Concrete footings in Sierra Madre CA - a firm base for what you build on it
Planning a wall, addition or post that needs a footing? We dig, form and pour it so what sits on top stays put.
What does a concrete footing job in Sierra Madre involve?
Concrete footings in Sierra Madre are the buried strips of concrete under a wall, an addition or a patio cover that spread its weight into the ground. The job is digging a trench, building forms, setting steel and pouring the concrete.
Most people call us when they're planning something that has to sit on solid ground, like a garden wall, a room addition or posts for a patio cover. The price turns mostly on how deep the footing goes, then on how many feet of it you need. On a small pour, the short-load fee, the extra charge for a truck that isn't full, plus delivery can cost more than the concrete itself, so ask any bidder to list those fees next to the concrete. The schedule usually depends on the city more than on our digging, because plans for this kind of work get reviewed before anyone breaks ground. Before work starts, we look into what your job needs from the city or county, and when a permit applies we handle the application as the licensed contractor. Your own figure comes from the estimate I write after I've seen your lot.
How we build concrete footings
I start by looking at what you're building and where it sits, then I tell you how deep we plan to dig and why. Our estimate breaks out the digging, forms, concrete and labor so you can line it up against other bids and see whether each one covers all four. On the job, our crew marks the line, digs the trench and cleans the loose dirt out of the bottom, because a footing on loose fill settles the way a fence post in soft dirt starts to lean. We build the forms, the wood sides that hold wet concrete in shape, and set the rebar the plans call for, which is steel bar that keeps the concrete from pulling apart. Then we place the concrete and let it cure, keeping it from drying out too fast so it gains strength before anything goes on it, and we strip the forms, backfill and clean up. The bottom of that trench is the part nobody sees once it's covered, so it's the last place I'd cut to save money. Does that make sense?
Footing work often runs into the concrete already on your lot. If an old footing has sunk and the wall or floor above it has dropped, foundation raising may be the job to look at before anything new goes in. When a new footing has to pass through an existing slab, patio or driveway, we use concrete cutting to open a clean path instead of breaking it out by hand.
Why Sierra Madre homeowners call Cornerstone Sierra Madre Concrete for footings
I write your estimate myself
I come out to look at the job and write the estimate, and our crew does the work with me on site running it. The person who told you how deep we'd dig is the one standing at the trench when it's dug.
Working from Sierra Madre since 2020
I started this business here in 2020 after years on concrete crews around the San Gabriel Valley, and we work in Pasadena, Arcadia, Monrovia and many other cities around them. If you don't see your city on the site, give us a call and ask.
Fully licensed and insured contractor
We're fully licensed and insured, and that matters here because the city issues building permits only to a state-licensed contractor or the property owner. Ask to see the paperwork from anyone you're thinking of hiring, us included.
Your rights in the contract
California requires a home improvement contract to carry notices and disclosures that protect you, and any change has to be in writing and tell you about your right to cancel. Read the contract before you sign, and ask me about any line that isn't clear.
On a footing, the part that matters most ends up underground, so ask every contractor how deep they plan to dig and why. When you're ready, call Cornerstone Sierra Madre Concrete at (626) 828-0332 or send us your project details, and have the property address, the length and depth you have in mind and any plans handy.
Get a footing estimate for your project
We get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come out. I'll look at your lot, talk through what you're building and write the estimate there. It's free, and there's no obligation.
Footing work from trench to pour
Questions to ask before pouring concrete footings
How much do concrete footings cost per linear foot?
An installed residential strip footing usually costs about $5 to $19 per linear foot across the US. That's the market range, not our price, and depth is the biggest reason it runs so wide. Your own number comes from the estimate I write after seeing your lot.
Do I need a permit for concrete footings in Sierra Madre?
Ask Sierra Madre Building & Safety, because the city issues permits for all projects that alter a structure, and its list doesn't name footings one way or the other. Digging 2 feet or more generally needs a Grading & Drainage permit from the city's Public Works Department, and filling soil or reshaping a slope may too, so the depth we plan can bring in a second permit. When a permit covers structural work, the city inspects it against the state building code.
How long does plan check take in Sierra Madre?
The city's first plan check, its review of your project plans, may take 6 to 8 weeks, and plans often need more than one round. If you have a deadline, start the plans well before the date you want us digging, and we'll walk you through each step.
Do I need a licensed contractor for a small footing job in California?
Yes, if the work needs a permit of any kind, because California requires a contractor license for permitted work even when the job is under $1,000. Ask every bidder who will apply for the permit before you agree to anything.
How do I check if my Sierra Madre lot is in an earthquake hazard zone?
Type your address into the state's EQ Zapp map, which shows whether your property sits inside a mapped earthquake hazard zone or in an area the state hasn't evaluated yet. A mapped zone means geologic and engineering studies come before construction, so check it before you set a schedule.
What hours can concrete crews work in Sierra Madre?
The city lists construction hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. We book the concrete truck so the pour starts and finishes inside those hours.
Other work that often goes with footings
- Foundation raising
If a wall or floor has dropped because the footing under it settled, raising the foundation toward level may fix it without tearing out what sits on top.
- Concrete cutting
When the trench for a new footing has to cross an existing driveway, patio or slab, a saw cut gives a straight, clean edge that's easier to patch afterward.