- 1). Dig a trench for the footers with a 1 1/2-ton excavator, going beneath the frost line. Contact your local zoning board to learn how deep the frost line is in your area. When digging the trench, make it at least 1 foot wider than the footers so you have room to work inside it.
- 2). Drive wooden stakes into the ground every 3 feet on both sides of the trench.
- 3). Build the walls for the form by laying two-by-four boards on the ground along the inside of the wooden stakes. Nail them to the wooden stakes. Add a second row of two-by-fours on top of the first row of boards.
- 4). Cut 1-by-4 boards to fit the width of the footings and nail them to the top of the form every 4 feet. This provides additional support to the forms while the concrete is being poured and as it cures.
next post