Site Work, Foundations, and Concrete
Site Work, Foundations, and Concrete tests how you prepare a New Jersey site, set footings below frost, control water, and place durable concrete that passes inspection.
Site work
Call 811 before excavation. New Jersey's Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act requires a certified plan for land disturbance of 5,000 sq ft or more, reviewed by the local soil conservation district. Stormwater permits may also apply. Verify bearing conditions, remove organic material, and control groundwater before placing footings.
Foundations
Footings must bear on undisturbed or compacted suitable soil and extend below the frost line. New Jersey frost depths vary by region, so follow the approved plans and local amendments rather than a single statewide number. Provide reinforcement, anchor bolts, termite protection, damp-proofing or waterproofing, and foundation drainage. Foundation and footing inspections must occur before concrete is placed.
Concrete
Use the specified mix design, commonly a minimum 2,500 psi for foundation walls, with air entrainment where freeze-thaw exposure requires it. Control water content, consolidate, finish, cure, and provide control joints. Cold-weather protection and cylinder testing should match the specifications.
Worked example
A continuous footing 40 ft long, 2 ft wide, and 1 ft deep: 40 x 2 x 1 = 80 cu ft. 80/27 = 2.96 cu yd. Add 10 percent for waste and uneven subgrade: 3.26 cu yd, so order about 3.25 to 3.5 cu yd. Verify the footing inspection is signed off before the truck arrives.
Traps
Placing concrete before inspection; omitting termite treatment; adding water to increase slump; ignoring erosion controls; assuming one frost depth for the whole state.