This is an area, where surveyors need to be actively vigilant, get it wrong and the associated costs to rectify could be astronomical, not only at point of build, but years later if the conservatory moves or subsides and is covered by your warrantee.
Your company may have clauses in the contract to cover unforeseen works. In other words during the build if you come up against bad ground conditions, and you need to carry out more costly foundation works, you can go back to the customer and ask them for more money to cover the costs of any additional unforeseen works.
The problem is depending on the costs of the additional works your customer could refuse to agree the additional payment, leaving you with the choice of carrying out the extra work at your own expense, or cancelling the contract and returning the site back to its original status again at your own expense.
What choice do you make, especially if you have the frames and roof in stock?
Both the options above will massively reduce your profits and in some cases you will make a total loss.
There is no science behind ground conditions, and you don’t really know what’s in the ground until you dig the hole, it can be a calculated guess unless you go through the expense of employing a professional company to carry out tests and a ground survey.
The choice of foundation design is ultimately your call. It must be of correct design and bear on suitable strata
I have highlighted some precautions you can take during the survey process to minimise the chances of getting it wrong, and increase your chances of getting it right (more…)
Conservatory Installer 