Hartford foundation breaking to the depth required
Strip footings, pad foundations, mass concrete and machine bases broken out. Depth is set by what the ground is needed for next, and anything adjoining is checked and protected before the work starts.
Foundations do not have to disappear entirely, and taking out more than the next use requires is money spent on muckaway and then again on fill. A garden or a car park needs far less than a new foundation on the same footprint.
What matters is that the answer is decided deliberately, from the design of whatever is going in next, rather than by how deep the machine happened to get before the day ended. We agree the depth in writing before starting and record what was taken out and to what level, so your engineer or builder is working from a fact.
Old buildings frequently share footings with the one next door, or sit close enough that breaking out on one side undermines the other. Vibration travels further through the ground than people expect, and a neighbour with a cracked render is a dispute that outlasts the job by months.
Where the work is close to a boundary we assess what is on the other side first, use a method that limits vibration, and where it is warranted carry out a condition survey with photographs before starting so there is a record of what was already there.
On party structures a formal notice may be required, and it is better raised early. Temporary support where a neighbouring structure needs it is covered under shoring and support, wider removal under structural demolition, and haulage under debris hauling.
Only as deep as the next use requires. Taking more out costs money twice, in muckaway and in fill, so the depth is agreed from the new design rather than by default.
Assessed before we start. Where the work is close to a boundary we limit vibration and often take a photographic condition survey first, so there is a record of what was already cracked.
Sometimes, and it is better raised early than late. We will tell you when we think one applies, though serving it is a matter between you and the neighbour.
Backfilled and compacted to the level agreed, using crushed material from the site where that is suitable and imported stone where it is not.
Less than people expect with the right method. Where a structure nearby is sensitive we use lower-vibration techniques even though they are slower.
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