How long does it take?

It depends entirely on access and depth. A straightforward section in open ground is a different proposition to anything under a building, a drive or a highway, and we would rather tell you what we are looking at once we can see it than guess beforehand.

Will my drive look the same afterwards?

Block paving usually goes back very well. Tarmac and printed concrete rarely match exactly. We would rather tell you that before you commit than after.

Do I need building control approval?

For a like-for-like repair, generally not. For new drainage or altering a connection, sometimes yes. We will flag it if it applies.

Groundworks and drainage repairs

Some pipework cannot be repaired from the inside. A fully collapsed run, a section that has dropped, or a chamber that has failed has to be dug out and replaced.

It is the biggest job we do and the one we are slowest to recommend. When it genuinely is the answer, you will see the footage that shows why.

0113 418 281924 hours, 7 days a week · no call-out fee

Signs you are looking at this

A collapsed section confirmed on camera
Repeated blockages at exactly the same point after previous repairs
A dip or hollow appearing in a drive, path or lawn
A chamber with failed brickwork or benching
Pipework laid to the wrong fall, so it never runs properly

How we deal with it

01Know what we are digging for. A camera survey shows the reason for the excavation before anyone lifts a slab. It needs the drain running, so it is a separate visit from any clearance work, at additional cost.
02Tell you what we are into. Scope, access, reinstatement and disposal, explained before we start, so you know what the hours are going to be spent on.
03Excavate and replace. The failed section is removed and replaced, laid to the correct fall and bedded properly.
04Reinstate. The surface goes back. We will be straight with you beforehand about how well block paving or tarmac will match.

What it costs

Our hourly rate. Groundworks is the least predictable work we do, which is precisely why we will not put a fixed price on it before we have opened the ground.

How our pricing works →

When you do not need it

If a run can be lined, it should be lined. Digging is the last option, not the first, and anyone quoting to excavate without showing you camera footage first is asking you to take a lot on trust.

Common questions

How long does it take?: It depends entirely on access and depth. A straightforward section in open ground is a different proposition to anything under a building, a drive or a highway, and we would rather tell you what we are looking at once we can see it than guess beforehand.
Will my drive look the same afterwards?: Block paving usually goes back very well. Tarmac and printed concrete rarely match exactly. We would rather tell you that before you commit than after.
Do I need building control approval?: For a like-for-like repair, generally not. For new drainage or altering a connection, sometimes yes. We will flag it if it applies.

24 hours, 7 days a week

Been quoted for excavation? Let us see the footage first.

We can usually tell you what is likely wrong before we set off, and roughly what it will take to put right.

0113 418 2819

No call-out charge. We only charge from arrival.