07757 559036Open 7 days, 7:30am – 6:30pm AboutServicesLandscaping & paving services in Bolton All services Artificial Grass Supply & InstallationA lawn that stays green, flat and usable through Manchester winters, no mowing, no mud, no bare patches. Supplied and fitted by the same three-man team that digs out the base, so nothing is passed to a subcontractor.Paving & PatiosPorcelain, natural Indian stone, block paving and concrete slabs, every type of paving except resin. Groundwork, falls and drainage done by the same team that lays the surface, with a fixed price and a 10-year workmanship guarantee.PatiosA patio designed for where the sun lands and how many people sit out, then built on an excavated, compacted base with falls set away from the house. Fixed price, 10-year workmanship guarantee.PathwaysFront paths, side passages and walkways through the garden, laid in porcelain, sandstone or block paving on a compacted base with proper falls and edge restraint.Garden Makeovers & TransformationsLawn, paving, borders, fencing and planting handled as a single job with a single fixed price. No juggling three trades, no gaps between them, and no half-finished garden left over the winter.Fencing InstallationSecurity, privacy and decorative timber fencing, with posts dug to a proper depth and the line pulled straight. Fixed prices and a 10-year workmanship guarantee.DeckingRaised and ground-level decks built on a properly supported, ventilated frame, in treated timber or low-maintenance composite. Fixed price and a 10-year workmanship guarantee.Timber Borders, Beds & PlantersSleeper edging, raised planting beds and made-to-measure planter boxes, built on site in treated timber and lined and drained so they last rather than rot from the inside.Groundwork & Base PrepExcavation, compacted sub-base, edging and falls carried out fully in-house by the same team that lays the lawn or paving on top. This is the stage that decides whether a garden still looks right in ten years.Hard & Soft LandscapingThe built elements and the green ones in one job: groundwork, paving, steps, retaining and timber structures, alongside lawns, borders, gravel and planting.Commercial LandscapingHard-wearing artificial grass, paving and groundwork specified for constant use, installed by a small in-house team with £2 million public liability cover and a 10-year workmanship guarantee. Free site visit, fixed written price, 10-year workmanship guarantee.Get your free quote AreasAreas we cover across Greater Manchester All areas BoltonArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in BoltonHorwichArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in HorwichWesthoughtonArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in WesthoughtonFarnworthArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in FarnworthKearsleyArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in KearsleyLittle LeverArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in Little LeverBlackrodArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in BlackrodBuryArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in BuryRadcliffeArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in RadcliffeAthertonArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in AthertonChorleyArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in ChorleyWiganArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in WiganBlackburnArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in BlackburnAccringtonArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in AccringtonBurnleyArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in BurnleyLancashireArtificial grass, paving and landscaping in Lancashire Free site visit, fixed written price, 10-year workmanship guarantee.Get your free quote Our WorkReviewsContact07757 559036Get Your Free Quote - Home - Services - Groundwork & Base PrepBolton & Greater Manchester # Groundwork and drainage in Bolton:the part you never see,doing all the work Excavation, compacted sub-base, edging and falls carried out fully in-house by the same team that lays the lawn or paving on top. This is the stage that decides whether a garden still looks right in ten years. Get Your Free QuoteCall 07757 559036 10 years in business · 10-year workmanship guarantee · £2m public liability cover 10 years Groundwork experience as Greenerlawn 10-year Workmanship guarantee £2 million Public liability cover In-house Nothing subcontracted Fixed price Free site visit, price that holds Overview ## What groundwork and drainage actually cover Groundwork is everything below the finished surface: stripping out old material and vegetation, excavating to the right depth, laying and compacting stone in layers, setting levels and falls, and fixing the edge restraint that stops it all spreading. Drainage is the route the water takes once the surface is down. We do this ourselves on every job, whether the finish is artificial grass, porcelain, Indian stone, block paving or concrete slabs. That matters because the base has to be specified for what sits on it and for what the ground beneath is doing, and nobody can verify that after the surface is laid. We also take on groundwork as its own scope where a garden has a water problem to solve, levels to resolve, or a base to prepare before other work. It is the same team, the same standard and the same fixed-price approach. ### Who it is for, and when - Gardens that hold water or turn to mud every winter - Water pooling or running towards the house - Lawns and patios that have sunk, dipped or started rocking - Sloping plots needing levels, retaining or steps - New-build gardens left as compacted rubble and thin topsoil - Any lawn or patio installation that needs a base built properlyBook a free site visit What it costs to