Your foundation sits out of sight, bearing the full weight of the house above. We excavate to bearing soil, form and reinforce footings and walls to the engineer's drawings, pour and cure by the book, then waterproof and drain so the basement stays dry. New builds, additions, repairs, crack sealing, underpinning, all to spec. Free written estimate and a firm finish date.
The footing is where the building's weight transfers to the soil. We excavate below the frost line to stable bearing soil, size the footing to the engineer's spec, and reinforce it with rebar so it spreads the load evenly. A footing that is too shallow or too narrow will settle unevenly, and that settlement cracks walls and doors.
The walls go up next, formed plumb and straight, rebar tied to spec, concrete placed without voids or cold joints. Waterproofing the exterior and installing weeping tile keeps groundwater from pushing in. New foundation work includes all of this, and repair work restores what has failed.
Curing is the final step. We protect the concrete from rapid drying and frost so it gains strength properly. Early crack repair stops small problems before they become structural ones, and underpinning strengthens a footing that was never adequate.
Recent work
The sequence
Pouring a Concrete Foundation in Detroit, Step by Step
Dig to bearing soil
We excavate to the depth specified in the drawings, confirm the soil is stable, and set elevations so the footing sits on solid ground.
Form and tie rebar
Footings and walls are formed straight and level, rebar is tied to the engineer's layout, and the work is inspected before any concrete arrives.
Place and finish concrete
Concrete is poured and vibrated to remove air, footings first, then walls, using the mix design from the drawings.
Cure, waterproof and drain
Forms are removed on schedule, the exterior is waterproofed, weeping tile is installed, and the foundation cures before backfill.
When concrete fails
Catching Foundation Cracks Early Saves Money
A hairline crack in the basement corner or a door that sticks are early warnings. Frost and water work cracks wider over time, and by the time you see major movement, the repair is expensive. Crack repair seals small cracks before they grow, using injection or epoxy depending on the crack type.
When a foundation has moved or settled, structural repair addresses the cause. Underpinning deepens or widens a footing that cannot carry the load. Pairing any repair with waterproofing prevents the problem from returning, because water is often the trigger.
Installation, repair, waterproofing and what foundation work involves in Detroit.
Yes. Foundation installation is formed, reinforced and poured to the structural engineer's drawings, footing size, wall thickness, rebar and mix design, and is ready for inspection before the pour.
Watch for stair-step or horizontal cracks, bowing walls, doors and windows that stick, sloping floors or a damp basement corner. Any of those is worth a look, and crack repair early is far cheaper than structural repair later.
Yes. Foundation waterproofing excavates the affected wall, addresses the cracks, applies a proper waterproof membrane and restores drainage and weeping tile so groundwater is carried away instead of pushing in.
Underpinning extends a foundation deeper or wider when the original footing cannot carry the load, common when adding a storey, lowering a basement, or correcting a footing on poor soil.
Yes. We pour footings and foundation walls for additions, tied in or isolated from the existing foundation as the engineer specifies, and matched so the addition settles with the house, not against it.
Homeowner reviews
What Detroit Homeowners Say About Their Concrete Foundations
Footings and a foundation wall for a two-storey addition. Poured to the engineer's drawings, passed inspection first try, and they sent photos at every stage.
F. W.
Detroit
★★★★★
Had a crack that leaked every spring. They excavated the wall, sealed it properly and redid the weeping tile. Bone dry through the next melt.
O. D.
Dearborn
★★★★★
Underpinning to lower our basement. Careful, methodical work, and they explained every step so we understood what was happening under the house.
H. S.
Sterling Heights
★★★★★
Caught a few small cracks early on their assessment and sealed them before winter. Honest about what needed doing now versus what could wait.
N. R.
Warren
From the blog
Concrete Guides & Articles
Practical reading on planning, finishes and caring for concrete in Detroit.
New build, addition, or a foundation showing age, send us the drawings or describe what you are seeing. We will visit the site and provide a written, itemized quote with no obligation.
