation & Drainage The Foundation Every Surface Depends On Full excavation, MOT Type 1 sub-base, edging, soakaways and linear drainage, engineered properly so the surface above lasts. Whether you're building a driveway, patio, garden room base or industrial hardstanding, this is the layer that decides how long it survives. [Get My Free Quote](/contact) [07361 584754](tel:+447361584754) Rated 4.8★ on Google · £1M insured · Up to 10-year workmanship guarantee ![Compacted sand bed screeded ready for block paving installation](/__l5e/assets-v1/8ee3d7c7-19be-463f-bf74-ff8e78c0c35b/Landscaping_3.jpeg) 4.8★ Google Rating 10 Yrs Guarantee £1M Public Liability 24–48h Quote Turnaround Charlie Owner-Led Overview ## Everything you need to know before you commit What it is Ground preparation is the excavation, sub-base build and drainage design that sits underneath every driveway, patio or hard surface we install. It's the invisible 80% of the job, and the reason our surfaces are still tight and level a decade after we hand them over. Who it's for Homeowners rebuilding a driveway or patio, garden designers preparing bases for outbuildings, and anyone whose existing surface is failing because the base underneath was never built properly. Also available as a standalone service for owner-builders and self-installers. When you need it Whenever a new hard surface is going in, an existing one is failing (sinking, cracking, pooling water), or drainage needs to be corrected before further landscaping work. Also for garden room / summerhouse / hot-tub bases and outdoor kitchen slabs. Why get it done properly Every failed drive we're called to repair fails for the same reason: the base wasn't built to the correct depth, wasn't compacted in engineered lifts, or didn't include the drainage the site needed. Fix the base and the surface above lasts for decades. The cost of leaving it ## What happens if you delay, or hire the wrong crew You cannot see the base, so it's the first thing corner-cutting installers skip. A missing 50mm here, an un-compacted lift there, no soakaway where the ground demanded one, and your beautiful new surface starts failing before the guarantee runs out. ### Risks of putting it off - Water pooling in the wrong place, migrating towards house foundations - Whole-drive sinking where the sub-base was shallow or un-compacted - Cracking and heaving through frost action on inadequately drained ground - Blocked existing gullies and aco channels missed during the survey - Trees and root disturbance that should have been factored into the design ### Common mistakes homeowners make - Assuming the existing drive can be re-used as the sub-base - Skipping the geotextile membrane over soft or made-up ground - Not running a soakaway where surface water has nowhere else to go - Compacting the whole depth in one lift instead of engineered layers - Ignoring falls, surface water is either your friend or your enemy Our process ## Owner-led, from first visit to final sweep 1. 01 ### Site survey and levels check Charlie inspects the ground, checks existing drainage, marks out gullies and soakaway locations, and sets fall lines so water goes exactly where it should. 2. 02 ### Written specification You get a written spec covering excavation depth, sub-base type, compaction lifts, membrane, drainage runs and any additional site-specific measures, before a spade goes in the ground. 3. 03 ### Excavation and spoil removal We dig to the correct depth, remove all spoil from site and dispose of it responsibly, no piles of muck left behind and no unexpected extras added to the invoice. 4. 04 ### Membrane and sub-base build Geotextile membrane laid over soft or made-up ground, then MOT Type 1 sub-base compacted in engineered 100–150mm lifts to full depth, never in one loose dump. 5. 05 ### Drainage installation Linear channel drains, soakaways, gully connections and land drains installed and tested before the surface layer goes in. Falls double-checked with a laser level. 6. 06 ### Handover and warranty Whether the top layer is our resin, block, gravel or someone else's, the base is handed over documented and photographed, with a written guarantee on the workmanship. Why homeowners choose us ## The measurable benefits you get ### Engineered to load Sub-base depth designed to the loading, driveways, HGV yards, garden rooms, hot-tub bases and outdoor kitchens all specified to what actually sits on top. ### Drainage that actually drains Soakaways, aco channels, gully connections and land drains, designed and installed so no square metre ends up ponding water. ### Correct falls set with a laser Falls set with laser levels, not eye-balled with a spirit level. Water goes where we want it to, not into your walls. ### Photographed and documented Base builds are photographed at each stage so you have a permanent record of what you paid for, this matters if you ever sell. ### Standalone or bundled Available as a standalone service to owner-builders, other contractors and homeowners who want the base right before another trade takes over. ### 10-year workmanship guarantee In writing on the base build, plus £1M public liability insurance. If the base fails, we come back, that's the promise. In detail ## Materials, methods and specification This is where our jobs are won or lost. Here's exactly what we do beneath every surface we lay. ### Sub-base specification MOT Type 1 crushed limestone or granite as standard, 100–150mm for footpaths and patios, 