Concrete footings in Seymour IN - dug to the right depth so what you build stays put
Planning a deck or porch and unsure how deep the supports go? We get the depth from the building office before we dig.
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What's involved in concrete footings for a deck, porch or addition?
Concrete footings are the buried blocks of concrete that carry the weight of a deck, porch, addition or column down into the soil. In Seymour, IN we dig and pour them at the depth the local building office sets, usually as the first step before framing or a wall goes on top.
Most people call us when they're planning a new deck or porch, or when the posts under an old one have started to sink. The price mostly comes down to how many footings you need, how deep and wide each one goes and how hard the digging is, and the schedule turns on the permit and the weather. Permits are handled by the city or county where your property sits, so we check with that office before we schedule and tell you plainly who will take care of the paperwork. Your written estimate spells out what's included for your job, so you know what you're paying for.
How can you tell your deck or porch footings are failing?
Deck posts sinking or leaning
If a post has dropped, tipped or pulled away from the beam, the footing under it is usually too shallow or sitting on loose fill. Left alone, the framing above starts to rack and loosen, and a footing repair turns into a rebuild.
Gap between porch and house
A gap that keeps widening where a porch or deck meets the house usually means its footings are moving differently from the house's. Waiting lets water run in against the wall and strains the ledger, the board that ties the deck to the house.
Old pads cracked or tipped
Precast blocks or thin pads that have cracked, tilted or sit in water after a rain usually weren't set deep enough for the ground under them. They tend to get worse with each freeze, so replacing them before the structure on top shifts costs less.
Work that often goes with footings
Foundation raising
When a corner of the house has dropped or wall cracks keep widening, sorting that out first keeps new work from tying into a moving wall.
Concrete cutting
Sawing a clean opening or cutting out one damaged section lets you keep the rest of a sound patio, driveway or floor instead of replacing it.
How we dig and pour concrete footings
We start by having the utilities marked, because a footing hole goes straight down through the ground where lines and pipes are buried. Then I get the depth from the local building office instead of guessing, and I check how close each footing will sit to your house, since a national deck building guide says footings closer than 5 feet to the house's foundation wall bear at the same level as the house's own footing. We dig each hole down to undisturbed soil, the firm ground nobody has moved, clean the loose dirt out of the bottom, set any forms and rebar, the steel that helps hold the concrete together, and pour. Nobody sees a footing once the deck or wall goes on, and that's exactly why I won't trim the digging to save money on the parts you can see.
Footing jobs often touch other work around the house. If part of your house has already settled, foundation raising can bring it back before new footings go in next to it. When a post has to land in an existing patio or slab, concrete cutting lets us open just that spot instead of tearing the whole slab out.
Pad footings for posts and columns
A pad footing is a single block of concrete under one post or column, the usual choice for decks, porch roofs and carports. Each one carries its own load, so depth and placement get checked hole by hole.
Continuous footings for walls
A continuous footing runs in one line under a wall, so it suits additions, garage walls and block or poured walls. It spreads the weight along the whole length, which helps where the soil changes from one end to the other.
Get a written footing estimate for your project
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The visit is free with no obligation, and calling (812) 271-8146 works too.
Call (812) 271-8146Why Seymour homeowners call Seymour Concrete for footings
I look at every job myself
I come out to look at the job myself and write the estimate. That way the person who saw your yard and the spot you picked is the one who priced the dig.
Running our own crew since 2017
I opened this business in Seymour in 2017, after working concrete crews every summer from high school until I could run a pour on my own. We're best known for careful flatwork, the driveways, patios, walks and steps, and footings get the same care.
Digging in Jackson County soil
The county soil survey notes that in some local soils the sides of a shallow hole cave in. We watch for that as we dig and clean out what falls in, so the concrete sits on firm ground and not on loose dirt.
Licensed and insured on your property
We're fully licensed and insured. That matters on footing work because the digging happens right beside your house.
On footings, the part that counts ends up buried, so ask any contractor how they'll find the depth before you hire them. Get in touch and I'll come take a look.
What happens after you call about footings in Seymour?
Call and describe the job
When you call, I ask a few questions about what you're building and where, then set a time to come look at it with you. Having your address and a rough plan for the deck or addition handy speeds that up.
Walk the site together
I walk the site with you, talk through your options and answer whatever you want to ask. Then I send a written estimate that says what's included, so you know the cost before anything starts.
Dig, form and pour
Once you say go, I'm on site with the crew from forming to finishing. If the building office wants to check the open holes before concrete goes in, we hold the pour until they have.
Walk the finished job
We walk the finished job together before we leave, so you can see where each footing sits and how the tops line up. The concrete then needs time to cure, the wait while it hardens, before framing or a wall goes on top.
Common questions
How deep do concrete footings need to be in Seymour?
Deep enough to sit on undisturbed soil below the frost line, and the building office that covers your property sets that depth. A national deck building guide calls for at least 12 inches below undisturbed ground or below the frost line, whichever is deeper, and says to get the frost line from the local office.
Do I need a permit for footings in Seymour, and what do I submit?
Check with the city first, because Seymour's Planning & Zoning Department issues building permits for all construction in the city and its two mile area, and its list names decks, porches and garages, the jobs footings usually carry. The city issues a permit only with a plat or sketch showing your lot lines plus plans showing the work, and every project needs the Building Commissioner's approval. The department also enforces floodplain rules, so ask about those if your lot is in a flood area.
Can concrete footings be poured in winter?
Yes, as long as the ground in the holes is warm enough when the concrete goes in. A Michigan concrete trade group's cold weather guide says to place concrete only on ground at least 40°F and within 20°F of the concrete's temperature. That can mean thawing frozen ground first with ground heaters or blankets, which adds time and cost.
What causes concrete footings to sink or move?
Usually the ground under them. The Jackson County soil survey says a high water table, flooding, organic layers or shrink-swell soil, ground that swells when wet and shrinks as it dries, can all make footings move. That's why the depth and a firm, clean bottom matter more on this job than anything you'll see from the yard.
How much do concrete footings cost in Seymour, IN?
It depends on the count, size and depth of the footings and on how hard your ground is to dig. The county soil survey notes that a high water table, shallow bedrock, large stones, slope and flooding all make digging harder, and a winter pour can add the cost of thawing the ground. I'll look at your spot and send a written figure for your own job.
How do I get my yard ready for concrete footings?
Mostly by knowing what's buried near the spot, because the deck building guide places footings clear of septic systems, leach fields, utility lines and enclosed meters. Mark where you'd like the deck or addition to sit, and clear a path so we can get to it.
Get your footings set at the right depth
Call (812) 271-8146 or send the form before the ground freezes, since a fall pour skips the thawing a winter job can need.