Serving Fort Washington, MD and surrounding areas. (301) 872-6637
Every deck, addition, or porch needs a footing dug to the right depth. We handle permits, the county inspection, and every step from digging to cure.
Concrete footings in Fort Washington are dug below the frost line - typically around 30 inches below grade - and poured with concrete to anchor structures like decks, additions, and porches. Most residential footing projects take one to three days of physical work, with a curing period before the next phase of building can begin.
Homeowners in Fort Washington often start thinking about footings when they are planning a new deck, adding a sunroom, or noticing that an existing structure has started to tilt or crack. All three situations point to the same question: is what is underground strong enough to hold what is above it?
If your project involves a larger structure or an attached addition, you may also want to consider our foundation installation service, which covers full-perimeter and foundation wall systems for more complex builds.
If one corner of your deck sits lower than the others, or if there is a gap opening between your deck and the house, the footings underneath may have shifted. In Fort Washington's clay soil, this kind of movement is common - the ground swells and contracts with wet and dry seasons, and footings that were not deep enough will move with it.
When a footing settles unevenly, the structure above shifts - and that shift shows up in your doors and windows first. If a door that used to close smoothly now sticks or drags, it is worth having someone look at the footing underneath that part of the house before the problem gets worse.
Any new structure attached to your home will need footings before anything else can be built. In Prince George's County, this is a code requirement, not just a best practice. Starting the conversation with a concrete contractor early means you will not be surprised by the timeline or the permit process.
Fence posts set in concrete that was not deep enough will heave during freeze-thaw cycles and lean after a wet season. If your fence looks noticeably worse every spring, the posts likely were not set below the frost line. Resetting them with properly poured footings is a more permanent fix than pushing them back into place.
We pour concrete footings for decks, additions, porches, outbuildings, and fence posts across Fort Washington and Prince George's County. Every project starts with a site visit to assess soil conditions and determine the correct depth and footing size for your structure. We then apply for the required building permit through Prince George's County DPIE, coordinate the pre-pour inspection, and handle everything through to the finished footing. For homeowners whose project includes a full foundation, our foundation installation service covers the full scope.
When the footing work is done, we let you know exactly when the concrete will be ready for loading - so you are not left guessing when it is safe to start framing or building on top. If you are working with an older Fort Washington home from the 1960s or 1970s and tying new footings into an existing structure, we assess what is already there before designing anything new. That extra step matters because older construction sometimes does not match current standards, and working around it without looking first creates problems. Property owners who are also raising a structure on an existing foundation may also find our foundation raising service relevant to their project.
Suits homeowners adding a new deck, porch, or pergola that needs code-compliant anchoring below the frost line.
Suits homeowners expanding their living space and needing footings tied into or adjacent to an existing foundation.
Suits property owners who want fence posts anchored properly so they do not shift after wet winters or dry summers.
Suits homeowners with an existing structure that has shifted, cracked, or tilted due to inadequate or failed original footings.
Fort Washington sits on the Coastal Plain, where the soil has a high clay content. Clay expands when it absorbs water and contracts when it dries out - and that movement happens every season. A footing that was not dug deep enough or did not account for this soil behavior will shift over time, and the structure above it will show it. Prince George's County also requires a pre-pour inspection for most footing projects, which means a county inspector has to look at the open holes before any concrete goes in. That step adds time to the timeline, but it protects you.
We work throughout Fort Washington and the surrounding area, including Temple Hills and Clinton. Those communities share the same clay soil conditions and county permitting requirements, so the process is familiar to us regardless of exactly where your property falls. Homeowners near lower-lying areas closer to the Potomac should mention any standing water or drainage issues when they first call - groundwater close to the surface affects how we approach the dig.
You describe what you are building or what problem you are seeing. We ask about the project size, the intended use, and whether an existing structure is involved. Most inquiries get a response within 1 business day.
We visit to assess the soil, measure the area, and determine how deep the footings need to go. We apply for the Prince George's County building permit at this stage - that is our responsibility, not yours.
The crew digs the holes to the required depth. A county inspector then verifies the depth and placement before any concrete is poured. This inspection is your protection - it confirms the work is correct before it is buried permanently.
Once inspection is approved, we set any steel reinforcement, pour the concrete, and finish the surface. We tell you the exact date when it is safe to start building on top - typically at least a week after the pour.
No commitment required. We visit your property, assess the soil, and give you a written estimate. Replies within 1 business day.
(301) 872-6637Prince George's County's frost depth is around 30 inches. Every footing we dig reaches that depth, so the freeze-thaw cycle that happens every Maryland winter cannot push your structure up and down. This is not optional - it is the minimum that protects your investment.
Prince George's County requires an inspector to view the open holes before concrete is poured. We coordinate that inspection as part of every job - you do not have to schedule anything or wonder whether the step was completed.
Fort Washington has a lot of homes built in the 1960s through 1980s. When new footings are tied into an older foundation, we look at what is already there first. Skipping that step is a common source of problems when old and new construction do not match.
We carry a Maryland Home Improvement Commission license required by state law for this work. You can verify any Maryland contractor license online before signing anything. We also follow Maryland 811 call-before-you-dig requirements on every job.
Footing work is invisible once it is done - which is exactly why it matters so much to get it right the first time. A footing built correctly will outlast every other part of what sits on top of it.
Lifting and releveling an existing foundation that has settled, shifted, or dropped over time.
Learn MoreFull-perimeter and foundation wall systems for additions, new builds, and structures that need more than individual footings.
Learn MoreCounty permits fill up fast - contact us now so your deck or addition stays on track for the season.
