Whether you are building new construction, putting on an addition, or repairing an existing structure, your foundation creates the basis for your building. Since a foundation supports the entire structure, selecting your foundation concrete contractor needs one of your first major decisions.
Read more for details on foundations and locate your guide to choosing a foundation concrete specialist.
Foundations to Meet Your Needs
An experienced concrete contractor will work with you to select, design, and pour the best suited foundation for your project. However, before you commence on your path to selecting a concrete contractor for your project, we will explore some of the options that they may discuss with you.
Your choices may be determined by your soil and zoning regulations in your area.
Crawl Spaces
With a height of between 18 and 48 inches, crawl spaces provide just enough space in which one can crawl. The space is formed to provide access to the structure’s wiring and plumbing. Your contractor will pour the concrete foundation with walls and flooring. Footings will be installed at intervals that will hold the weight of the structure.
Slab Foundations
These foundations are literally a slab or sizable piece of poured concrete. Usually, the center of the slab is poured with a polymer vapor barrier formed from polyethylene and polyolefin. This enables the contractor to pour the concrete directly onto the soil or earth materials. At the center of the slab, the concrete will dry to a depth of four to six inches.
Pile Foundations
Another foundation that might meet your needs formed from narrow columns of reinforced concrete. The columns are driven deep into the ground so they can support the weight of the building. Pile foundations are deeper than the width of the structure. The depth is needed to shift the weight of the building to the piles in the foundation.
Posts & Pier Foundations
A series of vertical concrete piers are driven into the ground to form the basis for posts and pier foundations. Wooden or concrete posts are used to support the horizontal beams that are then constructed to form the base upon which the building will be framed.
Steps to Select a Concrete Contractor
One of your first steps to select an experienced contractor is to discuss with them the type of foundation that you will need. Ask them to review the options that you have for your building. A knowledgeable foundation concrete contractor will be able to clearly explain the benefits and disadvantages of each type of foundation.
Before you sign a contract, consider the following as part of your selection process.
Ask for Recommendations
Ask your family members, friends, neighbors, and coworkers for the names of any concrete contractors that they have worked with.
Check Their References
Qualified foundation concrete contractors will have references that you can call. Ask the references about the contractor’s timeliness, ability to stay within their budget, quality of work, and guarantees on their product.
Review the Concrete Specialist’s Portfolio
Before making the final decision, review the portfolio of the concrete specialist’s work. Does their design meet yours?
