Concrete Foundations & Footings in Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Concrete Services forms and pours residential footings, stem walls and foundation slabs for new homes, additions, garages and porches, and we repair cracked or failing concrete foundations. We build to the approved plans and have every footing ready for inspection before a single yard of concrete arrives.
Foundation work in Atlanta comes with local quirks. Footings in Georgia must reach at least 12 inches below grade, the red clay subsoil turns soft when it stays wet, and a lot of intown houses from the 1910s through the 1940s still sit on brick piers in a crawlspace. Rolling Piedmont lots mean many homes step down to a daylight basement on one side, and in parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett the excavator can hit granite rock not far below the surface.
We pour foundations in Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Roswell, Johns Creek, Duluth, Decatur, Brookhaven and Sandy Springs, and inside the city from Kirkwood to Collier Hills & more.
Why Choose Atlanta Concrete Services
Foundation & Footing Services
Footings & Foundation Walls
A new home, addition or garage starts with footings dug to firm, undisturbed soil. We excavate, set forms and rebar to the engineer's or plan specifications, schedule the footing inspection, and pour continuous footings, stem walls or monolithic slab foundations.
If the trench bottom hits soft clay or old fill, we dig through it to firm bearing rather than pouring on top of it.
Bungalow Pier Footings
Bouncy floors and doors that will not latch in an old Atlanta bungalow often trace back to brick piers settling on shallow or missing footings. We dig new concrete pad footings under the crawlspace so a framer or foundation contractor can set new piers or posts on solid bearing.
Crawlspace work is tight and hand-dug, and we keep the space clean and dry while we work.
Addition Footings
Intown lots are small, so many families build out the back or add a second story instead of moving. A rear addition needs footings that tie into the existing foundation without undermining it, and we dowel new to old where the plans call for it.
We work with your architect or builder and the Office of Buildings inspection schedule, or the county inspector outside city limits.
Stepped Footings on Slopes
On a sloping lot, a footing that is shallow on the downhill side can lose support as rain erodes the clay. We step footings down the grade in level runs so every section bears on firm soil at the required depth.
Basement and daylight-basement walls get drainage board and a footing drain that daylights downhill, since saturated clay pushes hard on a wall. If the yard itself needs holding back, we can pour a concrete retaining wall during the same mobilization.
Crack Repair & Waterproofing
Hairline cracks are normal, but a crack that leaks, widens or shows one side higher than the other needs attention. We seal leaking cracks with injected epoxy or polyurethane, and on exposed walls we apply exterior damp-proofing and correct the grading that is sending water toward the house.
Gutters and downspouts emptying beside the foundation are the most common source of wet Atlanta crawlspaces and basements.
Foundation Replacement
When a garage, porch or outbuilding foundation has broken apart or rotated, patching will not hold it. We remove the failed section, rebuild the footing to current code and pour a new wall or concrete slab, often in phases so the structure above stays supported.
Larger structural repairs on a home are done under an engineer's plan, and we pour to that plan.
How We Build a Foundation
Plans & Permit Review
We review your stamped plans, soil notes and site plan, confirm footing sizes and depths, and coordinate with the permit holder. Outside the city, we work with the Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett or local city inspection office instead.
Locates & Excavation
Georgia 811 marks utilities, and then we excavate footings to firm bearing, which costs $1 to $3 per square foot for excavation and grading on open sites. Soft spots are dug out and backfilled with stone.
Steel, Forms & Inspection
We set forms, place and tie rebar with proper cover, and call for the footing inspection. Concrete is ordered only after the inspector signs off.
Pour, Cure & Protect
We pour, consolidate and finish, then cure the concrete and keep the trenches from filling with storm runoff. Damp-proofing and drains go on before backfill.
Foundation FAQs for Atlanta Homes
How deep do footings need to be in Atlanta?
Georgia's residential code sets a 12-inch minimum below grade, which already exceeds the area's shallow frost line. Plans for larger homes or poor soil often call for deeper or wider footings, and we follow the plans.
What does foundation work cost?
Every foundation is different, so we price from your plans after a site visit rather than quoting a flat rate. Rock, steep grades and tight access are the biggest cost drivers.
Is red clay bad for foundations?
Undisturbed Piedmont clay is a good bearing soil when it is kept reasonably dry. Problems come from loose fill, poor compaction, and water pooling against the foundation, which is why drainage is part of every job we pour.
Can you fix the piers under my old house?
We pour new concrete footings beneath crawlspace piers. The piers or posts themselves are typically set by a foundation or framing contractor, and we coordinate with them.
Do foundation jobs need a permit?
Yes. New foundations and additions require building permits and inspections from the City of Atlanta Office of Buildings or your city or county building department.
What if you hit rock?
Granite and gneiss sit fairly close to the surface in parts of the metro. If we hit rock, we discuss options such as bearing on the rock, adjusting the footing design with the engineer, or breaking it out, before any extra work happens.