Foundation installation in Garden City KS - a base set below the frost line
Not sure which foundation fits your new home or when framing can start? We'll explain the choices and pour a base to build on.
Foundation installation is the concrete a new house sits on. That's the concrete footings and the walls or slab, poured before any framing starts. Most folks call with a lot, a house plan and plenty of questions about which type fits, how deep it goes and how long the framers will wait. Those are the right questions to ask before anything gets dug.
Price moves with the foundation type, how deep we dig and the size and layout of the house. The schedule turns mostly on the type you pick, because some take much longer than others before framing can start. It also depends on the city's permit review and inspections. Your estimate spells out what we'll do. We'll pull the city permit when your job needs one, or help you through it if you'd rather apply yourself.
What our foundation installation work covers
- I look at your lot myself. I come out to look at the lot and your house plan myself, and our crew does the work with me on site.
- Foundation types laid out first. I walk you through each foundation type and how it changes when framing can start, so you can line up your framer and plan the rest of the build.
- Base, water and steel first. We dig out and pack the subgrade, which is the ground the foundation sits on. We check where water will run, and we tie the rebar, the steel that holds the concrete together.
- Building since 2013. I started this business in 2013 after years of patching walks and slabs at rentals, so I build the base the way I wish those had been built.
- Proof of license and insurance. We're fully licensed and insured, and I'll show you both when I come out so you know who's working on your lot.
What goes wrong under a new house
| Problem | What it looks like | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Base raked, not packed | What it looks like: Cracks and a low corner show up after the house goes up | Usual fix: Dig out soft dirt and pack the subgrade before pouring |
| Water running toward the house | What it looks like: Water sits against the foundation walls after every hard rain | Usual fix: Grade the lot so water runs away from the house |
| Poured in midday heat | What it looks like: A dusty, weak top that chips and flakes over time | Usual fix: Pour early in the day and cure it properly |
| Footings set too shallow | What it looks like: Walls crack or doors start sticking after a hard freeze | Usual fix: Set the bottom below the frost depth for the area |
Slab, crawl space or basement
- Slab. Concrete poured right on the packed base is usually the quickest way to get framing started. There's no access underneath, though, so a plumbing repair later means breaking concrete.
- Crawl space. Short walls lift the house off the ground and leave room to reach pipes and wires. The vapor barrier, vents and dehumidifier need looking after for as long as you own the house.
- Basement. Full walls below the house give you usable room, but this type takes the longest of the three before framing starts. It suits a build with time in the schedule.
How your foundation job runs
- I come out first. You call, and I come out to look at the lot and your house plan and ask what you want from the build.
- Your estimate. You get an estimate that spells out what we'll do, and I'll go back over the foundation types and timing as often as you like.
- Permit and locates. Before we dig, we sort out the permit and utility locates with you. The city's permit portal lets you check the review and schedule inspections.
- Pour, cure and walk-through. We pour, finish and let it cure, which is the wait while it hardens enough to carry framing. Then we walk it with you and go over its care.
Keeping your foundation sound for years
What keeps a foundation sound is mostly what's underneath it and where the water goes, because that's where the trouble starts. If the budget gets tight, cut from the finish work, not the base. Nobody sees the base on pour day, but the house sits on it for good.
We build for homeowners, landlords and small business owners in Garden City and the cities around it, from house foundations to parking lots. Call or send the form, and I'll come out and look at your lot.
Tell us about your build
Send the property address and the planned size and layout of the house. We reply within one business day to set a time to come look.
(620) 315-5440- Free estimate on site
- No obligation to hire us
- The work spelled out
Foundation questions we hear
How long does it take to build a house foundation before framing can start?
One home-building guide says the quickest foundation type takes 1 to 2 weeks from pour to framing, and the longest takes 3 to 6 weeks. The type you choose sets that wait, so I'll go over it with you before you book your framer.
How deep does a house foundation need to go?
One university building guide says the base of a foundation has to sit below the frost depth for your region, and that depth isn't the same everywhere. Some foundation types don't suit places where frost runs deep, so we work out the depth and the type with your house plans before we dig.
Who handles building permits and inspections in Garden City, KS?
The city's Building Inspections Division handles reviews, inspections and approvals for all construction in Garden City, Holcomb and Finney County. Their line for permits, inspections and contractor licensing is 620-276-1120.
What should a foundation contractor in Garden City be able to show me?
They should be able to show you a Garden City contractor license and a certificate of insurance. The city's application asks for proof of passing the Kansas or national exam for that license, plus at least $500,000 in general liability insurance with the city listed as certificate holder. Ask to see both before anyone digs.