Laterite Stone Mining and Supply in The Gambia
We quarry and supply laterite stone in bulk for foundations, hardcore, access roads and walling. It is the most widely used building stone in the region for good reason, and having our own source means our construction projects are not held up waiting for deliveries.
What is laterite stone used for?
Laterite is an iron-rich rock formed by long-term weathering in tropical climates. In construction it is used as hardcore fill under floor slabs, as a base and sub-base layer for access roads and compounds, as foundation filling, and cut into blocks for walling. It is hard, locally abundant and considerably cheaper to place than imported aggregate.
The problems we hear about most
These are the situations clients describe when they first call us, and what we do about each one.
- Deliveries that arrive short or mixed with soil.
- We supply from our own quarry with agreed load sizes, so what leaves the pit is what arrives at the gate.
- Sites that flood or settle because of poor fill.
- Well-graded laterite hardcore, placed and compacted in layers, is what keeps a slab from cracking and a compound from ponding.
- Access roads that break up in the first rainy season.
- A properly built laterite base with adequate thickness, cross-fall and drainage lasts. One tipped and levelled without either does not.
- Material price spikes stalling a project mid-build.
- Our construction clients draw on our own quarry, which removes one of the more common causes of mid-project delay.
Who we work with
- Contractors and builders needing bulk fill
- Homeowners preparing a plot for construction
- Developers building internal access roads and compounds
- Businesses surfacing yards, car parks and storage areas
- Anyone raising a low-lying plot before building
Why clients choose us for this
- Direct from our own quarry
- No middle layer between the pit and your site, which means fewer surprises on price and on what actually turns up.
- Bulk delivery to site
- Loads delivered and tipped where you need them, with access assessed beforehand so a truck does not arrive and find it cannot reach the plot.
- Advice on the right material for the job
- Fill under a slab, a road base and walling stone are not the same requirement. We will tell you which you actually need.
- Supply plus placement
- We can supply the material alone, or supply and place it compacted in layers as part of a construction package.
What is included
Written scopes prevent arguments later. This is the full range we cover — your quotation will state exactly which parts apply to your project.
Materials supplied
- Laterite hardcore for foundations and under floor slabs
- Base and sub-base material for access roads and compounds
- Bulk fill for raising and levelling low-lying plots
- Laterite blocks and walling stone
Related work
- Site clearance and levelling
- Placing and compacting fill in layers
- Access road and compound construction
- Drainage and cross-fall so surfaces shed water
Our process, step by step
- 01
1. Confirm what the material is for
Hardcore, road base, bulk fill and walling stone have different requirements. Getting this right first avoids paying for the wrong material.
- 02
2. Quantities and access
We work out volumes from your area and depth, and check that delivery vehicles can physically reach the site.
- 03
3. Quotation
A written price covering material, transport and, if wanted, placement.
- 04
4. Delivery
Loads scheduled and tipped where you need them on site.
- 05
5. Placement, if included
Material spread and compacted in layers to the specified thickness, with levels and falls set.
How we do the work
The details below are where quality is actually decided — and where corners are usually cut.
- Placed in layers, not in one lift
- Fill compacted in successive layers holds its level. Fill tipped to full depth and rolled once settles unevenly and cracks whatever is built on it.
- Grading matched to purpose
- Coarse material for bulk fill and drainage, well-graded material where a compacted, stable surface is needed.
- Drainage designed in
- Cross-fall and drainage are set out before the surface goes down. Laterite that stays saturated through the rains will not hold up regardless of how well it was placed.
- Responsible extraction
- Worked areas are managed so faces are left stable and the site is not simply abandoned as an open pit.
Projects where we did this
Laterite stone: common questions
If your question is not here, call us — we would rather answer it before you commit than after.
What is laterite?
Laterite is a red or brown, iron-rich rock and soil formed by prolonged weathering of bedrock in hot, wet climates. It is widespread across West Africa. Freshly cut it is comparatively soft and can be shaped; exposed to air it hardens, which is what makes it useful both as fill and as a walling stone.
How much laterite do I need for my foundation?
Multiply the area to be filled by the compacted depth required, then add an allowance for compaction — loose material reduces in volume once placed and compacted. Tell us your plot dimensions and the depth you are working to and we will calculate the loads for you.
Is laterite suitable for building walls?
Cut laterite blocks have been used for walling in the region for a very long time and perform well in the right application, with good thermal mass. For most modern multi-storey construction, hollow concrete blocks laid against a reinforced concrete frame are the practical choice. Which is right depends on the building — we are happy to talk it through.
Do you deliver outside the Greater Banjul Area?
Yes, subject to distance and site access. Transport is a significant part of the delivered cost of bulk material, so tell us the location early and we will price it properly rather than quote a rate that changes later.
Related services
Get a quote for laterite stone
Tell us the location and what you need. We serve the Greater Banjul Area and travel further by arrangement.
Monday to Saturday, 8:00 – 18:00. We use your details only to answer your enquiry.