FD · P-04 · Foundations
Foundations and slabs
Footings and frost walls for garages and additions, garage and shop floors, shed and accessory-building slabs. Inspected, below the frost line, square to the plan.
- 1. Footing, 20 in wide by 8 in thick, poured after the inspector signs off on depth and steel
- 2. Two continuous #4 bars in the footing
- 3. Frost wall, 8 in poured concrete, vertical bar per the drawings
- 4. Anchor bolts set in the wet wall to hold the sill plate
- 5. 4 in slab on 6 in of compacted gravel, vapor barrier under heated floors
- 6. Bottom of footing at least 42 in below grade, under the frost line
- Frost depth
- Footings at least 42 in below grade, the West Michigan standard
- Footings
- Typically 16 to 20 in wide, 8 in thick, two continuous #4 bars
- Frost walls
- 8 in poured walls, vertical bar per the drawings, anchor bolts set
- Price
- footings from $55 per ft
Scope
What we pour
Structural work is a different job from a patio. It runs on drawings and inspections, and it has to be square, level and below the frost line the first time. We pour footings, frost walls and slabs for detached garages, additions, sheds and accessory buildings, and we pour garage and basement floors. We work from your plans or your builder's, and we schedule around the building inspector.
- 01 Footings and frost walls for detached garages and additions
- 02 Garage, shop and pole-building floors
- 03 Shed and accessory-building slabs with thickened edges
- 04 Basement floor replacement after the old one is removed
- 05 Pier footings for decks, porches and pergolas
Specification
Built like this
This is what goes on the written quote. If another bid does not say these things, ask.
- Frost depth
- Footings at least 42 in below grade, the West Michigan standard
- Footings
- Typically 16 to 20 in wide, 8 in thick, two continuous #4 bars
- Frost walls
- 8 in poured walls, vertical bar per the drawings, anchor bolts set
- Floors
- 4 in slab, 5 to 6 in for shops, on compacted gravel
- Under heated slabs
- 10 mil vapor barrier and rigid insulation per the plans
- Inspections
- Footing inspection before every pour; we book it
- Tolerance
- Square within 1/4 in corner to corner, level within 1/4 in
Prices
What it costs
-
Footing and frost wall
Per linear foot, 42 in deep, typical garage
$55 to $95 per ft
-
Garage or shop floor, 4 in
Inside finished walls; 5 to 6 in add-on below
$7 to $10 per sq ft
-
Shed or accessory slab
Thickened edges, mesh, anchor bolts
$8 to $12 per sq ft
-
Basement floor, new
After removal; barrier and gravel included
$9 to $14 per sq ft
Ranges include digging, gravel base, forms, steel, mix, joints and curing unless a line says otherwise. Where you land in a range depends on access for the truck, how much soft soil comes out and how complicated the shape is. The firm number comes after the site visit and does not move unless the scope does.
Before you sign
Honest notes
Cracking
Floors get joints too, laid out with your bays and doors. Footing and wall cracks wider than 1/8 in are what our warranty is for.
Curing
Framing on footings and walls can start after about 3 to 7 days, depending on weather. We tell your framer the date.
Sealing
Garage floors see salt from the car. A penetrating sealer after 28 days helps; epoxy coatings are a separate trade we can refer.
Freeze-thaw
Below the frost line is the whole point. Footings poured shallow heave. We never pour on frozen ground, and we blanket fresh work in cold snaps.
Schedule
How the job runs
-
Before
Plans and permit
We work from your stamped drawings or your builder's; the building permit is yours or your builder's.
-
Day 1
Dig and form
Excavation to 42 in, footing forms and steel set.
-
Day 2
Inspection, then pour
The inspector signs off on the steel and depth before a truck is called.
-
Days 3 to 5
Walls
Wall forms set, bolts placed, walls poured, forms stripped.
-
Later
The floor
Floors are poured once the structure is closed in, or before, on simple sheds.
Questions
Asked about foundations
Do you repair foundations?
No. Lifting, piers, wall bracing and basement waterproofing are a different trade. We pour new footings, walls and slabs.
Do you do full house basements?
We pour garages, additions and accessory buildings directly for homeowners. Full new-home basements we do for builders, on their schedule.
Can you pour in winter?
Footings and floors inside a heated, closed-in building, yes. Outdoor footings only with heated blankets and an accelerated mix, and never on frozen ground.
Next step
Get your foundations price in writing.
Tell us what you want poured and roughly how big. We walk the site, check the base and the slope, and send a written quote within two business days.