How Footings Work In A Foundation

A footing in construction is the lowest part of the foundation that makes contact with the ground.
Without it the structure will eventually settle and fall apart.
Usually made with concrete and rebar, they are placed underneath loadbearing walls to distribute the weight of a house or a building.
Trench footers like these are dug into the ground using a backhoe or an excavator.
The ditch itself becomes the form for the concrete.
Footings, sometimes called footers, can also be formed using 2 x 10 s or other materials like Form-a-drain.
It’s critical that footings be placed on original undisturbed ground that can support the weight of the structure.
The bottom of the footing must be lower than the lowest depth that the ground can freeze in your region.
If the ground freezes below the footing it can actually lift the entire house and cause major structural damage.
Rebar is placed horizontally in footings to give the concrete tensile strength and is held up off the ground with chairs.
Vertical rebar can also be placed into footings leaving part of it sticking out. This part eventually becomes poured into the foundation walls tying the two together.
If you like this type of content be sure to like and follow for more. ‪@hausplans‬
©️2024 all rights reserved
#build #howto #concrete #house #construction #footings #foundation #diy #contractor #excavation #hausplans

[@The89delta]

The orange stoppers are for if you fall, you won’t get empaled. In case anyone was wondering.

[@hausplans]

True

[@nicholastoovey1925]

You think a little plastic mushroom is going to stop that rebar from going through you 😅

[@coreywixsom6278]

@@nicholastoovey1925absolutely- I’ve seen it demonstrated

[@steveniksid5874]

​@@nicholastoovey1925 The plastic rebar caps are embedded with steel.

[@RandoHandle]

@@nicholastoovey1925I would say it depends on force you’re falling with. They’re still a positive though.

[@REALBanannaman]

Construction is the most important thing today. Too much junk is being built so doing it right deserves applause!

[@hausplans]

👍👍

[@RealZachAttack28]

Yep darn right

[@lilcreaper007]

Cheapo scummy builders hiring drunks druggies and under the table illegal immigrants labor and charge premium prices. It's not a new problem has been since around the 1980s but worse since after the 2008 crisis. Always always get your own home inspector don't listen to the realtor they are in cahoots to get the closing done and get paid. It's your money carry due diligence and act accordingly. There are GREAT AMERICAN BUILDERS still. Research.this Guy has solid builds love from Nebraska

[@tztezza]

@@RealZachAttack28but that wasn’t correct it was sloppy and lazy and the starters only pushed into the concrete..that is what’s meant to lock your building together and they didn’t even do that

[@jonslg240]

​@@tztezza I'm pretty sure you're right and thus your comment will get deleted 😂 mine too I'm sure

[@dale8809]

I know of three friends who bought new houses within the last 15 years in developments whose houses have settled creating cracks in the foundation, brick and drywall issues. Sounds like an important step to get right!

[@chaderickson5647]

What can a home owner do? If find issues

[@allenbowick4716]

Here round Charleston, builders & engineers design these house pads where I have personally seen up to 8 foot of wet clay dirt used for the building pad. Even though they pass compaction tests they still pump or move. It will take years to settle out. All this filling of swamps to pack as many houses per acre they can fit.

[@jacob1121]

@@chaderickson5647 Survey the land and take drill samples before building to check if you need poles in the ground. Amending issues after the house is built is prohibitively expensive as you have to raise the house on jacks to even it out and put poles in.

[@user-sz9oo3sc4y]

They could be monolithic slabs. They don't have a separate footing you tie into.

[@gregswank4912]

@@user-sz9oo3sc4ywhere do they do that? That wouldn’t meet code requirements for any residential or commercial building in Colorado. That might pass for a shed here, but it would be guaranteed to crack and move for anything larger. The slabs for my driveway and patio both cracked and moved, but my foundation footers 8’ below grade haven’t moved a millimeter.

[@hansdampf6777]

will never ever in my life forget digging trenches in australia. the clay was rock hard and at one point my blisters had blisters 😂

[@frankievassallo552]

Same here back in the 90s in Puerto Rico. Now in the present you will not convince me to do this with a pickaxe and a shovel 😅

[@alfa_romeo55yush82]

known as sand stone.

[@yolo_burrito]

You probably didn’t have to worry about the ground ever freezing though.

