How to Make Forms for Cement Footing

When doing a room addition, you will first need to have a foundation or footing for the room to rest on. This footing is traditionally made of concrete, as concrete is a durable and strong material. In order to form the concrete, you will need to pour the wet concrete mixture into a form which will put it in the shape you desire.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape
• Four pieces of 2-by-4 or 2-by-6
• Carpenter's square
• Saw
• Drill with screwdriver bit
• Wood screws
• String or rope

1. Measure the area where the concrete slab will be to determine the length of each of the sides.

2. Cut 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 lumber into the correct length for the sides of the form. The size of the wood you decide to use will depend on how thick you want your slab to be.

3. Place the four pieces in a rectangle. Place each corner in the angle of the carpenter's square to make sure the pieces are at a right angle. Screw all the corners together loosely with one screw.

4. Run the piece of string or rope from one corner to the diagonal corner. Mark this distance on the rope. Run the piece of rope along the other diagonal. If they match, the corners are square. If they do not match, adjust the sides until the diagonals are the same length.

5. Once the corners are completely square, screw the corners together with three screws in each side.

Tips & Warnings

• The size of the wood will determine the thickness of the slab. The wood used in this will give you a slab which is 4- to 6-inches thick. You can go as thick as 1-foot using a 2-by-12 and this process.
• The corners being square are the most important part of this project. Double and triple check the corners if you have to to make sure they are squared up.

References

• Pouring a Concrete Slab