Foundation Design & Repair Services in DC, Maryland & Virginia
Every structure starts at the foundation — and every foundation starts with the soil beneath it. BOZ Engineering Group provides PE-stamped foundation design, foundation repair engineering, and pre-purchase foundation assessments for residential and commercial properties across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Unlike firms that design foundations from generic assumptions, BOZ has in-house geotechnical capabilities — meaning your foundation is engineered from real soil data, not a template. Whether you're building new, repairing settlement cracks, or evaluating a property before purchase, our foundation engineering is designed to pass plan review, hold up under load, and last the life of the structure.
Who This Is For
Homeowners with foundation problems — You've noticed cracking in your walls, doors that won't close, or water in your basement. You need an engineer to assess the damage and design a repair solution that actually fixes the root cause.
Contractors building new construction — You're breaking ground on a new home or addition and need PE-stamped foundation plans that meet local code and pass permit review on the first submission.
Developers with multi-unit or commercial projects — You need foundation engineering that accounts for complex loading, adjacent structures, and site-specific soil conditions — not a cookie-cutter design.
Property buyers needing a foundation assessment — You're under contract and your inspector flagged foundation concerns. You need a licensed PE to evaluate the structure and give you a clear answer before you close.
Architects and design professionals — You're designing a project and need a structural partner who can handle the foundation scope, coordinate with geotechnical data, and deliver stamped plans on your timeline.
Not sure if you need foundation design, a repair assessment, or something else? Call us at +1 202-998-5445 — we'll point you in the right direction in a quick call.
Why Foundation Engineering Based on Real Soil Data Matters
A foundation is only as good as the soil it sits on — and in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region, soil conditions vary dramatically from one lot to the next. Parts of Northern Virginia and Maryland sit on expansive clay soils that swell when wet and shrink when dry. Other areas deal with high water tables, fill soils, or unstable subgrades that generic foundation designs simply don't account for.
When a foundation is designed without site-specific soil data, the risks are predictable: differential settlement, cracking, water intrusion, and structural movement that gets worse over time. We see this constantly — homeowners spending money on cosmetic crack repairs that come back every year because nobody addressed the underlying cause. Contractors pouring foundations based on "standard" details that don't account for the actual bearing capacity of the soil on that specific lot.
BOZ Engineering Group eliminates this guesswork by coordinating geotechnical investigation with structural foundation design under one roof. Your foundation is designed for the soil conditions on your site, the loads your structure will carry, and the drainage conditions that affect long-term performance. The result is a foundation that works — not one that looks fine on paper and fails in the ground.
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Our Foundation Engineering Process
Step 1: Initial Consultation & Site Review
We start with a call or site visit to understand your project — whether it's new construction, a foundation repair, or a pre-purchase assessment. We review any existing documentation (surveys, architectural plans, inspection reports) and identify what we need to move forward.
Step 2: Geotechnical Coordination
For new foundations, we coordinate soil borings and geotechnical investigation to determine bearing capacity, soil type, water table depth, and any special conditions. For repair projects, we evaluate the existing foundation and identify what's causing the issue — settlement, lateral pressure, water, or structural overload.
Step 3: Foundation Design & Engineering
Our PE develops the foundation design based on actual soil data, structural loads, and code requirements for your jurisdiction. This includes foundation type selection, sizing, reinforcement, and connection to the structure above. Every design decision is documented in the structural calculations.
Step 4: Drawing Production & PE Stamp
We produce PE-stamped foundation plans, sections, and details — formatted specifically for the jurisdiction where you're submitting. DC, Fairfax County, Arlington, and Montgomery County each have different submission requirements, and we format accordingly.
Step 5: Permit Support & Construction Coordination
We submit or support your permit application and respond to any plan reviewer comments. During construction, we're available for field questions, contractor coordination, and inspection support as the foundation is built.
What Your Foundation Engineering Package Includes
Site visit and visual assessment of existing conditions (or new construction lot evaluation)
Geotechnical coordination — soil boring data reviewed and integrated into design
Foundation type selection based on soil data, loading, and site constraints (spread footings, continuous footings, mat slab, deep foundations)
Complete structural foundation design with PE-stamped drawings
Foundation plan, sections, and details formatted for permit submission
Structural calculations package for plan review
Drainage and waterproofing recommendations coordinated with the foundation design
Reinforcement details (rebar sizing, spacing, and placement)
Connection details to the superstructure (anchor bolts, hold-downs, bearing plates)
Permit submission support and plan reviewer response if comments are issued
Start Your Foundation Project
Request a Foundation Assessment
Whether you're building new, repairing an existing foundation, or evaluating a property before purchase — BOZ Engineering Group delivers PE-stamped foundation engineering backed by real geotechnical data. No templates. No assumptions. Just engineering that works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Foundation Design & Repair Questions — Answered by Our Team
Not sure what your foundation project requires, what it costs, or how long it takes? These are the questions we hear most from homeowners, contractors, and developers across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
How much does foundation design cost?
Foundation design fees depend on the scope — whether it is new construction, a repair assessment, or a pre-purchase evaluation — along with the size of the structure and complexity of the soil conditions. We provide a fixed, written fee proposal after reviewing your project so you know the investment before any work begins. Call +1 202-998-5445 for a project-specific quote.
How long does it take to get foundation plans?
New foundation design takes 2 to 4 weeks from the time we have geotechnical data and architectural plans. Foundation assessment reports are typically faster — 1 to 2 weeks. Timelines can vary depending on project complexity and whether soil borings are needed.
Do I need a geotechnical report before you can design my foundation?
For new construction, yes — a geotechnical report gives us the soil data we need to design the right foundation. The good news is BOZ coordinates geotechnical investigation in-house, so you don't need to hire a separate firm. For foundation repair or assessment projects, we can often evaluate conditions through a site visit and existing documentation.
My house has cracks in the walls — is that a foundation problem?
A: It can be. Diagonal cracks near windows and doors, sticking doors, sloping floors, and cracks in the foundation itself are common signs of foundation settlement or movement. We provide PE-stamped assessment reports that identify the cause and recommend a specific repair solution — not just cosmetic patching.
Do I need a permit for foundation repair?
In most DC, Maryland, and Virginia jurisdictions, structural foundation repair work requires a permit and PE-stamped plans. Even helical pile installation or underpinning typically needs engineering documentation. BOZ provides the stamped plans and supports the permit process so you're covered.
Why is soil data so important for foundation design?
The DMV region has highly variable soil conditions — expansive clay in parts of Virginia and Maryland, fill soils in developed areas, and high water tables near waterways. A foundation designed without knowing the actual soil bearing capacity, swell potential, and drainage conditions is a guess. That guess is what leads to settlement and cracking years after construction.
Can you design a foundation for a basement dig-out?
Yes. Basement dig-outs and lowering projects require underpinning of the existing foundation, which is one of our core services. We design the underpinning sequence, temporary shoring, and new foundation elements — all PE-stamped and ready for permit submission.
What areas do you serve for foundation engineering?
BOZ is licensed in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. We regularly serve Washington DC, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, Alexandria, Tysons, McLean, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville, and throughout the DMV. In Florida, we serve Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Palm Beach.
BOZ Engineering Group
From Feasibility to Final Permit.
Licensed in DC | Maryland | Virginia | Florida
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 202-998-5445
Business hours
monday: 8am - 5pm
tuesday: 8am - 5pm
wednesday: 8am - 5pm
thursday: 8am - 5pm
friday: 8am - 5pm
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