How to Pour a Footer
Digging a concrete footer is labor intensive, so it is best to get two or three of your friends to help with the project. Concrete drys rather quickly and must be in place and leveled within an hour or so of pouring. There are a number of things needed to be put in place before pouring the concrete, though.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Wheel borrow
- Concrete rake
- Trowel with handle
- Pea gravel
- 1/8-inch wire mesh
- Plastic water barrier
- 5 pounds of Reddi Mix (more depending on size of footer)
- Shovel
- Chalk line
- Level gauge
- Four markers at four corners of footer
- Work gloves
- Safety glasses
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1
Use a chalk line tool to mark off the area where the concrete is to be poured. Use marking sticks to define the four corners of the footer. Once the boundaries are marked off, begin digging the outer boundaries of the footer.
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2
After the boundaries are dug. Begin digging from the center to the boundary markers. The square should be dug to 12 inches. Use a bubble level to check the form. Use a tape measure to check the depth. Once the depth and form are the right, Use 2-by-4s cut to the length of each side of the footer to create a form into which the concrete can be poured.
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3
Pour enough pea gravel to go an inch in debt. Level the pea gravel using your bubble level. Once the depth and level are established, cut the plastic moisture barrier to cover the entire form except the wooden barriers. Lay the plastic over the pea gravel, and check the level with your bubble gauge.
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4
Next, use 1/8th-inch wire mesh to cover the form except for the wooden barriers. Use bolt cutters to cut any excess wire that hangs over the form. Now, you are ready to mix up some concrete.
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5
Using your wheel barrel, pour in a 5-pound bag of Reddi Mix powdered concrete mix. Add water per the instructions on the bag. Use your hoe to mix the water and concrete until all powder is mixed with water and all lumps removed. Use the concrete rake, if necessary, to combine the concrete with water. Pour the concrete mix into the footer, and spread it with your long-handle trowel.Continue this process until the concrete reaches the top of the form. Use a hand trowel to smooth out the concrete, and use your bubble level to make sure the footer is level throughout its length and width. Allow the form to dry for about an hour before walking on it. The concrete has to cure before that can happen.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Where rubber boots or boots you can throw away. Dried concrete is almost impossible to get of your boots.
Wear old clothes to work the concrete. It is typical that your clothes will get concrete on them.
Wear safety glasses throughout the procedure.
Wash hands or anywhere concrete touches your body. The chemical reaction can irritate the skin and cause chemical burns.
Concrete and water make a chemical reaction. Keep concrete from hands and eyes to prevent irritation.
Do not step in drying concrete as you may end up being part of the footer.
