Foundation installation in Arlington WA - built deep enough and drained from the start
Stuck on slab, crawl space or basement for your new house? We help you choose once and get the drains in from day one.
Foundation installation in Arlington, WA starts a new house, an addition or a small building, and it comes down to three types: a slab, a crawl space or a basement. The type gets set while it's built, and so do the drains and waterproofing on the outside walls. Those are the choices you can't easily take back, so I settle them with you and your engineer or architect in the very first plan.
The price moves with the type you pick, how deep the concrete footings under the walls go, what the ground looks like once we open it and how much drainage the walls need. The schedule turns on having plans ready and on decent weather for the pour. Your own figure comes in a written estimate after I've seen the lot.
How we build your foundation from the ground up
- I walk the lot myself. I'm the one who comes out, and before starting this business in Arlington in 2023, I spent years pouring slabs and footings for a big commercial outfit.
- Ground read before we dig. A 2004 state map notes that fill and loose, wet sandy soil in river valleys and on lakeshores can lose strength and pull foundations apart. It gives Arlington no rating, so I look at your ground.
- Drains in before backfill. The waterproofing membrane, drainage board and perforated drain pipe go around the walls before backfill, the dirt pushed back against them, because adding them afterward is hard and expensive.
- Footings on packed ground. We dig down to firm soil and pack the base under the footings instead of raking loose dirt level, because a footing on loose dirt settles with it.
- An engineer when it's needed. We're fully licensed and insured, and our crew and I bring in an engineer or another trade whenever the job calls for one.
What goes wrong under a house
| Problem | What it looks like | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Settling footings | What it looks like: Stair-step cracks in walls, doors and windows that start to stick | Usual fix: Footings dug to firm soil on a packed base |
| Water against the walls | What it looks like: Damp basement walls or puddles along the house after rain | Usual fix: Ground sloped away, perimeter drain and membrane before backfill |
| Weak, dusty slab top | What it looks like: A floor surface that powders, flakes or chips when you sweep | Usual fix: Pour out of midday heat and keep it damp while it cures |
| Cracks in random places | What it looks like: Cracks wandering across the slab instead of along straight lines | Usual fix: Control joints, cut grooves that guide cracks, cut on time |
Slab, crawl space or basement
- Slab. A slab sits right on packed ground and keeps the build simple, but the plumbing and wiring run in or under it, so fixing a line later means jackhammering through the floor.
- Crawl space. A crawl space raises the floor so pipes and wires stay reachable. It handles moisture with vents for outside air or gets sealed in with a vapor barrier, insulation and a dehumidifier.
- Basement. A basement gives you the most room below the floor and takes the deepest dig and the most drainage work, so if you might want one, decide now.
How a foundation job runs
- Call or send the form. Call (360) 474-2804 or use the form with your lot address, the foundation type you're leaning toward and any plans from an engineer or architect.
- I look and measure. I come out, walk the lot, measure and ask how you'll use the space, then send a written estimate that says plainly what's in it and what isn't.
- We settle the plan. Before the pour we settle the layout, the prep under the footings and how water will leave, with your engineer or architect when there is one.
- Pour and walk-through. Our crew does the work and cleans up, then we walk the finished foundation with you before the framing goes on.
Keeping your foundation dry once you've moved in
Once we've left, what keeps a foundation sound is mostly how you handle water. Keep the gutters and downspouts carrying water away, keep the ground sloping off the walls, and don't pile soil or bark against the foundation, where it holds moisture.
We're based in Arlington and work in the cities around it, from Everett up into the Skagit Valley and out to Camano, Stanwood included. Homeowners call us, and so do small business owners who need a pad, a foundation or a parking lot. Call or send the form and I'll come take a look.
Tell us about your lot
Send your lot address, the foundation type you have in mind and any plans, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time to come out.
(360) 474-2804- Free quote on site
- A written estimate
- No pressure to book
Foundation questions we hear
Can I change my foundation to a basement later in Arlington?
Not in any practical way. Turning a slab into a basement can't be done, and turning a crawl space into one costs too much to be worth it. If you might ever want a basement, we settle it before anyone digs.
What frost depth does Arlington require for a new foundation?
The City of Arlington sets the frost line at 18 inches minimum for houses, so the work goes at least that deep. A slab is kept from frost heave, the ground lifting as it freezes, by going below that line or by insulating its edges. You can ask me which one your plan uses.
When does a foundation in Arlington need an engineer?
In Arlington, structural calculations have to come from an engineer or architect registered in Washington, unless the plans follow the building code's prescriptive approach, its ready-made sizing tables. The city also requires an engineer's stamp on any building over 4,000 square feet, whatever it's used for, whether it's new work, an addition or a repair.
How do I check a concrete contractor's registration in Washington?
Look the company up with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, whose Verify a Contractor tool lists registered contractors. The state requires every construction contractor to register with the department and to be bonded and insured, so a quick search before you hire is worth the minute.