Foundations here are raised floors on piers or slabs on fill and piles. We dig to the engineer's plans, pump the water out of the footings and backfill in thin, compacted layers.
Foundations in New Orleans are built for soft ground. Many older homes stand on brick or concrete piers, and newer homes sit on slabs, often on driven piles. Foundation excavation here usually means digging footings and grade beams to the engineer's depth, preparing the pad with compacted fill, and digging around piers and piles where the plans show them. Raised homes often need new piers dug and set when old ones fail.
Groundwater shows up in almost every footing trench. We pump it out before concrete or steel goes in and keep the trench walls from caving. The engineer's plans set the fill, the compaction and any piles, and we follow them and the inspector's checks. Shortcuts on soft ground show up later as cracks and uneven floors. Spoil is kept back from the trench edge so the walls hold.
We also dig for house leveling and foundation repair crews, beside slabs and under raised homes, and we excavate for additions that must tie into an existing foundation. Digging next to a foundation is done in short sections, by hand near the footing, and backfilled quickly so the soft soil does not move. Under a raised house, low clearance often means digging by hand.
Foundation excavation in New Orleans: common questions
Can you dig a basement in New Orleans?
Practically, no. The water table is a few feet down, and basements here would flood. Homes are raised or built on slabs instead.
How deep do footings go here?
The engineer and the building code set it. On soft soil, many foundations use piles to reach firmer layers.
Do you work with house leveling companies?
Yes. We dig access around and under homes for leveling and foundation repair crews, then backfill and regrade.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the site with you.
- Written quote: Scope, equipment and price in writing.
- Utility locate & plan: We have utilities marked and plan access, haul-off and erosion control.
- Dig, grade & clean up: We complete the work, grade the site and haul away spoil.