Concrete footings in Orinda CA - a solid base sized for what it holds up
Building a deck, wall or addition and need something solid under it? We size and pour footings to match the load they'll carry.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What do concrete footings do, and which kind does your project need?
Concrete footings are the wider concrete base poured under a wall, a post or a column, and here in Orinda we build them to spread that weight out into the ground so whatever sits on top stays put.
Most folks call us because something new is going up, like a deck, a garden wall, a carport or an addition, or because an old post or wall has started to lean and they suspect what's under it. The price moves with what the footing has to hold up, how big and how long it runs, how deep we dig and how easy it is to get a crew and a concrete truck to the spot. The schedule mostly turns on permits and getting your utilities marked, not on the pour itself. I'll give you your own number at the estimate, written down with what's included.
How can you tell a project needs new footings?
Deck posts on bare dirt
If your deck posts sit on loose blocks or right on the dirt, there's usually no real footing under them at all. They sink a little more every season, and by the time the deck sags or the railing wobbles, the framing above has usually taken a beating too.
A wall cracking low down
A garden wall or block wall that's cracking near the ground or starting to lean usually has a footing that's too small for it, or no footing at all. Waiting rarely helps, because a wall that's moving keeps moving, and a patch now often turns into a tear-out later.
Plans that call for footings
If you're drawing up a deck, an addition or a new wall, the plans will show footings under it, sized for that load. That's the best time to call, because getting the footing right costs far less before anything is built on top of it.
How we build concrete footings
The first thing I find out is whether the footing carries a whole wall or a single post, because that sets its shape, either a long trench or a square hole. We get your utilities marked before anybody puts a shovel in the ground. Then we dig to the depth and width the job calls for and clean the loose dirt out of the bottom, since a footing sitting on fluffed-up dirt will settle right along with it. We set the rebar, the steel bars that keep the concrete from pulling apart, build the forms, pour and let it cure, which is the wait while the concrete hardens and gains strength before anything heavy goes on it. Nobody ever sees the bottom of a footing hole once it's poured, so that's where I'd rather spend your money and my time. My granddad used to say you can't fix a barn by painting it, and footings work the same way.
Footings often come up alongside other work. When an old footing has sunk and pulled part of the house down with it, foundation raising lifts it back up. When a new footing has to go through a patio, garage floor or slab that's already there, we use concrete cutting to open a clean hole instead of breaking up more than we need to.
Continuous footings
These run the full length under a wall, so they suit a garden wall, an addition or anything with weight bearing down along its whole length. We dig them as one long trench so the load spreads evenly from end to end.
Pad footings
A pad sits under one concentrated load, like a deck post, a porch column or a carport post. They suit projects where the weight comes down in spots rather than along a line.
Thickened slab footings
On a slab floor, the footing can be poured as part of the floor itself, with the slab made thicker where the weight comes down. That suits a garage, a shed or a room with a concrete floor, since the floor and footing go in together.
Get a footing estimate, written out on site
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day, and most of the time it's me calling you back to set a time. I come out, walk the job and look at what the footing has to carry, then you get a written estimate. It's free and comes with no obligation.
(925) 257-6590What Orinda's rules and hills mean for concrete footings
Building permits for Orinda come from the Contra Costa County Building Department, and the county says almost all projects need one, including new structures, decks and foundation repairs. Footings usually go under one of those, so we treat a permit as likely and check with the county on your job before we start rather than guess. When it needs one, we pull it as your contractor and handle the paperwork for our part of the work. The city's Planning Department also reviews and approves projects that need a building permit unless they're on its exempt list, so one footing job can involve both the city and the county.
Lots of Orinda homes sit on hillsides, and that adds a couple of checks. The city says a developed lot with an average slope over 15% may need a Hillside Grading Permit for any amount of grading, and digging more than five feet below the natural ground needs a grading permit, so on a steep lot or a deep footing we ask the city before we dig. If your yard backs onto a creek, work inside the creek setback takes an Exception Permit, and the city's Public Works and Engineering Department sets what can go near it. We see the same steep yards, downhill decks and tight access on jobs in Moraga and Lafayette, and we work in cities all around Orinda on both sides of the hills, so if yours isn't on our list, call anyway.
What happens after you call about footings in Orinda?
Call and walk the job
You call, and I come out to walk the job with you, listen to what you want and look at the ground, where the water goes and anything that might be in the way. I'll also ask what the footing has to carry, since that decides its type and size.
Get a written estimate
You get a written estimate that lists what's included, like whether hauling away old concrete is part of it. That way you know what you're paying for before any digging starts.
Line up permits and marking
Once you're ready, we line up any permits the job needs and get utilities marked before we dig. A steep or creekside lot can add a city review here, and that's usually what sets the start date.
Dig, pour and walk through
Our crew lead and finishers dig, set the steel, form and pour, and I'm usually there on pour day. When it's done, I walk the finished footings with you before we pack up.
Frequently asked questions
How much do concrete footings cost in Orinda?
There's no single price, because the type and size of footing drive most of the cost. Continuous footings that run under a whole wall cost more to put in than pad footings under single posts, and the wider and bigger the footing, the more it costs. I'll walk your job and give you a written number that spells out what's included.
How do I make sure it's safe to dig holes for footings?
Call 811 before anyone digs, so the local utilities come out and mark their lines. A widely used deck building guide also advises keeping footings off septic systems, leach fields, utility lines and enclosed meters, and on our jobs the marking gets done before our crew digs.
What causes concrete footings to crack or sink?
Most footing trouble comes from loose dirt left in the bottom of the hole, a footing too small for what it holds up, or water running at it, and any of those lets it settle. Concrete also cracks a little on its own as it cures and ages, which is normal, so we clean out the bottom, size the footing to its load and set rebar to hold small cracks tight.
Who handles inspections for footing work in Orinda?
The county building department does all building inspections for Orinda projects, booked online or through its automated phone line. When we pull the permit, we make the inspection calls for our part of the work, so you're not the one chasing them.
Does a sloped lot in Orinda change a footing job?
Yes, a slope usually means deeper digging on the downhill side, more forming and harder access for the crew and the concrete. It can also bring in the city's hillside and grading permits mentioned above, so I look at the slope on the first visit.
Can you build footings from my engineer's or architect's plans?
Yes, when an engineer or architect is involved, we build the footings from their plans and stay in touch with them through the job. If something we find in the ground doesn't match the drawings, we check with them rather than guess.
Orinda, CA
Call before the first hole gets dug
Have ready what the footing will hold up, whether your lot slopes or sits near a creek, and any plans you've got, and we can cover a lot more on the first visit.