What a Concrete Foundation Pour Involves

If you're planning a garage, addition, or accessory structure, the foundation is the make-or-break step. Here's what actually happens — so you know what you're paying for and what to ask about.

1. Excavation

We excavate to solid bearing — meaning we dig past the topsoil and any disturbed fill until we hit soil that can actually support the structure. In the Salt Lake Valley, that often means dealing with clay soil that expands and contracts with moisture.

2. Base Prep

A compacted granular base under the footing. Same principle as flatwork — the base manages moisture and distributes load. On clay soil, this is critical.

3. Footing Layout and Pour

Footings are the wide base of the foundation that spreads the structure's weight. We lay out, form, and pour footings to the specified dimensions. Reinforcement (rebar) is placed before the pour.

4. Wall Forms and Reinforcement

After footings cure, we set wall forms — the molds that shape the foundation walls. Rebar is placed within the forms to tie the wall together. Wall height and thickness depend on the structure and soil conditions.

5. Wall Pour

Concrete is poured into the wall forms, vibrated to eliminate voids, and allowed to cure. Cure time depends on weather — we monitor and tell you the timeline.

6. Strip and Drainage

Forms are stripped after the concrete reaches sufficient strength. Drainage — surface grading and any subsurface system — is planned before the pour, not after water shows up. Water management is what keeps a foundation sound long-term.

Why the Walk-Through Matters for Foundations

Foundation work is soil-dependent. We can't quote properly without seeing the site — the soil, the slope, the access, and what the structure requires. The walk-through is where we evaluate all of it and give you a real plan with a start date in the contract.

See our foundations service page and our FAQ for more on foundation work and drainage.