[@davidgray8089]

@@alfa_romeo55yush82 Sand stone isn't clay, buddy, though it can sometimes contain clay.

[@davidgray8089]

Built a hospital on river till clay once. When we dug footings we had to use a spade bit jackhammer to square the corners as you couldn't get a shovel or pick into it.

[@spacecreep007]

As an electrical engineer, its cool to learn more about the structural side of the job. I had no idea about all of the thought that went into concrete footings, I always thought you guys did that just to get in the way of my conduit runs 😅

[@hausplans]

We usually have a secret meeting before we start a job and plan how we can make everything super difficult for the electricians 😂😂👍

[@RealZachAttack28]

@@hausplansLOL😂😂

[@trickyricky12147]

​@@hausplansYep and you guys meet up at the brick mason's house 😂👍

[@Quackerstacker1973]

Nobody likes electricians .

[@teaganthornbrue]

@@trickyricky12147 true, the mortar is harder for the sparkys to make excessive holes in

[@ronaldlebeck9577]

We have to use different techniques up here in Alaska due to the permafrost. I don't think you'd want to dig down as far as 2,000 ft to get below it. That might be worth showing sometime.

[@imonthewinningside8281]

You got me. 😮😮😮 I saw your comment and immediately Googled - permafrost in Alaska. 😮😮😮 I guess the top of the world is just completely frozen!

[@ronaldlebeck9577]

@@imonthewinningside8281 The "Physics Girl" channel did a video on the permafrost up here. One scene shows a small apartment building that's sinking in the center...it's not far from where I live. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jH6tgXunrNtnZ7csi=smB1dHNnsbVGXVIX

[@clivewilliams3661]

Also, in UK non-reinforced trench fill foundations are the norm

[@estariomartis7955]

That foundation is not properly constructed. The rebarbs are lacking cross stirrups every 6" apart.

[@trazcotraz2798]

For this reason are the ways to make the footing that "cheat" the freazing depth. Also, when you have a shalow granit plate in the cd climate, you don't want to dig in the rock

[@hm6806]

My dad isn't an engineer but he had so much talent in construction work, for building our house he dug the whole area 2 meters deep, then made footing with what he called cement cookies, which he made himself, on the bottom of the footing to make the rebar not touch the ground, even though I knew very little on construction works but his work was nothing but beautiful and clean.

[@DennisSmith-dq6iu]

What’s a meter

[@hm6806]

@@DennisSmith-dq6iu its something convenient that you can use with every country in the world except for the US

[@DennisSmith-dq6iu]

@@hm6806 exactly why we are #1 in the world

[@hm6806]

@@DennisSmith-dq6iu economically and military speaking yes, as for everything else, no.

[@Watthead80]

Footings can be placed on fill material, so long as it was compacted to the engineers specifications.

[@hausplans]

That is correct, it’s hard to fit in all the different scenarios and details into a short video

[@estebanrivera8820]

Our ground is too unstable. We always over excavate and then fill and compact for any type of building.

[@Ali-7676]

Thanks, was just about to ask something related to this as we want to raise the elevation of the lot by a few feet before we start to build.

[@jamesjackson5075]

Soil bearing capacity

[@AveragePatriarchy]

Native soil is always better and ideal but sometimes that isn't available.

[@Justleeconstruction]

Only thing I would change is the chairs. Should use plastic or concrete chairs to support the rebar to avoid rust reaching the rebar. Also when placing the dowels you should make sure that none of them are touching the ground below. Other than that, this is beautiful work

[@joshperrythree]

Steel chairs are pretty typical. Water is going to get to the rebar through the concrete no matter what.

[@havardpedersen1138]

​@@joshperrythree Rebars wont rust inside concrete due to the high ph, but over time, carbon from the atmosphere will penetrate, lowering the ph and allow the rebar to rust.

[@metalrooves3651]

in missouri clay the number a square foot will hold up is 2100 pounds..this is good to know as a footing 2 feet wide will support 4000 pounds per running foot,,thats alot,but pole buildings must have a cookie under each post.

[@metalrooves3651]

i wouldnt woory about that 150 year rust problem!It would be more important that it gets VIBRATED..SUCH an easy way to get the voids out and add unreal strengh...an easy gain of 13%!

