Footings - rocket science?

[bebster]

I found that the stepped footings were the most difficult. Had to construct forms in a stepped manner. I've attached a sketch of one such step that lowered the foundation wall 25" (as the walkout section became exposed above grade).

I used a 2' wide step but varied the height as needed. In reality, I found it was better to make the step width 23 1/2" since the concrete wall form panels come 2' wide, and it's better for the panel to hang over a step rather than come short, so that the next panel can drop down beside it to the next step.

Excavating under the step is tricky so as to get the bottom of the footing correct without disturbing the virgin soil at the bottom, since it's not really possible to run a plate compactor on the step without causing a cavein.

I used the vertical rebar as dowels to lock the wall onto the footing when that was poured.

 

[bebster]

Here's a lin link to a photo I posted earlier of a footing pour. You can see the footing stepping down for the wall at the right, since that's the walk-out part of the basement.

 

[CurlyDave]

Home Depot sells rebar stakes that support the rebar and I found these helpful; and good prices on 10' lengths of 1/2" rebar.

In my area Home Depot is not really the best place for rebar.

Call around to the local construction supply houses until you find someone who sells rebar by the ton. This was about 1/2 the cost of buying it by the piece at a building supply house, and maybe 1/3 the cost of Home Depot. They will deliver a ton, so it is very easy to get.

Because it was so reasonable, I used 3 or 4 pieces whever the plans called for two, and two wherever the plans called for one. And I made all of the foundations and grade beams at least 1.5 times the thickness called for.

Overkill is a very good thing in foundations.

 

[EddieWalker]

Another good source for rebar is the farm supply stores. I get my rebar there cheaper than my building wholesaler and better than what my cement contractor gets it for. If I buy it, he'll use it, but he won't deal with getting it from there since it's more work and time for him. I saved hundreds of dollars picking up my own rebar.

Eddie