Readers ask: How To Pour Concrete Footers?

How deep do you pour footings?

In areas with freezing winters, a concrete footing usually must extend at least 12 inches below the frost line (the depth at which soil freezes). A footing should also be at minimum 8 inches thick and twice as wide as the wall or posts it will support.

Can you pour concrete directly on dirt?

Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.

How long after pouring footers can you lay block?

You will be ok to lay bricks the day after pouring the foundations. In this cold weather keep the work covered for overnight (and by day if freezing / snow) for about 3 days. Keep all subsequent work covered for three days. Click to see full answer.

Does a concrete slab need footings?

While not a requirement, a concrete slab foundation provides a solid, clean surface for your steel building and can help it last longer. Since the building will require anchoring to minimize shifting, pouring a concrete slab gives you a chance to pour footings as well.

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What happens after footings are poured?

After the footings are built the job goes this way: Wooden forms are set in place, creating an 8” void that will hold the concrete. The inside of the forms needs to be coated with oil so that the forms can easily be removed from the wall.

Why deck posts should not be set in concrete?

A deck post should always be placed on top of footing, not inside concrete because it can break. Concrete tends to absorb moisture and wood expands when it gets wet, so these two factors combined will result in the wood breaking the concrete.

How do you calculate footing size?

How to Calculate Footing Size

  1. Determine the width and length of the cement slab in inches.
  2. Divide the width by 12 to convert it to feet.
  3. Divide the length by 12 to convert it to feet.
  4. Determine the depth or thickness that is required for the footing in inches.
  5. Multiply the width by the length and then by the depth.

How thick does a concrete footer need to be?

Wall Footing Thickness.



For masonry or concrete construction, the minimum foundation wall will be 6 inches. The minimum reinforced concrete footing thickness will be 6 inches or 1-1/2 times the length of the footing projection from the foundation wall, whichever is greater.

How many footings do I need for a 12×24 deck?

For an attached 12 x 12′ deck, you’ll need at least 3 footings, plus at least 2 more if you’re planning on building stairs with it.

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Does a floating deck need footings?

When it comes to floating decks, which are decks that are built very close to the ground, they don’t need any sort of footing. You can either use small concrete blocks and planks, or you can use a post that sets into a pre-formed hole.

Is gravel necessary under concrete?

Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. Gravel is especially important in clay soil because it doesn’t drain well, which results in water pooling under the concrete slab and slowly eroding the soil as it finally drains.

Do you need rebar for 4 inch slab?

No, you do not need rebar for a 4inch slab of concrete on grade. A 4inch-thick slab cast on the ground and in permanent contact with it will float and rebar is not required. Rebar is recommended on concrete measuring 5 – 6 inches thick.

What is better for concrete patio rebar or mesh?

wire mesh, the short answer is: use both! Concrete driveways that need to carry a heavy load should have both rebar and wire mesh to reinforce the concrete. For a patio, you might be able to get away with using welded wire mesh. But remember, all concrete will crack and all concrete will shrink.

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