Concrete Foundations & Footings
Solid structural support that keeps your building stable for decades.
Why Your Foundation Is So Important
Your foundation is literally what everything else sits on. If it's not built right, you'll deal with cracking walls, sticking doors, uneven floors, and structural problems that only get worse over time. Fixing a bad foundation after the fact costs exponentially more than building it correctly from the start.
Foundations and footings need to account for soil type, load requirements, local building codes, and environmental factors specific to La Habra. Our area has specific soil conditions and seismic requirements that affect how foundations must be designed and installed. This isn't something you can guess at or cut corners on.
At ChoiceHelp La Habra Concrete, we work with engineers and inspectors to ensure every foundation meets code and provides the structural support your building needs. We handle residential room additions, new construction, commercial buildings, and foundation repairs. This is technical work that needs to be done right.
Types of Foundations We Install
Different structures need different foundation types. Here are the main options we work with:
Slab-on-Grade Foundations
A slab foundation is a single concrete pour that serves as both the foundation and the floor. It's common for single-story homes and buildings without basements. We prepare the site, install proper reinforcement, and pour the slab to the engineered specifications. These foundations are cost-effective and work well in our climate.
Stem Wall Foundations
A stem wall foundation uses concrete footings below the frost line with a short concrete wall that raises the building above grade. This creates a crawl space and provides better drainage and access to plumbing. It's common for residential construction and works well in areas where the ground level needs adjustment.
Footings for Additions and Structures
Footings are the concrete pads that support columns, walls, or posts. We install footings for room additions, covered patios, decks, fences, and other structures that need below-grade support. The size and depth depend on the load and soil conditions, which we determine before we start digging.
- •Engineering coordination to meet structural requirements
- •Proper excavation depth based on frost line and soil conditions
- •Steel reinforcement placed according to engineered plans
- •Permit acquisition and scheduled inspections
- •High-strength concrete poured to exact specifications
Working with Engineers and Inspectors
Foundation work requires engineering plans and building department approval. We coordinate with structural engineers to design foundations that meet code requirements for your specific building and location. This includes load calculations, soil reports, and seismic considerations.
Once plans are approved, we pull the necessary permits and schedule inspections at each stage. Inspectors verify that excavation depth, reinforcement placement, and concrete strength all meet the engineered specifications before we're allowed to proceed. This protects you and ensures the foundation will do its job for the life of the structure.
We handle all of this coordination so you don't have to figure it out yourself. If you're also planning concrete slabs or other flatwork to go with your foundation, we can schedule everything together to save time and ensure everything integrates properly.
Common Questions About Foundations
Planning New Construction or an Addition?
Let's discuss your foundation needs. We'll coordinate with engineers and handle all the details.