What to Look For In Groundswork Contractors and How to Choose the Right One

When planning landscape work, whether in your garden or workplace, it’s important to feel as though you can trust the contractors you choose and feel sure that they will do a great job. Groundswork involves a lot of different tasks, from land clearing to tree planting and grounds maintenance. Because of this, you need a great company that can specialise in a variety of landscaping jobs to ensure the project goes seamlessly.

It can be tricky to know where to start when choosing a groundswork contractor, there’s plenty to take into consideration and you’re potentially trusting them with a large project. From weed killing to grounds care and maintenance, how do you find a company you can rely on?

Read our blog to discover how to find the very best groundswork contractors.



Why do you need a groundswork contractor?

You may feel as though you can carry out a lot of grounds care work and landscaping on your own, but it is often much more beneficial to hire professional groundswork contractors to get the job done on your behalf. Here’s why:

Better tools and equipment

A large part of completing a successful groundswork project is the tools and equipment that you need. For example, large vans, sit-on lawn mowers, chemicals and pesticides and pressure washers. There is also a whole array of large machinery that is used in landscaping such as crawlers, excavators and bulldozers. It’s unlikely you’ll have any of these lying about and they will also be expensive to hire, while you still are not sure how to use them.

Saves time

Landscaping and general grounds care and maintenance are very time-consuming and labour-intensive tasks. If you already work full time, do you really want to spend your evenings and weekends working outside in your garden? For many, this isn’t really an option as it would take far too long to complete the project if they were only picking it up as and when they have the time. By hiring a professional groundswork contractor, you’ll be able to trust them to get the job done promptly and without wasting any time.

It’s also much more likely that you’ll make mistakes if you have no previous groundswork experience. Therefore, it’s a good idea to ensure a professional is in charge of the project to avoid any delays in completion.

Saves money

Attempting a landscape job yourself may be tempting in order to save yourself money, but in reality, this could end up costing you more. Rather than running the risk of mishaps and errors, get a professional to complete the project for you. They will not have the right tools, products and plants to use to ensure your grounds will look great for a long time after.

This means a professional will have the expertise and skill to properly maintain and install groundswork projects that are durable and will keep looking great for years to come. Instead of doing it yourself and having to constantly repair and fix bad workmanship, invest in your garden and you will reap the benefits.

Attention to detail

Not only this, but if you are rushing a project and trying to get it done quickly, you are less likely to pay attention to the small details that really matter. By hiring a groundwork contractor, you are ensuring that the person completing your landscape work does so with a lot of passion. This is their career and they want to do a really good job - so you won’t find them cutting corners and half-completing a project.

They will also be able to come up with creative ideas and solutions that you wouldn’t have necessarily thought of. With their extensive experience, they will have many tricks up their sleeve that can really make your project stand out and go above and beyond your expectations.

What to look for in Groundswork Companies

So now you know how important it is to find a professional groundswork contractor to complete your landscaping work, what do you need to look for?

Good testimonials

An indication of a great groundswork contractor is good testimonials. Take a look at their reviews and client testimonials on their website or on Google to see what previous customers are saying about the work they completed. If they are all largely positive and have an average rating between 4 and 5, it’s likely you can trust them to get your groundswork done to a high standard.

A portfolio of work

If you’re unsure exactly what you’re looking for, it’s a good idea to get a feel for the contractor’s work by looking through their portfolio. If they don’t have any displayed on their website, contact them and ask for some pictures of previous projects to see what kind of thing you might want for your own landscaping. This will also help you see if you like the projects they have already completed and if you think it is something that will suit you.

When looking at their portfolio, see what quality of work they have done. Is it well-maintained? Are there any visible weeds? Is the grass well-looked after?

Particular specialities

If you need a particular job completed, you’ll need to make sure that the contractor is able to do this. Many groundswork contractors may only be able to do a small range of tasks, but if you need a job that requires an excavator, you’ll need to make sure they are able to do this. Take a look at their website to see what services they offer and whether these suit what you need.

A good groundswork contractor will likely be able to offer a range of services including:

●     Grounds maintenance

●     Tree surgery

●     Sports ground maintenance

●     Slope and embankment mowing

●     Gritting

●     Snow clearance

●     Commercial pressure washing

●     Weed killing

Written contracts

When looking for a groundswork contractor and considering different companies, think about their level of professionalism and whether they give you reason to rely on them. Their website should be well-formatted and easy to understand with plenty of information. If you reach out to a contractor for a quote, and you choose to go ahead with the work, they should provide you with a written contract that clearly outlines all the pricing and schedule so that you are both on the same page about how and when the work will be completed.

How to Choose the Right Groundswork Company

There are many groundswork contractors that you can choose so now you must find the right one that will best serve you and the work you want done. When considering the above factors, you’ll need to take into consideration your specific requirements, what it is you’re looking for and whether they offer this service. If you need land clearing services but hire a contractor that only has the skills and equipment to provide mowing services, then they won’t to be able to complete the job to a high standard.

Speak to the contractor about what experience they have providing this service, look at their reviews and testimonials and take a look at their portfolio to see if the standard of service is the level you are looking for. You will also need to think about your budget. How much are you willing to spend on this project? If you obtain a quote from a contractor that is way above your budget then you will have to find a different contractor that can work at the price you are able to pay.

GMCB Ltd - Grounds Care Edinburgh

Are you looking for groundswork contractors in Edinburgh? Look no further than GMCB Ltd. We are an experienced and highly skilled groundswork contractor providing a high standard of landscaping, grounds care and maintenance and other grounds services. If you’re a company in need of expert grounds maintenance, we’re here to help. From weed killing to land clearance, we can do it all.

We’ll make sure your grounds look well-kept so that everyone who visits is impressed. To get started, visit our website or give us a call on 07903 211 499 for a free quote.