ignore ## What poor groundwork leads to, and when Groundwork failures are invisible for a year and obvious by the third. Stone that was tipped in deep and rolled once rather than compacted in layers keeps consolidating under use, and the surface follows it down, dips in a lawn, rocking slabs on a patio, a driveway that develops ruts where the car sits. Water is the bigger risk. Falls that run the wrong way put rain against the brickwork below damp-proof level, and that turns into damp plaster and rotten skirting inside the house. A garden with nowhere for water to go stays saturated, kills planting, and makes the whole space unusable for much of the year. None of it is repairable from the top. Correcting a failed base means lifting whatever is on it, digging out and rebuilding, paying twice for the same job, and often for new materials because the originals will not lift cleanly. On the clay ground common around Bolton, cutting corners here is the single most expensive mistake in landscaping. ### Common mistakes we get called out to fix - Compacting one deep layer of stone rather than several thin ones - Laying a surface straight onto topsoil, turf or an old failing base - No fall, or falls running towards the house - Paving finished above damp-proof course level - Leaving out edge restraint, so the base spreads and edges dip - Treating drainage as an extra rather than part of the build Our process ## How we run a groundwork & base prep job The same sequence every time, so you know what is happening and when. - Step 1 ### Free site visit and ground assessment We check ground conditions, existing levels, where water currently collects and goes, damp-proof course height and access for machinery and muck away. - Step 2 ### Fixed-price quote A written price covering excavation, waste removal, sub-base depth, edging, falls and any drainage works. It does not change once we start. - Step 3 ### Excavation and muck away Old surfaces, roots and soft material dug out to formation level, with spoil removed from site rather than spread around the garden. - Step 4 ### Sub-base in layers Stone laid and compacted in layers to a firm, consolidated base at the depth that suits the ground and the loading above it. - Step 5 ### Levels, falls and drainage Falls set away from buildings, drainage runs, channels or gullies installed and connected where the levels need them. - Step 6 ### Edging, verification, handover Edge restraint fixed, levels and falls checked across the whole area before any surface goes on, then handover with a 10-year workmanship guarantee. What you get ## The difference it makes ### Surfaces that stay put Properly compacted layers carry a decade of use without the dips, ruts and rocking slabs that come from a rushed base. ### House protected from water Falls set away from brickwork and correct levels at the threshold keep rainwater off the walls and out of the building. ### A garden usable in winter Drainage that moves water off the plot instead of letting it stand, so the space is not written off for half the year. ### No paying twice Getting the base right the first time avoids lifting and rebuilding finished work, which is always the larger bill. ### Safe, even ground Consistent levels, resolved slopes and no trip lips where surfaces meet: including for schools and nurseries. ### In-house accountability The team that builds the base lays the finish, so the specification below matches what goes on top and one team owns the result. In detail ## Build-ups, drainage methods and Bolton ground conditions The technical decisions made at quote stage, and what drives them. ### Sub-base depth and compaction Depth is driven by two things: what the ground beneath will support, and what the surface has to carry. A footpath, a patio and a driveway taking vehicle weight are three different build-ups, and soft or clay formation increases the depth needed in each case. Compaction is done in layers because stone only consolidates through a limited thickness at a time. A deep single lift looks the same on the day and settles for years afterwards. This is the part of the job that never shows in a photo and always shows in year three. ### Bolton clay and what it means Much of Bolton and the surrounding towns sits on heavy clay. Clay holds water rather than letting it soak away, swells and shrinks with moisture, and turns to slurry when it is worked wet. That changes both the excavation approach and the drainage design. Practically, it means water needs a designed route off the plot rather than a soakaway that never soaks. It also means more care over formation level, because disturbing wet clay creates a soft layer no amount of stone on top will fix. ### Falls, channels and gullies Every hard surface gets a fall. Where it discharges is the design question: to a channel across a threshold, to a gully connected into an existing drainage run, or across a permeable surface away from the house. Threshold drains and linear channels are what make a patio possible where levels are tight against the damp-proof course, and they collect water along a line rather than relying on it finding one point. ### Land drainage and waterlogged lawns A lawn that stays wet is usually a drainage problem, not a grass problem. Options include intercepting water before it reaches the low point, regrading to move the collection point, and drainage runs taking water to a suitable outfall. Where the finished surface is artificial grass, this is designed into the sub-base build-up so the lawn drains from day one rather than being laid over standing water. ### Edge restraint and retaining A base without a restrained edge spreads sideways under load, and the perimeter is always the first place a surface fails. Edging is fixed along the full run, sized for what