Construction site with the concrete foundation of a building, showing walls and an interior space, surrounded by dirt and gravel.

Foundations

In southeastern Wisconsin, building on a solid, structurally-sound foundation is one of the most critical aspects of new home construction.

Don’t Cut Corners in the Basement

Poured concrete is the best choice for our climate and soil conditions. A poured foundation is:

  • Stronger and more durable

  • Designed to control cracking and resist water penetration

  • More flexible for unique home shapes/designs

  • Comparable to the cost of a block foundation once the block foundation is backfilled with stone (as required by code)

Integra® Foundation System, specially designed by Coello & Associates for James Craig Builders is exclusively used in our home builds. Combined with the poured in place draintile system, it is the strongest and most reliable foundation system available. The Integra™ Foundation is also eight inches taller than a traditional 11-course block foundation wall, creating a more spacious basement without additional cost.

Construction site with a yellow excavator digging a large hole in the dirt, with a worker standing nearby, under a clear blue sky.
Construction site with insulation panels installed on foundation walls, dirt and gravel ground, trees and blue sky in the background.
Under construction swimming pool with concrete walls and blue waterproof lining, surrounded by soil and dirt piles, in a wooded outdoor area.
Construction site with foundation being laid for a building, construction workers, panel truck, and equipment, with a pond and residential area in the background.
Construction workers installing plumbing pipes on a building site foundation with excavated earth around the area.
Construction site with a truck and crane pouring cement into foundation, with stacks of concrete blocks and dirt piles nearby, in a suburban area with green lawns and houses in the background.
Construction site with building foundation and framing in progress, construction workers, trucks, and vehicles present.
Construction site with a foundation and walls being built for a new house, with construction workers, equipment, and nearby parked vehicles.
Construction site with a red truck equipped with a crane lifting concrete blocks. Worker standing nearby, with a landscape of green grass, trees, and houses in the background.
Construction site with concrete foundation walls being built for a new house, surrounded by dirt and gravel, with residential houses and trees in the background.
Concrete foundation walls for a house under construction on a cleared lot with dirt and gravel, with residential neighborhood and green hills in the background during daytime.
Aerial view of a construction site with excavator digging in the center, surrounded by dirt and grass, outlined with a black safety barrier.
An aerial view of a residential neighborhood with houses, green lawns, and a construction site with an excavator on dirt land.
A construction site with wooden and metal scaffolding, construction materials, and snow on the ground.
Black plaque with white text honoring a foundation built with care and expertise, sponsored by Coelo & Associates, and including a red circular logo from CR.

How Strong is Strong Enough?

Concrete strength is measured in pounds per square inch (psi), and building codes mandate that foundation concrete must be at least 3,000 psi. Integra® Foundation concrete has a rating of 4,000 psi, which creates a much stronger wall.

Another component that impacts a foundation’s strength is the amount of steel rebar reinforcement. In addition to horizontal rebar, which helps minimize shrinkage cracking, we add vertical rebar, which makes the foundation wall substantially stronger.