How to Make a House Foundation

Making a cement foundation for a house doesn't take a lot of experience, but it does require knowledge of a few basic steps. Here are those steps so anybody can feel confident with their home foundation project.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• cement forms(lumber)
• tape measure
• 5/8 rebar
• shovel
• cement trowel
• tons of cement

1. 
    
   foundation diagram

   The first part of the foundation is the footer. It will need to be a required dimension according to local building codes, but most footers are around 18-inches wide and 12-inches thick.

2. 
    
   foundation forms

   We'll use forms to frame in the footer by using lumber or plywood. Whatever is used, the forms need to be braced so they don't bow out with the weight of the cement.

3. 
    
   in square foundation

   Make sure the forms are perfectly in square. This can be done by using diagonal measurements for corner to corner.

4. 
    

   The footer needs to have rebar in it to give the cement extra strength.

5. 
    
   foundation footings

   Now we're ready to call the cement company. The cement company will calculate the total amount of cement needed. We will need to give them the dimensions of our footer.

6. 
    
   working cement

   The cement truck will pour the cement and we will need to shovel it around to make it even. We need to make sure we get it in every corner and that there aren't any air pockets.

7. 
    

   Once all the cement has been poured we will need to even it out and make it smooth and level. This is also a good time to put in the wall foundation rebar if we haven't done it already.

8. 
    

   We will need to let the footings dry for a few days before doing the wall foundation framing.
   
   The foundation wall will also need to be a certain dimension according to local building codes. Let's say it needs to be two feet high and 6-inches wide.

9. 
    
   wall forms

   We'll start the foundation wall framing by using plywood forms cut to size for the forms. These forms will need to be braced and supported so they stay even.

10. 
     

    We'll pour the cement the same way we did for the footings. We'll need to make it even on top. Once we have the cement smooth we'll need to put in the anchor bolts while the cement is still wet.
    
    The anchor bolts will stick out of the foundation far enough to fasten the sill plate down. This is what holds the house onto the foundation.

11. After a few days we can remove the forms and that's how we make a house foundation in our house building plan.

Resources

• http://www.make-my-own-house.com/foundations