it is holding. Where levels change, retaining takes over from edging, sleeper walls, built-up edges or walls, tied into the groundwork rather than added afterwards. ### Excavation, access and waste Access shapes the method. Rear gardens reached only through a house or a narrow gate mean barrowing rather than machinery, which affects duration and cost but not the standard of the build-up. Spoil is removed from site as part of the fixed price. Excavated clay and old hardcore spread around a garden to save on muck away is a soft layer somebody has to deal with later. ### Domestic and commercial groundwork Domestic groundwork is specified for foot traffic, garden furniture and occasional vehicles. Commercial and education areas need deeper build-ups and more robust drainage for constant use and heavier loading. We have carried out a large school project and multiple nursery projects alongside domestic gardens across Greater Manchester. Recent work ## Groundwork & Base Prep we have completed in Bolton More photographs on our our work page. ## Guaranteed, insured,fixed price The same terms on every job, domestic or commercial. Read more about how we work. 10-year workmanship guaranteeOn all work we carry out. Exact exclusions: Not Provided. 10-year grass guaranteeThe manufacturer guarantee on the grass, passed straight on to you. £2 million public liabilityFull cover in place on every job we carry out. Clear payment terms25% deposit to book your slot, balance on completion. Quotes and site visits are free. Common questions ## Groundwork & Base Prep questions,answered straight Anything not covered here, ask Shaun Brickell directly on 07757 559036. How much does garden groundwork or drainage cost?It depends on the area, the depth of excavation, ground conditions, access for muck away and what drainage the plot needs. We assess on site and give a free written fixed price. How long does groundwork take?On most garden projects the groundwork is the bulk of the programme, often several days before any surface goes down. We tell you the expected duration in the quote. Why is water pooling in my garden?Usually falls running the wrong way, a compacted or clay formation with nowhere for water to go, or a surface laid without drainage. We check where the water comes from and where it can discharge before proposing a fix. Can you fix water running towards my house?Yes. That is a levels and drainage problem: regrading the fall away from the building, and adding a channel or gully connected to a suitable outfall where levels are tight. Do you do groundwork on its own, without paving or grass?Yes. We take on groundwork and drainage as their own scope, as well as carrying it out as part of a lawn, patio or full makeover. Do you take the excavated waste away?Yes, muck away is included in the fixed price. We do not spread spoil around the garden to save on disposal. How deep should a sub-base be?It depends on the ground beneath and what the surface has to carry, a footpath, a patio and a driveway are all different. We set the depth on site rather than applying one figure to every job. What guarantee covers groundwork?Our 10-year workmanship guarantee covers the work we carry out, and we hold £2 million public liability cover. Because we do the groundwork and the surface, there is one team responsible for both. How do payments work?A 25% deposit secures your slot and covers materials, with the balance due on completion. Which areas do you cover?Bolton, Horwich, Westhoughton, Farnworth, Kearsley, Little Lever, Blackrod, Bury, Radcliffe, Atherton, Chorley and the wider Greater Manchester area. ## Often done at the same time ### Paving & Patios Porcelain, natural Indian stone, block paving and concrete slabs, every type of paving except resin. Groundwork, falls and drainage done by the same team that lays the surface, with a fixed price and a 10-year workmanship guarantee. ### Artificial Grass Supply & Installation A lawn that stays green, flat and usable through Manchester winters, no mowing, no mud, no bare patches. Supplied and fitted by the same three-man team that digs out the base, so nothing is passed to a subcontractor. ### Garden Makeovers & Transformations Lawn, paving, borders, fencing and planting handled as a single job with a single fixed price. No juggling three trades, no gaps between them, and no half-finished garden left over the winter. Also see our homepage and the areas we cover across Bolton and Greater Manchester. Free quote ## Get a fixed price for yourgroundwork & base prep in Bolton Tell us roughly what you are after and we will arrange a time to come and look. No charge for the visit, no charge for the quote, and no pressure afterwards. Phone07757 559036 Emailshaunbrickell@yahoo.co.uk Opening hoursOpen 7 days, 7:30am – 6:30pm 10 years in business · £2m public liability cover · 10-year workmanship guarantee Artificial grass, paving and garden transformations across Bolton and Greater Manchester. Free fixed-price quotes, 10-year workmanship guarantee. ## What We Do - Artificial Grass Supply & Installation - Paving & Patios - Patios - Pathways - Garden Makeovers & Transformations - Fencing Installation - Decking - Timber Borders, Beds & Planters - Groundwork & Base Prep - Hard & Soft Landscaping - Commercial Landscaping ## Areas Covered - Bolton - Greater Manchester - Horwich - Westhoughton - Farnworth - Kearsley - Little Lever - Blackrod - Bury - Radcliffe - Atherton - Chorley - Wigan - Blackburn - Accrington - Burnley - Lancashire ## Get In Touch - 07757 559036 - shaunbrickell@yahoo.co.uk - 3 Garsdale Avenue, Bolton, Greater Manchester - Open 7 days, 7:30am – 6:30pm ## Follow Our Work - - © 2026 Greenerlawn Artificial Grass & Paving. All rights reserved. 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