Foundation Design & Structural Calculations in Swansea & South Wales

Safe, Compliant & Engineer‑Designed Foundations for Extensions, New Builds & Structural Alterations

Foundations are the most important part of any building. A well‑designed foundation ensures your structure is safe, stable, durable and fully compliant with Building Regulations. At CCS SOLUTIONS, we provide expert foundation design and structural calculations for residential, commercial and industrial projects across Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Llanelli, Bridgend, Cardiff and the wider South Wales region.

Our foundation designs follow:

  • Part A of the Building Regulations
  • Eurocode 7 (BS EN 1997)
  • BS 8004 – Foundations
  • Local authority Building Control requirements

We design foundations that are strong, cost‑efficient and tailored to your exact ground conditions and loading requirements.

Pad Foundations

Used to support columns, posts or isolated load, common in steel‑frame buildings and industrial projects.

Pile & Ground Beam Foundations

Used for sites with very poor bearing capacity. We design reinforced concrete ground beams and coordinate with geotechnical engineers for pile specification.

Retaining Wall Foundations

We design specialist foundations for retaining walls including toe, heel, cantilever bases and reinforced concrete footing systems.

TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS WE DESIGN

Strip Foundations

Used for most domestic extensions and new builds. We calculate width, depth, bearing pressures and reinforcement requirements based on soil type and loading.

Trench Fill Foundations

Ideal where deeper excavation is needed. Quick to construct and excellent for weaker soils or sloping sites.

Raft Foundations

A reinforced concrete slab used where ground conditions are variable or where a structure requires even load distribution. Common for extensions, garages and new builds on poor soils.

OUR FOUNDATION DESIGN & ENGINEERING SERVICES

Full Structural Calculations

We perform:

  • Bearing pressure checks
  • Settlement analysis
  • Load distribution
  • Soil-structure interaction analysis
  • Reinforcement design
  • Concrete design to Eurocode standards
  • Ground improvement recommendations (if required)

Construction Drawings

We produce detailed drawings including:

  • Plans, sections and elevations
  • Reinforcement schedules
  • Concrete thickness and mix specification
  • Starter bars and connection details
  • Foundation levels
  • Drainage and DPC integration

Soil & Ground Assessment

We assess:

  • Soil bearing capacity
  • Shrinkable clay
  • Fill material
  • Groundwater levels
  • Nearby trees (affecting clay soils)
  • Surcharge loads and boundary conditions

Where required, we liaise with geotechnical engineers for soil investigations.

WHEN FOUNDATIONS NEED STRUCTURAL CALCULATIONS

You legally require foundation calculations if:

  • You are building an extension
  • You are constructing a new build home or outbuilding
  • You are installing steel beams or removing load-bearing walls
  • Your site has poor soil conditions
  • The council or Building Control request calculations
  • You are building near a boundary or shared structure
  • The ground is sloping or previously disturbed

Improper foundations can cause cracking, subsidence, structural movement and costly repairs. Professional design prevents future issues.

DRAINAGE, DAMP PROTECTION & INSULATION

We incorporate:

  • Damp-proof course (DPC) compatibility
  • Damp-proof membranes (DPM)
  • Perimeter drainage (where needed)
  • Thermal insulation under slabs (Part L compliance)

FOUNDATIONS FOR EXTENSIONS

We design foundations for:

  • Rear extensions
  • Side extensions
  • Wrap-around extensions
  • Two-storey extensions
  • Loft conversion stair support
  • Garage conversions and new garages

We coordinate the foundation design with the superstructure to ensure stability, minimal movement and cost-effective construction.

FOUNDATIONS FOR NEW BUILDS & COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

Our team designs engineered foundation systems for:

  • New houses
  • Apartment blocks
  • Steel-frame buildings
  • Industrial units
  • Commercial conversions
  • Agricultural buildings

We ensure compliance with local planning conditions, Building Regulations and structural requirements.

OUR DESIGN PROCESS

  • Consultation & Information Gathering

We assess site conditions, existing foundations, soil information and structural requirements.

  • Structural Engineering Design

We calculate foundation size, reinforcement, ground bearing, settlement and loading.

  • Construction Drawings Pack

We produce engineer-approved drawings ready for Building Control and contractors.

  • Support During Construction

We provide guidance to builders and address any technical queries on site.

Areas We Cover

  • Swansea
  • Neath
  • Port Talbot
  • Llanelli
  • Bridgend
  • Cardiff
  • Vale of Glamorgan
  • RCT
  • Merthyr
  • Carmarthen

WHY CHOOSE CCS FOR FOUNDATION DESIGN?

  • Structural engineer-led service
  • Accepted by all Building Control bodies
  • Fast turnaround times
  • Over 200+ foundations designed across South Wales
  • Affordable and highly accurate calculations
  • Detailed, builder-friendly drawings
  • Local expertise in Swansea, Neath & Port Talbot

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need structural calculations for foundations?

Yes, any extension, new build or structural work requires professionally designed foundations.

How deep should foundations be?

It depends on soil type, tree influence, loading and ground conditions. We calculate this precisely.

Do foundations need Building Control approval?

Yes. Our drawings and calculations are submitted as part of your Building Regulations application.

Can you design foundations without a soil investigation?

Yes, but a soil report improves accuracy. We can design conservatively where testing is not carried out.