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)
James Craig Builders uses only the Integra™ Foundation System from Coello & Associates. Combined with the Form-a-Drain™ tile 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.
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.

Controlling Cracks
All concrete will crack, regardless of reinforcement or support, so how your foundation accounts for cracks matters. The Integra™ Foundation has control joints every 20 feet, providing a specific location for the concrete to crack. In addition, a water stop at each joint maintains the foundation’s waterproof seal.
Want even more information on the Integra™ Foundation? Visit Coello’s Website.
James Craig Builders knows there is a difference between a house and a home. We don’t just want to build a place for you to live; we want to create a custom home you will truly love and enjoy for years to come. To help demonstrate how you will benefit from what makes us different, we’ve created a helpful Home Builder Comparison Checklist and a list of our Standard Practices and Inclusions.