Concrete footings in Davis CA - a firm base planned around the soil under it
Soil first, then forms, then the pour
We build concrete footings in Davis and the cities around it, from Woodland and Winters out to Roseville and Elk Grove. You need one under a new room, wall or porch to spread its weight into the ground. I look at your soil before we dig, since that's where footing trouble starts.
Why concrete footings start with the soil
A footing carries a wall or addition into the ground, and done right it helps your house resist the heaving and settling that crack floors and walls. On some lots the clay swells when it's wet and shrinks when it dries, and a Yolo County soils report found one county site on loose silt and clay that had already settled.
Length, depth and the dig set the price, a soil check can set the schedule, and your quote gives you the number. If the house has already sunk, start with foundation raising.
Best for
- Room additions
- Block and garden walls
- Porch and deck posts
- Lots with clay soil
Dug to firm ground
Our crew digs the trench out and packs the bottom rather than raking loose dirt flat, so the footing isn't sitting on fill that settles.
Steel where it counts
We set rebar, the steel bars that keep a crack from spreading, and hold it up off the dirt so it ends up inside the concrete.
Forms set true
We set the forms straight and level before the truck arrives, because concrete takes whatever shape you give it and keeps every mistake.
A price you understand
You see what's in the price before you sign, because once a footing is buried, nobody gets to look at it again.
What keeps a concrete footing and its wall sound
- We've poured concrete around Davis since 2013, long enough to know a footing lasts about as long as the ground it sits on.
- I do the walk-through and estimate myself, our crew lead runs the dig and the forms, and I'm on site for the pour.
- We're licensed and fully insured, and California's Contractors State License Board is the office that licenses concrete contractors to form, pour and finish this kind of work.
Which footing your job needs
The load and the soil pick the footing more than taste does, so we tell you which one fits after we've seen the lot and your crack photos.
Strip footing
A continuous trench of concrete under a wall or addition, the usual pick when the weight runs the length of the structure.
Pad footings
Square pads under single posts or columns, which suits porches, decks and patio covers that carry weight at a few points.
Footing with stem wall
A footing topped with a short block wall that lifts the framing off the dirt, common under additions and raised floors.
Through old concrete
When a new wall crosses an old patio or slab, concrete cutting opens a clean trench so the rest isn't broken up.
Tell us what the footing carries
Send the lot address, what the footing will hold up and photos of any cracks. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, no obligation.
Footing questions we hear in Davis
How much do concrete footings cost around Davis?
A block stem wall with its footing, installed, usually costs about $35 to $40 per linear foot in the Sacramento area. That's the going rate for the wall and footing together, not a footing-only price, and your quote covers your own lot. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Do I need a licensed contractor for a small footing job in California?
Usually, yes. California lets an unlicensed person take jobs up to $1,000 only when the work needs no permit and that person employs no one, so a footing with a permit or a helper falls outside it. We check with the city or county office for your address and handle any permit as part of the job.
Can I build my own footings for a shed or addition?
You can, as an owner-builder. The state license board says you don't need a license when you do the work yourself or with your own employees paid only wages, and the building isn't meant for sale. The soil doesn't care who's digging, so it's worth knowing what's under you first.
How can I tell if my yard has soil that swells and shrinks?
Deep, roughly polygon-shaped cracks in the ground during the dry season can point to the moving clay we mentioned above. Photograph any you see, along with cracks in your walls or floors, and send them with your request so we see them before the visit.
Does my Davis lot need a soil test before footings go in?
Sometimes. Soil survey guidance says some cases need a check of the soil on the lot itself, so it's smart to plan for that chance before work starts. If your photos or the ground worry us, we'll say so before we dig, because we'd rather wait on a report than pour twice.
Other work around your footing
Foundation raising
When an older house has already settled, lifting it comes before any new footing work makes sense.
Explore Foundation raisingConcrete cutting
Clean saw cuts through an old patio, slab or driveway make room for a new footing trench.
Explore Concrete cutting