150–200mm for driveways, 250mm+ for heavier vehicular use. Compacted in engineered lifts with a plate compactor or ride-on roller as the site demands. ### Geotextile membrane Heavy-duty non-woven geotextile laid over soft, clay or made-up ground to prevent sub-base migration and improve load spreading. On very poor ground we may specify a geo-grid layer for additional stability. ### Drainage design Linear channel drains (Aco Brickslot, HexDrain), soakaways sized to BRE Digest 365, connections to existing gullies where available, and land drains where surface flooding is an issue. Falls set with laser levels, minimum 1:80 for patios, 1:60 for driveways. ### Excavation and spoil Full excavation to correct depth using mini-diggers where access allows, hand-dug where it doesn't. All spoil removed from site, never left in a pile in the garden or on the drive. ### Concrete bases and edging Reinforced concrete bases for garden rooms, summerhouses, hot tubs and outdoor kitchens, poured to a laser-checked level with tie bars where required by manufacturer specifications. Edge restraints concreted in on all block, resin and gravel drives. ### Residential vs commercial Commercial and industrial groundwork uses thicker sub-base, geo-grid reinforcement and heavier drainage. Same principles, sized to the loading. We work both markets and price transparently. We cover **Hook, Basingstoke, Camberley, Fleet, Farnborough, Frimley, Andover, Reading, Winchester** and surrounding Hampshire. [Check my postcode](/contact) Recent work ## Real Hampshire projects, real finishes [See full portfolio](/our-work) ![Gravel driveway with brick weep vent and drainage detail against the wall](/__l5e/assets-v1/b4a22525-9cdc-4a04-9cfa-ca998dc68bbe/drainage-1.jpeg) ![Old concrete driveway being broken out with an SDS breaker before rebuild](/__l5e/assets-v1/aaae958e-86b2-469d-962f-a4880f9edc0e/Landscaping_2.jpeg) ![Compacted sand bed being screeded ready for block paving installation](/__l5e/assets-v1/8ee3d7c7-19be-463f-bf74-ff8e78c0c35b/Landscaping_3.jpeg) ![Block paving driveway in progress with prepared bed and materials on site](/__l5e/assets-v1/50e8c813-ede6-4950-81ab-324d0b84d2d0/Landscaping_1.jpeg) FAQ ## Answers to the questions we hear most ### Do you offer ground preparation as a standalone service? ### How deep should a driveway sub-base be? ### What is MOT Type 1 and why does it matter? ### Do I need a soakaway? ### What about tree roots and existing drainage? ### Can you correct drainage on an existing patio or drive? ### How long does groundwork take? ### Do you dispose of the spoil? ### What guarantee do you provide on groundwork? ### Which areas do you cover? ## Related services [ Resin Driveways Permeable, SUDS-compliant resin-bound driveways with a smooth, low-maintenance finish. Learn more ](/services/resin-driveways)[ Block Paving Marshalls, Brett, Bradstone and Tobermore ranges laid to exacting industry standards. Learn more ](/services/block-paving)[ Patios Natural stone, porcelain, sandstone and concrete slab patios built to last. Learn more ](/services/patios) [Home](/)· [See our work](/our-work)· [Read reviews](/reviews)· [Contact us](/contact) Serving: [Hook ](/areas/hook)[Basingstoke ](/areas/basingstoke)[Camberley ](/areas/camberley)[Fleet ](/areas/fleet)[Farnborough ](/areas/farnborough)[Frimley ](/areas/frimley)[Andover ](/areas/andover)[Reading ](/areas/reading)[Winchester ](/areas/winchester) £1M Insured · 10-Year Guarantee ## Get a fixed, no-pressure quote for your Hampshire project, in 24–48 hours. Free site visit. Owner-led from day one. Written quotes with no gimmicks and no chasing. [Get My Free Quote](/contact) [07361 584754](tel:+447361584754) Quote in 24–48 hrs Premium trade materials Hampshire owner-led team ![Direct Paving Group UK](/__l5e/assets-v1/a7c578c4-235e-4c2f-8613-c7c765e4c965/logo.png) Premium resin, block paving and landscaping across Hampshire. Owner-led, £1 million insured, up to 10-year workmanship guarantee. [4.8 · 13 Google reviews ](https://share.google/W4poiZgnzG2lknFBi) ### Services - [Resin Driveways](/services/resin-driveways) - [Block Paving](/services/block-paving) - [Patios](/services/patios) - [Shingle & Gravel Driveways](/services/gravel-driveways) - [Ground Preparation & Drainage](/services/ground-preparation-drainage) - [Landscaping & Turfing](/services/landscaping-turfing) - [Fencing Installation](/services/fencing) - [Brickwork & Garden Walls](/services/brickwork-walls) - [Decking Installation](/services/decking) ### Areas - [Hook](/areas/hook) - [Basingstoke](/areas/basingstoke) - [Camberley](/areas/camberley) - [Fleet](/areas/fleet) - [Farnborough](/areas/farnborough) - [Frimley](/areas/frimley) - [Andover](/areas/andover) - [Reading](/areas/reading) - [Winchester](/areas/winchester) ### Contact - [07361 584754](tel:+447361584754) - [directpavinggroup@outlook.com](mailto:directpavinggroup@outlook.com) - Hook, Hampshire ### Opening Hours - Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm - Saturday 9am – 3pm - Sunday Closed © 2026 Direct Paving Group UK. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy)[Cookie Policy](/cookie-policy)[Terms & Conditions](/terms-conditions) Registered address: Hook, Hampshire · £1M Public Liability Insurance [Call](tel:+447361584754)[Free Quote](/contact) We use essential cookies to make this site work, plus optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. See our [Cookie Policy](/cookie-policy). AcceptReject