Concrete footings in Tuscaloosa AL - posts that stay put and carry the load
Planning a deck and wondering what the posts will sit on? We check your ground first, then pour footings sized for what they carry.
Get a free footing estimate
Tell us your address and what the footings will hold up, and I'll come out to look and measure.
(205) 579-1212Hours Mon–Fri: 6 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
Concrete footings for Tuscaloosa homes
A concrete footing is the block of concrete a post sits on and is tied to, so a deck can carry its weight without sinking or leaning. Nobody admires a footing once the deck is on it, which is why it has to be right. If the house itself has settled, that's foundation raising, a different job.
The price comes down to how many footings you need, how big they are and how hard the digging is. The schedule turns on the permit and on how wet your ground is. If an old slab is in the way, we open it first with concrete cutting.
Kinds of concrete footings
Most footing jobs come down to one of these three ways of doing it.
- Poured in place — Dug and formed right where each post stands, and what we plan for any attached deck.
- Precast piers — Ready-made blocks that can suit a shed or a small freestanding platform.
- Continuous footing — One long run of concrete under a wall or an addition, quoted by the linear foot.
What to expect from our footing work
- I've come out to every estimate since 2013
- A written estimate that says what's in it
- Permit check first, usually a 24 to 48 hour city review
- Our crew pours, and I walk the job with you
- Licensed and insured for the work we do
Footings, slabs and the work around them
Tell us what you're building on top, and we'll plan the footings, the slab or the steps that go with it.
Describe your footing job
Send your address, what the footings will hold up and whether you're near a lake. We'll reply within one business day, no obligation, and set a visit.
(205) 579-1212Questions about concrete footings
How much do concrete footings cost in Tuscaloosa?
Installed concrete footings across the US usually cost about $5 to $20 per linear foot, a price that covers concrete, labor, digging, rebar, the steel inside, and the contractor's margin. A labor-only sub quotes a much lower per-foot rate, so ask what a number includes before you compare quotes. Our written estimate lists what's in ours.
Do I need a permit for concrete footings in Tuscaloosa?
In most cases yes, because the city requires permits for all new construction, remodels and alterations, and a new deck or addition counts. Building it yourself is allowed under state law, but the city's permit rule still applies. We check with the city's building office for your address and pull the permits our part needs.
Can precast piers hold up a deck attached to my house?
Not by one deck connector maker's guide, which says posts for a deck attached to the house need concrete footings, and that precast piers and thin slabs don't qualify. That's one maker's national advice, and the city settles code questions when it reviews your permit. For an attached deck, we plan poured footings from the start.
Does a footing contractor need a license in Alabama?
Usually, when the job runs over $10,000 and affects the home's structure, because a state licensing rule uses a foundation contractor hired by a homeowner as its example of who needs a residential home builder's license. State law also has home builders tell you in writing, before work starts, whether they carry liability insurance, and you both sign it.
When is the best time to dig footings on wet ground in Tuscaloosa?
Usually outside the wet season, because the county soil survey says a seasonal high water table and flooding affect when digs can be made. The survey isn't specific to any one lot, so the ground on yours still needs checking in person. On wet or low ground, we work out with you when it makes sense to dig.
Do I need extra approval for footings near Lake Tuscaloosa?
You might, because the city lists a Land Development Permit for projects next to Lake Tuscaloosa and a Site Stabilization Plan for projects in the Lake Tuscaloosa, Harris Lake or Lake Nicol watersheds. The Office of the City Engineer answers questions on both. If your lot needs one, we tell you who to call and build from the plans they approve.
If your question isn't here, call (205) 579-1212 or send the form and I'll answer it.
Other concrete work we do
- ServiceConcrete driveway building
- ServiceConcrete patio construction
- ServiceStamped concrete services
- ServiceConcrete sidewalk building
- ServiceGarage floor concrete
- ServiceDecorative concrete
- ServiceConcrete retaining walls
- ServiceConcrete floor installation
- ServiceConcrete pool decks
- ServiceConcrete steps construction
- ServiceSlab foundation building
- ServiceFoundation installation
- ServiceConcrete parking lot building
- ServiceFoundation raising
- ServiceConcrete cutting
Plan your footings with us
Call (205) 579-1212 before your deck plans are set, tell us what the posts will carry, and we'll set a time to come look.