By
eHow Home & Garden Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Things You’ll Need:
- 2 by 4 lumber for footing rails
- 1 by 4 lumber for footing stakes
- String
- Level
- Shovel
Step1
Firmly attach 1-by-4 stakes at right angles to 2-by-4 lumber rails. Best practice is to place the stakes approximately 4 feet apart. Make sure the top of the stake is slightly below the lumber rail.
Step2
Mark the area for the footings on undisturbed ground. Use string attached to sticks to mark straight lines or you can use a chalk line. Make sure all the corners are set at right angles.
Step3
Set the outside forms in the ground. Drive the stakes at least 6 inches below the footing trench to firmly anchor the forms. Use the string or chalk line as your guideline. Square the corners as you build the four sides.
Step4
Position the inside row of the forms the same. Keep both rows of forms parallel to each other. When both rows are set, level them with a carpenter's level.
Step5
Dig an additional 5 to 6 inches of soil from between the forms. Use a shovel. The total depth of the footing should be no less than 8 inches from the top of the form.
Step6
Make sure the sides of the trench are even with the inside edges of the footing. Check all the forms again to be sure they are still level and aligned properly. Add additional support to the outside edges of the footings, if necessary.
