Commercial Foundations
High-tolerance foundations for distribution hubs, manufacturing lines, and multi-story commercial builds.
Applications
Project Timeline
A typical 20,000 square foot office building foundation proceeds through four phases. Phase 1 – Site Preparation & Excavation (3-5 days): Site clearing, surveying, excavation to design grades, subgrade preparation, compaction testing, and installation of underground utilities that must be placed before foundation. Phase 2 – Formwork & Reinforcement (5-7 days): Setting edge forms and any internal forms, installing post-tension cable or rebar grids per engineering drawings, placing vapor barrier, setting embed plates and anchor bolts, and pre-pour inspection by building officials and engineers. Phase 3 – Concrete Placement & Finishing (1-2 days): Concrete delivery and placement, strike-off and finishing, final elevation verification with laser levels, application of curing compound, and protection of fresh concrete. Phase 4 – Curing & Post-Tensioning (7-14 days): Concrete curing period, stripping edge forms, stressing of post-tension cables at 5-7 days, trimming cable ends, patching pockets, and final preparation for above-grade construction. Total elapsed time is typically 3-5 weeks from site mobilization to foundation ready for construction loading. Larger or more complex foundations scale proportionally. Timeline factors include weather delays, inspection schedules, concrete supplier availability, and coordination with utilities.
Technical Specifications
Denton Area Considerations
Denton County's black clay soils are among the most expansive in Texas, with swell potential often exceeding 6 inches in the upper 5-8 feet of soil. This makes post-tension slab foundations virtually standard for commercial construction, where cables pre-compress the concrete to resist cracking from differential soil movement. Geotechnical investigation is essential and typically reveals bearing capacities of 1,500-2,500 PSF for surficial soils, often requiring larger footings or deeper foundations to reach more competent bearing strata. Coordination with local structural and geotechnical engineering firms familiar with North Texas conditions is critical. Seasonal soil moisture changes are pronounced – summer drought causes shrinkage while fall and spring rains cause expansion. Proper site drainage design is mandatory, with grading that directs water away from foundations and prevents ponding. City of Denton foundation inspections are thorough, requiring inspection of subgrade conditions, reinforcement placement, post-tension cable installation, and stressing procedures. Inspectors are familiar with post-tension construction and enforce strict compliance with engineering drawings. Foundation construction can proceed year-round in Denton with occasional weather delays for rain or rare ice events. Summer heat requires careful concrete placement and curing practices to prevent rapid moisture loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Featured Projects
Denton Medical Plaza - 30,000 SF Three-Story Foundation
This complex medical office building foundation required exceptional precision and coordination to support three-story structural loads, accommodate extensive underground utilities for medical systems, and handle heavy equipment loads for imaging suites. The foundation design included 36-inch deep spread footings supporting structural steel columns, 18-inch deep grade beams spanning between footings, post-tension slab-on-grade in office areas with enhanced reinforcement under imaging equipment, and over 200 embedded items including anchor bolts, electrical conduits, and plumbing penetrations. The site featured challenging expansive clay soils requiring geotechnical recommendations for deep footings and post-tensioned slabs. We coordinated closely with six different utility providers and three engineering firms. The project required laser-level precision with elevation tolerances of ±1/4 inch to ensure proper ADA floor slopes and accommodate architectural finishes. Complex sequencing was necessary to install all underground utilities, coordinate embedded items, and maintain aggressive schedule for medical tenant.
Results:
Zero callbacks. Achieved ±1/4" elevation tolerance. Passed all inspections first time.
Lewisville Office Complex - 50,000 SF Foundation
A four-story Class A office building foundation on particularly challenging clay soils with high plasticity index. Initial geotechnical investigation revealed highly expansive clays requiring enhanced foundation design. We constructed a robust post-tension slab system with 30-foot deep friction piers at column locations extending below the active clay zone to stable bearing strata, grade beams with void forms spanning between pier caps to support curtain walls, and post-tensioned slab with #5 rebar supplemental reinforcement in a 12-inch grid. The project faced weather challenges including 10 consecutive days of rain during subgrade preparation, requiring careful moisture management and repeated compaction testing. We coordinated with the structural engineer to adjust construction sequencing and implement additional moisture protection measures. Post-tensioning included 184 cables stressed to 33,000 pounds each. The project maintained the schedule despite weather challenges through careful planning and additional crew resources during clear weather windows.
Results:
Completed on schedule despite 10 days of rain. No cracking after 2 years. Client's architect commended precision.
Why Choose Us for Commercial Foundations?
20+ Years Experience
Proven expertise in commercial concrete construction
Licensed & Insured
Fully licensed, bonded, and insured for your protection
On-Time Delivery
Projects completed on schedule and within budget
Quality Guarantee
Premium materials and expert craftsmanship guaranteed
Get Started Today
Free consultation and quote for your commercial concrete project.
Business Hours:
Mon-Fri: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sat: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Service Areas
We provide commercial foundations services throughout Denton and surrounding areas:
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