Groundworks Gone Wrong: The Common Mistakes That Cost You Thousands
September 18, 2025|News
Key Findings
- Poor site clearance leads to unsafe working conditions and construction delays.
- Incorrect trenching techniques can compromise drainage and structural stability.
- Badly built retaining walls often fail due to poor design or material use.
- Skimping on temporary haul roads causes delays and costly damage to vehicles.
- Poor groundwork preparation for roads, car parks, and foundations leads to long-term maintenance issues.
When it comes to construction, strong groundworks are non-negotiable. Get the basics wrong, whether that’s site clearance, trenching, drainage or foundations, and you’ll pay for it later with delays, structural problems, and spiralling costs.
At Towens, we’ve spent over 30 years helping contractors and developers across the South West get their groundwork right. Here’s where mistakes are most often made, and how you can avoid them to keep your construction process on track.
Site Clearance: Not Just About Removing Rubbish
Skipping a thorough site clearance is one of the first big mistakes we see. Incomplete clearance leads to hidden debris, unstable surfaces, and unsafe working conditions.
Proper site clearance means removing all vegetation, debris, waste, and unstable ground before any excavation or building starts. It lays the foundation for every other stage of the groundwork – and doing it right the first time avoids expensive rework.
Trenching: Small Details, Big Problems
Trenching might seem straightforward, but incorrect depths, poor soil management, or shoddy backfilling can lead to serious drainage and structural issues later.
At Towens, we understand how critical trenching is, particularly when it comes to temporary and permanent drainage systems. Attention to detail during trenching saves you thousands in repairs when water starts moving through your site.
Retaining Walls: When Cutting Corners Gets Expensive
Retaining walls need to be designed and built properly to withstand earth pressure, drainage, and long-term settlement. Common mistakes include using the wrong backfill materials, insufficient drainage behind the wall, or simply poor construction practices.
A failed retaining wall doesn’t just cost money – it risks the integrity of everything built around it. That’s why it’s vital to use experienced groundwork contractors who understand the technical demands of building safe, effective retaining structures.
Temporary Haul Roads: Don’t Underestimate Them
Temporary haul roads often get overlooked in the planning stages, but poor access can cripple your construction process. Weak haul roads lead to stuck lorries, damaged equipment, and site delays.
Towens can provide haul roads built with durable, recycled aggregates, ensuring your vehicles can move easily across the site without disruption – rain or shine.
Drainage: The Silent Risk in Groundworks
It’s impossible to overstate how important drainage is during groundwork preparation. Poor drainage design causes erosion, flooding, and undermines foundations and roads.
Our team at Towens specialises in installing both temporary and permanent drainage solutions as part of our groundwork services. Proper drainage protects the long-term health of your site – and saves you from huge repair costs later.
Landscaping and Surfacing: More Than Just Finishing Touches
Landscaping and surfacing roads and car parks might feel like the end of the job, but mistakes here can have major repercussions. Poor base preparation, incorrect material choice, or rushed surfacing leads to potholes, water pooling, and expensive resurfacing far sooner than you’d planned.
At Towens, we ensure that landscaping and surfacing work is properly integrated into the overall groundworks plan, delivering a durable finish that stands up to heavy use and the unpredictable UK weather.
Foundations and Excavation: The Bedrock of Success
Foundations are only as good as the groundwork that supports them. Inadequate excavation, poor soil compaction, or incorrect foundation design results in settlement, cracking, and structural instability.
We specialise in precise excavation, earth removal, and foundation preparation, ensuring that when you start to build, you’re working on a stable, properly engineered base.
Who Are Towens?
We’re Towens – a family-owned recycling, waste management, haulage, and environmental services company based in Weston-super-Mare. With over 30 years of expertise, we proudly support construction projects across Somerset and the South West of England.
Our groundworks services include:
- Site clearance
- Trenching
- Retaining walls
- Temporary haul roads
- Temporary and permanent drainage
- Landscaping
- Surfacing roads and car parks
- Foundations
- Excavation and removal of excess earth
Alongside our groundworks offering, we provide:
- Waste management and recycling
- Supply of quality recycled aggregates
- Hire of tippers and grab lorries
- Civils and demolition services for select projects
Sustainability is at the heart of what we do. We operate four recycling facilities, with 92% of all materials processed being recycled, reused, or recovered – helping reduce the carbon footprint of your construction process.
Need support with your groundwork or construction project?
📞 Call us on 01934 424242
📧 Email skips@towens.co.uk
🌐 Or complete the online form on our website.
Groundworks FAQs
What types of groundworks does Towens offer?
We provide site clearance, trenching, retaining walls, haul roads, drainage, landscaping, surfacing, foundations, and excavation services.
Why are haul roads important for construction sites?
Haul roads provide vital site access for heavy vehicles. Without strong, durable haul roads, you risk delays, equipment damage, and additional costs during your construction process.
What are the most common drainage mistakes in groundworks?
The biggest drainage mistakes are poor design, inadequate capacity, and incorrect installation. These can cause water pooling, erosion, and structural instability.
How important is proper site clearance?
Site clearance ensures a safe, stable environment for construction work. Poor clearance can hide hazards, delay work, and increase health and safety risks.
How can I get a quote from Towens?
You can contact us by phone on 01934 424242, email skips@towens.co.uk, or fill in the enquiry form on our website. We’ll be happy to discuss your project needs.
