Garage Conversions Extensions How It Works Benefits Contact Free Quote
Revolutionary Foundation Technology

Home Extensions.
No Digging.
No Concrete.

We build stunning, fully compliant home extensions using ground screw foundations — installed in hours, not days. Faster, cheaper and greener than traditional building methods.

Modern home extension
Finished Extension
Ground screw installation
Foundation Day 1
Foundations installed in hours, not days
60% less carbon than concrete foundations
100-year rated lifespan
Fixed-price contracts
Array of ground screws installed in garden Ground screw close up

The Technology

What Is a
Ground Screw?

A ground screw is a galvanised steel helical pile that is screwed directly into the earth using specialist equipment. It functions exactly like a concrete foundation — but without a single bag of cement, a single skip of spoil, or a single day of curing time.

Originally developed in Scandinavia and now widely used across 12 countries, ground screws are engineered to last a minimum of 100 years and can bear loads exceeding 45kN — more than enough for any domestic extension.

Once the screws are in, your timber subframe is bolted directly on top and construction begins the same day. No mess, no waiting, no damage to your garden.

1 Day Typical foundation installation time
60% Less carbon than concrete foundations
100yr Minimum rated design lifespan
45kN+ Load bearing capacity per screw

The Process

From Bare Garden
to Finished Extension

Most single-storey extensions are fully complete within 4–8 weeks. Here's how it happens.

01

Free Survey & Design

We visit your home, measure up and discuss your vision. A 3D concept and fixed-price quote follow within 48 hours. We also advise on planning and building regulations from day one.

02

Ground Screw Installation

On day one, our team arrives with a compact, lightweight power driver. Ground screws are installed to exact depth and level across your plot — no excavation, no concrete mixer, no skip. The garden stays intact. By lunchtime, your foundations are done.

03

Timber Frame & Structure

A precision-engineered timber subframe is bolted directly to the screws. Walls, roof structure and insulation follow. We use sustainably sourced timber throughout, and all structural work is building-regulation compliant.

04

Fit-Out & Handover

Internal finishing — plastering, flooring, glazing, electrics and plumbing — is completed to your specification. We don't hand over until every detail is right, including building regulation sign-off.

See the Transformation

After: Extension complete Before: Plain back garden
Before After

Why Ground Screws

Faster, Greener, Smarter
Than Concrete

Installed in Hours

Traditional strip foundations take days to excavate, pour and cure. Ground screws are in the ground the same morning they arrive. Your build starts the same day.

60% Less Carbon

Concrete production is responsible for around 10% of global CO₂ emissions. Ground screw foundations produce an average of 60% fewer carbon emissions — a meaningful difference for the planet.

Garden Preserved

No excavation means no skips full of soil, no churned-up lawn, no weeks of mud. The ground screws go in cleanly and your garden is left almost exactly as you found it.

Works on Slopes & Difficult Ground

Sloped gardens, soft soil, restricted access — ground screws handle conditions where traditional concrete foundations become extremely complex and costly.

100-Year Rated Lifespan

Our screws are engineered and tested to Scandinavian standards in some of the harshest climates on earth. Each unit is rated for a minimum 100-year service life.

Tree-Friendly Construction

No excavation means no root damage. We can build significantly closer to existing trees than any concrete-based foundation method — often without needing a tree officer report.

Ground Screws vs Traditional

Why Builders Are
Making the Switch

Ground Screws Traditional Concrete
Foundation installation time Same day — hours 3–7 days + curing
Excavation required None Significant — skips required
Garden disruption Minimal — lawn preserved Extensive — weeks of mess
Carbon footprint 60% lower than concrete High — concrete is CO₂ intensive
Works on sloped ground Yes — easily adjusted Complex & costly
Works near trees Yes — no root disturbance Difficult — TPO restrictions
Fully reversible Yes — screws can be removed No — permanent
Designed lifespan 100+ years 50–80 years (typical)
Access requirements Compact equipment — side access fine Heavy plant — wide access needed

Regulations & Approvals

Do I Need Planning
Permission?

Permitted Development — Most Cases

Most single-storey rear extensions fall under Permitted Development rights, meaning no formal planning application is required — provided the extension doesn't exceed 4 metres in depth (detached houses) or 3 metres (semi-detached and terraced), and meets height and materials restrictions. We advise on this at the survey stage.

Building Regulations — Always Required

Every extension, regardless of size, must comply with Building Regulations. These cover structural integrity, fire safety, insulation and energy performance, ventilation and electrical safety. We manage the full building regulations application and ensure all works are signed off by an approved inspector.

Larger Extensions & Conservation Areas

Extensions over the Permitted Development limits, properties in conservation areas, listed buildings, or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty will require a full planning application. Our team has extensive experience in navigating planning requirements and can manage the full process on your behalf.

Steel frame structure on ground screw foundations

Typical Timeline

WEEK 1 Site survey, design consultation & fixed-price quote issued
WEEK 2 Building regs application submitted. Materials ordered.
WEEK 3 Ground screws installed — Day 1. Timber subframe & floor structure.
WK 4–6 Walls, roof, glazing, insulation, cladding, electrics & plumbing.
WK 7–8 Internal fit-out, decoration, snagging & building regs sign-off.

Get in Touch

Get Your Free
No-Obligation Quote

Tell us about your home and what you'd like to build. We'll visit for a free site survey and have a fixed-price quote back to you within 48 hours.

Phone0800 123 4567
Emailhello@garagetransformers.co.uk
HoursMon–Fri 8am–6pm · Sat 9am–4pm

We aim to respond within 24 hours. No sales pressure, ever.