When footings are required, how deep they need to be, and what building control expects in West Sussex.
When footings are required
Any structural wall — an extension, garage, garden room or retaining wall — needs proper footings. Even a free-standing garden wall over about 1 metre high should sit on a concrete footing, or it will lean and crack within a few winters.
Foundations transfer the weight of the structure into stable ground. Skip them and the ground moves, taking your wall with it.
How deep do footings need to be?
In West Sussex, strip footings for extensions are typically dug 600mm–1000mm deep depending on ground conditions, nearby trees and building control requirements. Clay soils near trees often need deeper footings because roots draw moisture and shrink the ground.
Building control inspect the open trench before concrete is poured, so getting the depth and width right first time matters — a failed inspection means re-digging at your cost.
What we handle
- Strip and trench-fill footings for extensions and garden rooms
- Footings for retaining walls, garden walls and garages
- Digger and operator to dig to spec, ready for inspection
- Coordination with your builder, architect or building control
- Concrete pours arranged with local batching plants