Concrete Slab & Foundation Work
Strong foundations and quality slabs built to support your structures for generations.
Foundation and Slab Basics
Your foundation is the most critical part of any structure. It carries the entire weight of your building and transfers that load safely to the ground below. A properly designed and installed foundation prevents settling, cracking, and structural problems that cost thousands to repair later. At Marblecrest Burien Concrete, we understand the importance of getting foundation work right the first time.
Concrete slabs serve many purposes beyond foundations. They provide stable floors for garages, sheds, workshops, and additions. They create level surfaces for equipment pads, generator bases, and HVAC units. In new construction, a concrete slab forms the ground floor of the building. For all these applications, proper installation techniques ensure the slab performs as intended for decades.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we deal with specific challenges that affect foundation and slab performance. Our clay-rich soils expand when wet and contract when dry. Heavy seasonal rainfall saturates the ground. Occasional freezing temperatures can cause frost heave. We design and build foundations that account for all these local conditions. Our experience with Burien area soils means we know what works and what does not.
Types of Foundation Work We Perform
Different projects require different foundation solutions. We have the expertise to handle residential and commercial foundation work of all types. Whether you are building new or replacing existing foundations, we follow engineering specifications and building codes to ensure structural integrity.
Slab-on-Grade Foundations
Slab-on-grade foundations are common for single-story homes, garages, and outbuildings. We excavate to proper depth, install vapor barriers and insulation where required, place reinforcement steel, and pour a monolithic slab that includes thickened edges to support walls. This type of foundation works well in our area when properly designed for soil conditions.
- Residential home foundations
- Garage and shop floor slabs
- Shed and accessory building foundations
- Equipment pads and machinery bases
- Room additions and extensions
Stem Wall and Crawl Space Foundations
Stem wall foundations use concrete footings below the frost line topped with concrete walls that support the structure above. This creates a crawl space underneath for access to utilities. We excavate footings, pour the concrete footings, build or pour the stem walls, and backfill properly. This foundation type suits sloped sites and provides good drainage when built correctly. Many homes in our area use this traditional foundation method that has proven reliable for decades.
Our Foundation Installation Process
Foundation work demands precision and attention to detail at every step. We follow a systematic process that ensures your foundation meets or exceeds all structural requirements. Poor foundation work causes expensive problems down the road. Quality work from the start saves you money and headaches later.
We start with accurate site layout and excavation. The foundation must sit at the correct elevation and follow property lines and building plans exactly. We excavate to proper depth, removing all organic material and soft soil. The excavation bottom gets compacted thoroughly to create a stable base. For slabs, we install gravel base material and compact it in layers.
Next comes forming, reinforcement placement, and any required utility preparation. Forms must be level, plumb, and properly braced. Reinforcement steel goes in according to engineering plans. We install vapor barriers, insulation, and utility conduits before the pour. When everything checks out, we pour quality concrete and finish it to specification. Like our concrete driveway work, proper curing is essential for achieving maximum strength.
After the concrete cures, we strip forms carefully, backfill with proper material, and grade for drainage. Foundation work often requires inspections by building officials at various stages. We coordinate these inspections and ensure all work meets code requirements. You can trust that your foundation is built right because we follow proven methods and work to professional standards.