The footing clause: “if the inspector requires for footers to be dug deeper, the customer is responsible”
Clause 6 of 13 from my signed L&G Building & Concrete contract, with what it meant on my project and how I would rewrite it.
What it says
Company statement: contract ODR-001094, signed February 20, 2026
“If the inspector requires for footers to be dug deeper, the customer is responsible for paying any additional concrete/labor.”Concrete Contract
My concrete contract lists “1x1 footers” and marks the job as certified with inspection required. If the county inspector wants deeper footings than the crew dug, this sentence puts the extra cost on the customer. On my job the plans L&G provided called for 14-inch footings, the crew dug 12, the inspection failed, and I was charged extra for the correction. In my view this clause was written for an inspector asking for more than the plans, and should not apply when the crew digs less than the plans. Compare the footing size on your plans with the footing size on the concrete contract before you sign.
What happened on my project
My project record
The concrete contract lists “1x1 Footers,” two strip footers, and marks the job as certified with inspection required. The engineered plans that L&G supplied for the certified building call for footings of roughly 14 inches. The crew dug to 12. The Alexander County inspector did not pass the footings.
I was then charged extra for the additional concrete and labor to correct them, under this clause. In my view the sentence was written for an inspector who wants more than the plans show, not for a crew that dug less than the company’s own drawings. The county inspection reports have been requested and will be posted.
How I would rewrite it
- Replace “1x1 footers” with “footings per engineered drawing dated ___, sheet ___.”
- Change the clause so the customer pays only if the inspector requires more than the engineered drawings show.
- Do not sign the concrete contract until the foundation sheet is in hand, even if that means waiting out the plan lead time.
- Make the footing payment due after the footing inspection passes.
The question to ask before signing: “Does the footing size on this concrete contract match the footing size on the engineered plans you are selling me, and will you write the plan sheet number on the contract?”
My reading as a customer, not legal advice. A North Carolina construction attorney can tell you what the clause means for your contract.
Related
Previous clause: Building warranty. Next clause: Failing final inspection. All clauses.