Garage & Basement Floors
Smooth, durable floors that handle weight and moisture.
Concrete Foundations · Joliet & Chicagoland
Foundations, built right before they're buried.
Concrete foundations across Joliet and Chicagoland, poured level and square by one crew. In Joliet, the city inspects them before any concrete goes in.
- Covers
- Footings · Foundation walls
What's included
Two parts. One foundation.
The pieces that carry everything built on top.
Footings
The base of the foundation, set on undisturbed soil and below the local frost line.
Source: InterNACHI (IRC R403)
Foundation walls
Poured concrete walls, braced as needed and given at least 10 days before backfilling.
Source: City of Joliet
Joliet's rules
Every part has its own rule.
The City of Joliet sets cold-weather and inspection rules for each part of the job. Here they are side by side.
| Footings | Foundation walls | Flatwork | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum air temperature | 10°F and rising | 15°F and rising | 32°F and rising |
| Keep the concrete at | 50°F until it reaches 500 psi, usually 2 days | 55°F for at least 5 days | 55°F for at least 5 days |
| Inspected | After digging, before the pour | Before the pour | As listed on your permit |
Footings
- Minimum air temperature
- 10°F and rising
- Keep the concrete at
- 50°F until it reaches 500 psi, usually 2 days
- Inspected
- After digging, before the pour
Foundation walls
- Minimum air temperature
- 15°F and rising
- Keep the concrete at
- 55°F for at least 5 days
- Inspected
- Before the pour
Flatwork
- Minimum air temperature
- 32°F and rising
- Keep the concrete at
- 55°F for at least 5 days
- Inspected
- As listed on your permit
Sources: City of Joliet
As published by the City of Joliet. Other towns set their own rules.
How we build it
Dug, checked, poured, cured.
A foundation gets one chance to be right. Here's the order, including where the city steps in.
- 01
Dig to depth
Footings go on undisturbed soil or engineered fill, below the local frost line.
Source: InterNACHI (IRC R403)
- 02
Footing inspection
In Joliet, the city inspects the footings after they're dug and before they're poured.
Source: City of Joliet
- 03
Pour the footings
In cold weather, footings are kept at 50°F until they reach 500 psi.
Source: City of Joliet
- 04
Form the walls
Wall forms go up on the footings, and in Joliet the walls are inspected before they're poured.
Source: City of Joliet
- 05
Pour & cure the walls
Poured by the same crew and, in cold weather, kept at 55°F for at least 5 days.
Source: City of Joliet
- 06
Wait, then backfill
Walls get at least 10 days before backfilling, braced as needed.
Source: City of Joliet
One crew from the first dig to the last pour.
The standard
The minimums a foundation starts from.
From the residential code, the City of Joliet, and NRMCA. Good work starts at these numbers.
12 × 6 in.
Footing size
The residential code's smallest footing: at least 12 in. wide and 6 in. thick.
Source: InterNACHI (IRC R403.1.1)
12 in.
Minimum depth
Footings sit at least 12 in. below the ground, and below the local frost line.
Source: InterNACHI (IRC R403.1.4)
500 psi
Freeze protection
New concrete is protected from freezing until it reaches 500 psi.
Source: NRMCA
10 days
Before backfill
Joliet requires foundation walls to cure at least 10 days before backfilling.
Source: City of Joliet
Plan ahead
Plan around the weather.
Book before the cold
Cold weather means days averaging below 40°F for more than three days in a row. Concrete poured then needs protection.
Source: NRMCA
Plan for inspections
Joliet inspects footings and walls before each pour, so build those visits into the schedule.
Source: City of Joliet
Ask about registration
Joliet requires every contractor to be registered with the city before a permit is issued.
Source: City of Joliet
Keep water moving
Point downspouts and grade soil away from the new foundation.
Below the frost line set by the local code, and at least 12 in. below the ground. Your permit confirms the exact depth.
Source: InterNACHI (IRC R403)
Joliet allows it with protection. Footings can be poured at 10°F and rising and kept at 50°F until 500 psi. Walls can be poured at 15°F and rising and kept at 55°F for at least 5 days.
Source: City of Joliet
After the footings are dug and before they're poured, and again before the foundation walls are poured.
Source: City of Joliet
Joliet requires at least 10 days after the walls are poured, with bracing as needed.
Source: City of Joliet
Yes. Every new garage needs an approved concrete foundation and a permit with an accurate plat of survey.
Source: City of Joliet
At least 12 in. wide and 6 in. thick, on undisturbed soil or engineered fill.
Source: InterNACHI (IRC R403.1)
The floor slab is poured inside the walls, and Illinois sets rules for what goes under it in new homes. See Garage & Basement Floors.
Get started
Let's start from the ground up.
Request a free quote and we'll look at the site, the plans, and the schedule, including what the season allows. Prefer to talk? Call 815-836-1828, 7 days a week.
Free quotes, 7 days a week.