Foundations & Retaining Structures
The dearest surprises on any site are the ones underground. We design footings, piles, basements and retaining walls that suit the ground you've actually got — safely, and without the over-engineering that blows out budgets.
What you get
Whatever you build is only as good as what holds it up. We design the full range of substructure — pad, strip and raft footings, bored and driven piles, basements and earth-retaining walls — matched to the real geology, groundwater and loads on your site.
Reactive clay, fill, rock, a high water table, a sloping block, seismic loads: these are exactly the conditions that turn foundations into the riskiest line in the budget. We read the geotechnical data carefully and pick the right system rather than the most expensive one — and we detail retaining walls with the drainage and durability they need to stay put and stay dry.
Problems we solve
Difficult or unknown ground
Reactive soils, fill or high water tables make the substructure the most unpredictable cost on the job.
Foundations sized by guesswork
Without a careful read of the soil report, footings get over-sized and you pay for it.
Retaining walls that crack, lean or leak
Underestimated earth and water pressure plus poor drainage lead to movement and damp.
Digging next to the neighbours
Basements and deep excavations near boundaries need proper retention and support.
What we do about it
Foundations matched to the soil report
We interpret your geotechnical data and choose footings, raft or piles to suit bearing capacity and settlement.
Efficient piling and rafts
Where the ground is poor, we design piled and raft solutions that control settlement without over-building.
Retaining walls that last
Cantilever, propped, gravity and reinforced-soil walls designed for the loads, with proper drainage and durability.
Basement & deep-dig engineering
Retention, waterproofing strategy and support — including work next to existing buildings.
What you walk away with
Good engineering is invisible — until you see it in your budget, your programme and how the building performs for years afterwards.
- No nasty surprises below groundThe riskiest cost on site, brought under control.
- A right-sized substructureSafe and economical, matched to the ground.
- Walls that stay putStable, dry and serviceable for the long run.
- Confidence to excavateBasements engineered with the neighbours in mind.
How it runs
Send your plans
Share what you have and the goal; we scope it and send a fixed-price quote.
We engineer it
We model, analyse and optimise the structure to your code.
You get the documents
Coordinated drawings and calculations, ready for permit and build.
We back you up
RFIs, submittals and site support through to completion.
Foundations & Retaining Structures — your questions answered
What else we do
Structural Engineering
Building and infrastructure design, structural drawings and calculations — concept through construction.
Concrete & Specialized Structures
Reinforced, post-tensioned and precast concrete, plus complex one-off structures.
Structural Integrity & Retrofitting
Inspections, assessments, strengthening and seismic upgrades for existing buildings.
Solar Structure Design
Structural engineering for rooftop, ground-mount and carport solar — racking, mounts and PV support.
Ready to talk through your foundations & retaining structures?
Send your scope or drawings and you'll get a clear, fixed-price quote — usually within one business day.