Concrete Foundations & Footings

Why Foundations Matter

Your foundation is the most important part of any structure. It supports the entire weight of your building and transfers that load safely to the ground. A poorly built foundation leads to cracking walls, sticking doors, uneven floors, and expensive structural repairs.

In Chico, we deal with clay soils and seasonal moisture changes that can cause foundations to shift if they're not properly designed and constructed. At CCW Chico Concrete Works, we've poured foundations for home additions, detached garages, shops, and small commercial buildings. We understand local soil conditions and building codes so your foundation is built right the first time.

Whether you're adding a room to your house or building a new structure from the ground up, we handle the excavation, forming, reinforcement, and pouring. We work closely with your builder or architect to ensure the foundation meets all structural requirements.

Types of Foundations We Build

Different projects require different foundation approaches. Here are the most common types we install:

• •Slab-on-grade: A single layer of concrete poured directly on prepared soil, ideal for garages, shops, and additions in mild climates.
• •Stem wall foundations: Continuous footings with concrete walls that create a crawl space or raised floor system, common for residential construction.
• •Spread footings: Wide, shallow footings that distribute weight over a larger area, used under columns, walls, and load-bearing points.
• •Pier and grade beam: Deep piers extend to stable soil with beams connecting them, necessary for unstable or expansive soils.

The right foundation type depends on your soil conditions, building design, and budget. We'll work with your builder or engineer to determine the best approach and ensure the foundation is properly sized and reinforced.

The Foundation Process

Building a foundation requires precision and careful planning. We start by reviewing your building plans and verifying lot dimensions. Then we excavate to the depth specified by your engineer, making sure the bottom is level and stable.

Next, we build and set forms that create the shape of your foundation. Forms must be perfectly level, square, and braced because once concrete is poured, there's no room for error. We place rebar or reinforcement according to the structural plans, tying everything securely so it stays in position during the pour.

We coordinate concrete delivery and complete the pour in one continuous session whenever possible. After the pour, we vibrate the concrete to remove air pockets, screed the top level, and install any anchor bolts or embeds needed for framing. The concrete then cures for several days before forms are stripped and framing can begin.

Foundation work often ties into other concrete projects. For example, we might pour concrete slabs on top of the foundation or coordinate with driveway installation around the new structure. We handle all your concrete needs so you're working with one experienced contractor throughout the project.

Frequently Asked Questions