The structural design and the quality of the groundworks are key to the success and durability of any oak framed building.

We carry out the installation of the foundations, brickwork and oversites to the satisfaction of the Local Authority Building Control Department and Structural Engineers specification. We will ensure the dimensional accuracy of the groundworks to suit the oak framed building.

Our typical groundworks specification is as follows:

• Construct a concrete foundation to support new walls, to a width of 450 mm and depth of 1 m.
• Construct on previously installed foundations, a series of 215 mm thick brick walls. Walls to be constructed in new stock bricks to an overall height of 450 mm, 3 courses below ground level and 3 courses above.
• Install a 150 mm compacted sub base to the entire area of barn base and compact to refusal.
• A 250 mu damp proof membrane to be positioned under the concrete oversite.
• Cast concrete oversite to a depth of 150 mm incorporating A412 reinforcement mesh and tamped to a smooth finish.
• Installation of hopper head gullies located below down pipes. Gullies to be connected via 100 mm underground drainage pipes and discharged to a soakway.
• Construction of 1 m³ hardcore filled soakaway capped with 250 mu polythene membrane and lean mixed concrete.

Alternative foundation designs are available should ground conditions dictate, such as piled, pad and beam or raft foundations.

In many cases retaining walls are required to accommodate changes in levels or to reclaim land currently within a bank or slope. We design all our retaining walls to suit the site specific conditions and can construct part of the barn to act as the retaining wall as well as the building envelope, if required.

Surrey Oak Barns will carry out any necessary underground foul drainage installation to accommodate toilet and/or bathroom facilities within our barns. The type of installation ranges from a simple connection into an adjacent manhole to the installation of new septic tanks, cesspools or sewage treatment plants. We can also apply for the discharge license from the Environment Agency if a sewage treatment plant is required.

The techniques employed to construct our groundworks are no different to that for brick built buildings or extensions and our groundworks services are available to any client wishing to undertake traditional groundworks projects.