Do foundations have to be poured in one go?

Author: Bud Heathcote  |  Last update: Friday, December 5, 2025

A poured concrete foundation is the traditional method of creating basement walls. It's made by setting up wooden forms and pouring concrete into them in one continuous process. Once the concrete cures or hardens, it forms a solid foundation.

Do footings have to be poured in one go?

It is advisable to pour the concrete for the foundation in one go. However, if this is not possible, a construction joint may be formed using one of the methods detailed below.

Does concrete have to be poured all at once?

Want to pour the concrete mix all at once to make the installation process more efficient? You can do that, but keep in mind that pouring concrete in sections (also known as sectioning) has its advantages.

Can you pour a foundation in multiple pours?

Pouring ICFs in stages is a tried-and-true method that can yield high-quality, robust, and consistent walls.

Can you pour concrete in two stages?

A two-stage pour foundation is essentially just that; where there are two different types of concrete poured into the foundations and different stages. This type of foundation solution might be used where we have variable soils with a clay content, which means foundations span between different bearing strata.

How We Pour Footings and set levels accurately

How long can you leave concrete between pours?

Fresh concrete shall not be placed against in situ concrete that has been in position for more than 30 minutes unless a construction joint is formed.....

Is it okay to pour concrete in layers?

Does concrete stick to concrete? If you pour a new layer over concrete right on top of the old one, you won't get proper adhesion. You must properly prepare your concrete slab and then apply a chemical bonding agent on top of it so your new concrete adheres properly.

What is the cheapest way to pour a foundation?

Slabs are often one of the cheapest methods to build a foundation. Many contractors in the area prefer to construct four-foot frost walls under the slab.

What happens if it rains after foundation is poured?

So rain and excess water accumulation won't affect the strength of your poured concrete piers or the effectiveness of your foundation repairs, but it could add some extra mess and extra time for pumping and clean up afterward.

How many days does it take to pour a foundation?

However, on average, it typically takes several days to several weeks to pour a home foundation. For a typical full basement foundation, the process of excavation, pouring the footings, and the foundation walls can take several days. The curing process for the concrete can take several days to a week.

Should you water concrete after it is poured?

If it loses too much moisture through evaporation, it will not cure properly and will become prone to cracks. Many construction specialists recommend watering it down five to ten times per day, for the first week, starting 2-4 hours after it has been poured.

Why can't you pour new concrete over old concrete?

Bonding restrictions: Concrete is composed of sand and aggregates held together with cement. Since cement lacks any natural bonding agents, newly-poured concrete won't naturally bond to the existing slab. You'll need to either use a bonding agent to adhere the two layers together or use an unbonded overlay method.

Can a foundation be poured in sections?

With careful planning and execution, pouring a concrete slab in sections can result in a durable and long-lasting foundation for your project.

Can I pour footings with quikrete?

J&W Lumber recommends using QUIKRETE to build your concrete footings. Take a look at this step-by-step informational video on how to build the footings for your deck.

What is the step footing rule?

It states: "d) Foundations stepped on elevation should overlap by twice the height of the step, by the thickness of the foundation, or 300mm whichever is the greater. For trench fill foundations the overlap should be twice the height of the step or 1m whichever is greater."

What is the best concrete mix for foundations?

C25 / ST 2

C25 standardised mix concrete or ST2 Concrete is widely versatile and used in numerous commercial and domestic projects. It is commonly used for footings and foundations, including mass concrete fill, trench fill and reinforced fill, as well as general groundworks.

How long does 6 inches of concrete take to cure?

How long does four to six inches of concrete take to cure? As stated previously, concrete takes approximately 26-30 days to reach its full strength. If the concrete is professionally poured and floated, the curing process should be sound and ensure proper hardening of the concrete base.

Can footings be poured without forms?

The section on footings in Formwork for Concrete (ACI SP-4) says that when fabricated forms are omitted entirely and concrete is cast directly against the excavation, larger tolerances may apply. The book also suggests forming the top 4 inches when casting concrete directly against earth.

How long after concrete is poured can you walk on it?

Typically, you can walk on freshly poured concrete after about 24 hours, but it takes 28 days to cure and dry completely. You want to avoid putting extremely heavy items on the floor for about a month. Key Takeaways: You don't want to put heavy items on concrete until it's fully cured.

What is the average cost to pour a foundation?

The average cost to build a new foundation is around $9,444, but depending on the size, type, and necessary prep for your project, your foundation can cost anywhere between $4,039 and $14,848. Homeowners can pay anywhere from $5,000 to $37,000 per 1,000 square foot.

Why is pouring a foundation so expensive?

The size of the house directly influences the cost of the foundation. The larger the house, the more extensive the foundation needs to be, which implies a proportional increase in materials needed, such as concrete and steel reinforcement, as well as labor hours for excavation, formwork, and pouring the foundation.

What is the most affordable foundation for a house?

Concrete slab is the most common and cheapest, and costs around $7 per square foot. Pier and beam foundations cost around $9 per square foot, a foundation with and a foundation with a crawl space (a narrow gap between ground and floor, but not a full basement) will cost around $13 per square foot.

Can I put Quikrete over existing concrete?

QUIKRETE® Concrete Bonding Adhesive (No. 9902) permanently bonds new concrete, plaster, and stucco to existing concrete, plaster, and stucco. Eliminates the need for roughing the surface before the application.

What will ruin freshly poured concrete?

If too much rain falls into the concrete mix – or if it is laid onto wet surfaces or trenches – this will affect the mix, resulting in weak concrete. Rain falling on freshly-poured concrete can cause damage to the surface, making it bumpy and uneven.

What is the thinnest layer of concrete you can pour?

How Thin Can You Pour Concrete Over Existing Concrete? The thinnest that is usually used when pouring concrete, in general, is about 2 to 2 ½ inches. That also applies to this pouring new concrete over old concrete. Any thinner than 2 inches would be too thin.

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