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Plan & adviceMeasure & estimate4 tools & guides
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Plan & adviceRead4 tools & guidesA Jones ContractorsAbout5 pages · view all
Knowledge library
Plain-English answers on foundations, drainage, extensions, driveways and costs, published by the Guildford contractor that does the work and linked to official sources.
Start here · first-time renovators
Planning an extension, driveway or garden project for the first time? Read these in order: each one answers the question the next contractor will ask you.
Excavation, foundations, drainage and slabs: the stages most quotes are built from.
ReadClay, trees and drains change foundation depth. Know the questions before the design.
ReadShared sewers near an extension can need water-company consent. Check early.
ReadWhat really moves the price: depth, access, spoil, drainage and unknown ground.
ReadLine up inclusions and exclusions so the cheapest total is not a false saving.
Open toolThe library
Specialist guides go deep on one decision; field guides cover the wider project. All are free, with no sign-up.
See what groundworks include, from excavation to foundations and drainage. Six stages, real project photos and the questions to ask before accepting a quote.
Inside this guide
Specialist guide
What changes the cost of a soakaway in Surrey, from checks and digging to pipes and making good, and why a price…
Read guide Specialist guide
A plain-English guide to soakage (percolation) tests: how fast water drains into the ground, what results mean on mixed Surrey soils, and…
Read guide Specialist guide
How to find out who owns a drain, check its route and plan foundations around it before an extension is dug.
Read guide
Specialist guide
A practical guide to what drives the cost of digging, foundations, drainage, concrete and soil removal in Surrey.
Read guide Specialist guide
How clay, nearby trees, old fill, drains and existing foundations can affect extension foundations in Surrey.
Read guide Specialist guide
A practical guide to paving front gardens in Surrey: surfaces that let water through, water running onto the road, door levels and…
Read guide
Specialist guide
The drawings, surveys, access checks, drain details and inspections to sort out before your extension is dug.
Read guide
Specialist guide
How surveys, drainage, patch repairs, tarmac choice, phasing and line marking shape a long-lasting car park resurfacing job.
Read guide Field guide
Compare 2026 driveway prices per m² and 50 m² examples for gravel, tarmac, paving and resin. Check groundworks, drainage, VAT and quote…
Read article Field guide
Print a practical driveway quote checklist. Compare excavation, sub-base, drainage, edging, waste, VAT and exclusions before choosing a contractor.
Read article
Field guide
Prepare a stable patio base: check excavation depth, compacted sub-base, bedding, falls and drainage, with a worked layer example and site checklist.
Read article
Field guide
A practical guide to the factors behind UK foundation depth, including ground, trees, loads, nearby drains and Building Control requirements.
Read article Field guide
See how early investigation, correct excavation, drainage and compacted sub-bases can prevent costly movement, water damage and rework.
Read article Field guide
Learn how soil and site investigation can reveal bearing, movement, water and contamination risks before foundation or drainage work starts.
Read article Field guide
Explore the design, structure, access, services, finish and risk allowances behind realistic UK house extension costs in 2026.
Read article Field guide
Compare common extension foundation options and the ground, trees, drainage, loads and Building Control evidence that influence the design.
Read article
Field guide
See the typical stages of a house extension and how design, approvals, ground conditions, access, inspections and variations affect duration.
Read article
Field guide
Understand when an extension may need planning permission and why permitted development, design and Building Regulations are separate checks.
Read article
Field guide
Use this practical checklist to prepare access, drawings, services, neighbours, valuables and everyday routines before extension work begins.
Read article Field guide
Identify ten common driveway drainage problems, their likely causes and practical fixes before water damages paving, edges or nearby structures.
Read article Field guide
Understand why gardens hold water and compare grading, soil improvement, land drains, soakaways and other site-specific drainage options.
Read article Field guide
Spot early signs of drainage failure around a home and understand when maintenance, investigation, repair or redesign may be required.
Read article Field guide
Learn why drains block, what warning signs matter and when cleaning, repair or a wider drainage investigation may be the right response.
Read article Field guide
Compare block paving and resin driveways for appearance, drainage, maintenance, repair, preparation and long-term value in Surrey.
Read article
Field guide
Keep a resin driveway clean and serviceable with practical advice on washing, weeds, stains, snow, damage and professional repairs.
Read article Field guide
Understand planning, dropped kerb, drainage, boundary and utility questions to check before widening or extending a UK driveway.
Read article Field guide
Learn why driveways sink, how to distinguish a local surface defect from a failed base and what a durable repair may need…
Read article Field guide
Compare retaining wall types and the excavation, drainage, loading, access, finish and engineering decisions that influence scope and cost.
Read article Field guide
Understand when a concrete slab is used, what sits beneath it and how levels, reinforcement, drainage and curing affect performance.
Read articleTry a broader word such as , or , search the whole site, or ask us directly.
Plan with numbers
Guides explain the decisions; the tools turn your measurements into a rough budget, a checklist or a brief a contractor can price.
See all planning toolsEditorial standards
Published by A Jones Contractors, a Guildford groundworks and building contractor, drawing on the questions that come up on real Surrey sites.
Read our editorial methodEvery guide opens with the short answer, then the site conditions that change it.
Rules link to GOV.UK, Planning Portal, HSE, Building Control or the water company.
The updated date changes only when we have properly reviewed a page.
General guidance cannot confirm your ground, structure or permissions. We say so.
The next useful step
Send the postcode, a few photos and any drawings. We will turn the general advice into a practical plan for your property.
