Concrete Foundations & Footings
Structural concrete work that supports your home additions, room additions, and new construction projects.
Why Foundation Work Matters
Your foundation is literally what holds your house up. Whether you're adding a room, building a garage, or constructing a new home, the foundation has to be done right. In Fremont, our clay soils expand when wet and shrink when dry. This movement puts stress on concrete, which is why proper foundation design and construction techniques are critical.
Footings are the wider base sections that spread the building load across more soil. They go deeper than the frost line and below unstable surface soil. The foundation walls or slabs then sit on these footings. This two-part system provides stability even in challenging soil conditions. Cutting corners on foundation work leads to settling, cracks, and expensive repairs later.
Foundation Components We Install
- Strip footings for continuous foundation walls
- Pad footings for column supports and posts
- Slab-on-grade foundations with thickened edges
- Stemwalls and raised foundations
- Retaining wall footings and structural supports
Building Code and Engineering
Foundation work requires permits and inspections in Fremont. The building department wants to verify that footings are dug to proper depth, reinforcement is placed correctly, and concrete meets strength requirements. These inspections protect you by ensuring structural integrity.
For larger projects, you'll need engineered plans from a structural engineer. They calculate the loads and specify footing sizes, depths, and reinforcement. We work directly with engineers and can recommend qualified professionals if you don't already have one. Our experience means we can often anticipate requirements and avoid surprises during inspection. If you're planning other concrete work, we can coordinate foundation work with your slabs and flatwork in one project.
Our Foundation Construction Process
Foundation projects start with excavation. We dig trenches to the depths specified on your plans, making sure the bottom is level and compacted. Forms get built to create the shape of your footings and walls. We install rebar cages with the exact spacing and coverage required by code.
Before pouring, the inspector verifies everything is correct. Once approved, we pour high-strength concrete designed for foundation use. The mix includes additives that improve workability and reduce shrinkage cracking. We vibrate the concrete as we pour to eliminate air pockets around the rebar.
After the concrete cures for the required time, your framing contractor can start building on top of it. Foundation work isn't fast because of all the required steps, but it's the most important concrete on your entire property. We take the time to do it right so your structure stands solid for generations. We also offer retaining walls and masonry work for properties with grade changes.