Concrete footings in Arlington VA - a deck or porch that sits on firm ground
Planning a deck or porch, or watching an old one start to lean? We dig each footing to firm ground so it stays put.
What goes into concrete footings for a deck or porch in Arlington?
Concrete footings are pads of concrete set in the ground to hold up a deck, porch or other structure, and in Arlington we dig each one below the frost line and down to firm, undisturbed soil so what's on top doesn't heave or sink.
Most calls start with a new deck or porch on the drawing board, or an old one that's leaning because its posts sit on shallow blocks. The price moves with how many footings you need, how deep they go and what type the ground calls for, and a sloped yard pushes the cost of each one up. The schedule turns on getting utilities located before we dig and on curing, the wait while fresh concrete gains strength, and my written estimate spells out exactly what's included. If it's the house that's settling and not the deck, that's foundation raising, and we do that too.
Why homeowners pick us for concrete footings
You get me on site, a crew that pours what we planned together, and straight answers about what you're paying for and why.
I look at every job
I come out to every site myself, and our crew does the forming and pouring, usually with me right there.
Building here since 2021
I started this business in Arlington in 2021 after learning the trade pouring driveways, patios and walks around Northern Virginia.
Fully licensed and insured
Virginia licenses the business itself, and we also meet the local licensing rules of the cities and counties we work in.
Prep comes first
Like a kitchen before dinner service, the work nobody sees decides the result, so the digging gets our most careful attention.
Backed by our satisfaction guarantee
I'd rather spend a few extra minutes answering your questions on site than leave you guessing about any part of the job.
Types of concrete footings to choose from
The right footing depends on what's going on top, how your yard slopes and what the soil looks like once we dig, so we talk these through on site.
Talk to us about your footings
Call (571) 760-4256 or send the form, and I'll come look at your ground before anyone talks numbers.
Why homeowners trust Mainstay Arlington Concrete Construction with footings
I check the slope, where water runs and what's going on top, because a hot tub deck carries far more weight than a small landing. Then we dig each footing down to firm, undisturbed ground, since a footing only holds as well as the soil under it, and loose or filled dirt keeps settling.
Once the holes are right, we pour, and then the concrete needs its cure before it carries anything, like a roast resting before you carve it, so I'll tell you or your deck builder when it's ready for posts. If an old slab sits where a footing has to go, concrete cutting opens just that spot instead of the whole patio.
Footing questions we hear in Arlington
How deep do concrete footings need to go in Arlington, VA?
As a general rule, footings need to reach below the frost line, the deepest point the ground freezes in winter, so frost can't push them around. The local building department gives the frost depth for your area, and we plan every hole around that figure, then keep going if the soil there is still soft.
How much does a concrete footing cost?
Installed concrete footings across the US usually cost about $700 to $1,500 per footing, and that's a national figure, not our price. Sloped yards and specialized footings cost more per footing than a typical job, and your own number comes from the written estimate after I've seen the yard.
How long does new concrete need to cure before you build on it?
One Canadian footing-form maker's guide says to keep new concrete damp or covered with plastic for at least three days and to protect it from freezing for at least 48 hours. Those are that maker's minimums, so ask us how we'll keep your footings covered during that stretch, especially in cold weather.
What causes concrete footings to crack or settle?
On some lots it's clay soil, because clay swells and shrinks as it gets wet and dries out, which can call for wider footings and extra reinforcement, the steel bars called rebar. Footings that stop short of firm ground settle too, which is why we dig until the soil underneath is solid.
What license does a concrete contractor need in Virginia?
Virginia grants a contractor's license to the business, and that business also has to meet the local licensing rules of each city and county where it works. You can ask which class a contractor holds, since a Class C license covers a single contract or project over $1,000 but less than $30,000.
What should I know before I call a contractor about deck footings?
It helps to know what's going on top, roughly how many footings you expect and how steep the yard is, since those three things shape the type and depth we plan. If you're not sure yet, that's fine, because I'll work it out with you when I come out.
What happens when you call about concrete footings in Arlington?
Every footing job starts with how you'll use the space, so the plan fits what goes on top and the ground it sits in, not a one-size layout.
Call or send a message
Call (571) 760-4256 or use the form, and tell us what you're building and where it sits in the yard.
I walk the site
I come out myself to look at the ground, the slope and where water goes, and ask how you'll use the space.
Your written estimate
You get a written estimate that spells out what's included, like removing old concrete, so you know exactly what you're paying for.
Dig, pour, care notes
Once you say go, we dig to firm ground, pour and finish, then leave you plain care notes for the weeks and first winter after.
Concrete footings in Arlington and nearby cities
Virginia law says no one starts digging until a locate request goes to the utility notification center, so ours goes in before the first footing hole, and since some addresses fall under a city and some under a county, we check which building department enforces the state building code for yours. From our base in Arlington we also pour footings in Falls Church, Alexandria and plenty of other nearby cities, so pick your area below or give us a call.
Get a footing estimate in Arlington
Booking us before your deck builder schedules framing leaves room for the concrete to cure, so call (571) 760-4256 or send the form today.