New construction foundations for residential builds, additions, garages, and accessory structures across Grand Rapids and West Michigan. Footings, foundation walls, slab-on-grade, and crawlspace work. Poured concrete or CMU block. Inspected to current Michigan Residential Code.
This page covers new construction foundation work. If your existing foundation has cracks, bowing walls, water intrusion, or settling, you want our foundation repair and waterproofing page instead. New construction is a different trade with different crews, different equipment, and different inspections.
What we build: footings sized to soil bearing capacity, full-height poured concrete or CMU block basement walls, slab-on-grade for ranch homes and additions, crawlspace foundations with stem walls and rat slabs, garage and outbuilding foundations, addition foundations tied into existing structures, and accessory dwelling unit pads. Every project starts with an on-site assessment, a review of the architectural plans, and a soils evaluation if conditions warrant it.
This is the first decision on most new foundation projects, and the right answer depends on the build. Both meet the Michigan Residential Code when built to spec. The differences are in speed, water resistance, finish, and cost.
Poured concrete is the default for new residential basements in Grand Rapids. The wall goes up monolithically in a single pour, which means no mortar joints to fail and no horizontal seams where water can track in. Poured walls reach full design strength faster on a job site than block walls because the cure happens once instead of joint-by-joint. The look is smoother and ready for waterproofing membrane without parge coat. The downside is the pour day itself: forms have to be set, the truck has to make it to the site, and weather has to cooperate. Once a poured wall is up, the project moves quickly.
CMU block shines in three situations. First, when access prevents a concrete truck and pump from reaching the site (long, narrow, or rural driveways with overhead obstructions). Second, on smaller projects like crawlspaces, garages, and additions where the volume does not justify a pour mobilization. Third, when the schedule benefits from in-house labor instead of waiting on a ready-mix pour slot during a busy season. Block walls need a parge coat for exterior waterproofing and require careful attention to mortar joint quality on every course. Done right, they perform well for decades.
What we recommend on most full residential basements: poured concrete walls on poured footings. What we recommend on most crawlspaces and detached garages: CMU block on poured footings. What we recommend on additions: case-by-case, depending on access and how the new foundation ties into the existing one.
Slab-on-grade foundations are common on ranch homes, additions, garages, and pole barns where a basement is not part of the program. The slab is poured directly on a compacted base with no basement underneath. Cost is significantly lower than a full basement: $8,000 to $18,000 for a typical residential slab-on-grade versus $25,000 plus for the same footprint with a basement.
Slab-on-grade requires thicker edges (the thickened-edge slab or monolithic slab) to carry wall loads, plus interior thickening at load-bearing walls. In-floor radiant heat tubing, plumbing rough-in, and electrical conduit have to be set in the slab before the pour. The decision has to be made early in design because all of that needs to be coordinated.
Crawlspaces sit between slab-on-grade and full basement on cost and complexity. Typical crawlspace wall height is 3 to 5 feet from footing to top plate. The footing is the same as a basement, the wall is shorter, and the floor inside is either a rat slab (a thin concrete cover over the soil) or a vapor barrier on grade.
Modern code in Michigan favors conditioned (insulated and sealed) crawlspaces over vented because they perform better for moisture and energy. We build to the spec on the plans, including continuous vapor barrier, insulated rim joist, and sump if drainage requires.
Foundation pricing is project-specific because excavation, soil conditions, height, and spec vary too widely for a flat square-foot rate. The ranges below are typical for residential work in Kent County.
Soil correction (over-excavation, engineered fill, or pier work for poor bearing) is bid separately when conditions require it. Most Kent County sites do not require correction, but the assessment confirms it.
A standard residential foundation takes two to four weeks from excavation through backfill, weather permitting. Excavation and footing prep takes 2 to 3 days. Footing pour and cure adds 2 to 3 days before walls can go up. Wall forming (poured) or block laying takes 3 to 7 days. Wall pour and cure adds 3 to 7 days. Waterproofing, drain tile, and backfill take another 2 to 3 days. Inspections add a day or two of scheduling at each milestone.
Cold-weather work (late November through early March) takes longer because of heating, blanket curing, and weather delays. The work still gets done, but the schedule has to account for it.
Grand Rapids and the surrounding metro (Wyoming, Kentwood, East Grand Rapids, Walker, Forest Hills, Grandville, Hudsonville, Rockford, Cascade, Ada, Caledonia, Allendale), the lakeshore (Holland, Zeeland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Norton Shores), and farther out to Kalamazoo and Lansing.
How much does a new concrete foundation cost? A typical residential poured concrete foundation runs $20,000 to $45,000 for a new build including footings, walls, and slab. CMU block of the same scope runs within a few thousand dollars either way. Slab-on-grade for the same footprint runs $8,000 to $18,000.
Poured concrete or CMU block? Poured is the default for new residential basements because of speed and continuous water resistance. CMU block is the right call on crawlspaces, garages, additions with access limits, and projects where in-house labor beats waiting on a ready-mix slot.
How deep do footings need to be? Below frost line, which is 42 inches minimum per Michigan Residential Code. Most foundations get footings at 48 inches to match basement slab depth.
How long does the foundation take? Two to four weeks from excavation to backfill, weather permitting. Cold-weather work runs longer.
Do you handle excavation and permits? Yes. Excavation, footings, walls, waterproofing, drain tile, backfill, building permit, and inspections are all part of the foundation scope.
What waterproofing comes standard? Damp-proofing tar coat plus drainage board on most basements. Full waterproof membrane on premium specs and on sites with known water issues.
The fastest way to know what your project will cost is the free on-site assessment. We need the plans (or rough dimensions if plans are not done yet), access notes, and a sense of the schedule. Request your free estimate or call (616) 345-5247.
A senior consultant will reach out within one business day.