[@georgesoso4907]

I think I can help with this argument, I identify as a Steel Chair. I like it when I get a load on me.

[@loridave1962]

As one person stated, drainage is important, and pour soil must be removed. Please do not assume natural undisturbed soil will adequately support your structure. And, natural soil can have varying degrees of firmness. After excavating any bad soil and the footing trench, use a vibratory compactor to compress the exposed soil. Place some fractured rock or fractured gravel (similar to what is used to make highway asphalt or high quality concrete) over your compacted soil. Then compact that rook/gravel. Then start forming.

[@cameronhamer9432]

He’s showing footings being poured without form work , poor construction technique when settlement occurs the uneven concrete won’t settle evenly , the excavation must allow for drain tile and crushed stone for drainage even with the bottom of the footing . I worked as a inspector , retired now . I wouldn’t pass those footings . 👍🇨🇦

[@joshperrythree]

This technique is acceptable depending on the soil composition. This is the same technique used when building roadway bridges and culverts all over the world. (I've designed them for over 20 years).

[@cameronhamer9432]

@@joshperrythree I’ve got a lifetime of experience , concrete without form work dries to quickly and has rough uneven edges that not only reduce strength , but it deteriorates without a smooth finish . Drainage is so important , maybe you live in a desert , but here in wet coastal conditions your going to have different types of problems without any . 👍🇨🇦

[@MrJohnboyofsj]

My homes footings have drain tile beside them, and I noticed this video the footers do not

[@michaelmcgee2026]

​@cameronhamer9432 you nailed it when you described the region. You don't know the code for desert so don't just assume it'd fail inspection. You guys are just a bunch of Karens these days.

[@anim8torfiddler871]

I know I'm not the only person who has dug a footing for an addition with a shovel, NOT a Backhoe. Glad to say, I only had to do that a few days of the time I was doing construction. Valuable experience, so I had skills I could use for my own projects decades later.

[@kip8790]

Fun fact…the term footings comes from the early days of brick houses which were often built in shallow trenches and the bricks laid straight onto dirt but 3 bricks wide, which measures a foot. After 2 or 3 courses this would be reduced to the normal (in the uk) 2 bricks width before reaching above ground. This was called a foot-in and was done simply to spread the load and reduce the chance of movement.

[@ripcut28]

In the old days, we dug footers with square shovels. It was terrible work, especially with a hangover.

[@hausplans]

I bet

[@user-yv7yi7ef6g]

Straight to the point great job

[@hausplans]

Thanks

[@rickgeller2751]

Finally someone knows the proper processes for concrete footing. Those footings were big enough to handle the weight of a structure

[@hausplans]

Thanks

[@Ferdinand_1234]

Thanks bro you give me inspiration I someday want to open my own company like yours

[@hausplans]

Wow, I appreciate that!👍😊

[@JohnCoffins]

That's what I do for a living. Everyone does it a little bit differently but yup that's a footing.

[@hausplans]

👍👍

[@power2thepeople53]

IW 498 Rockford Il. 147 B#

[@Mirendil1]

Would it be useful to put some kind of insulation from humidity behind the footing?

[@JohnCoffins]

@@Mirendil1 well different people will tell you different things but we've never done that and we've never had a failure in 25 years. Pretty much everyone puts plastic on top of the dirt on their slab though before they pour concrete. Even if you put a layer in the footing, water will still get to it when it rains and it'll probably just collect in the plastic.

[@jerryrigsit5400]

Yup, nice and simple explanation. I've got a cabin to build but will be using piers

[@hausplans]

Good luck!

[@darrellroeters4951]

That will likely heave and settle

[@jerryrigsit5400]

@@darrellroeters4951 lots of houses built on piers

[@jerryrigsit5400]

@@darrellroeters4951 lots of people use piers

[@catchasindog]

If you know when to stack the rocks,that will be fine. Old log homes I seen didn't have footing

[@rthedberg]

I model foundations and like to think of them as either strip footings or pad footings. Strip footings typically hold walls and pad footings typically have piers and hold the vertical steel. Everything in life requires a strong foundation!

[@Maxson602]

A fundamental construction-based to hold the design building above with valid integrity.

[@probuilder961]

This is so relaxing for me to watch. I love watching things being done correctly.

[@hausplans]

👍

[@ryans6423]

Make more content like this plz!

[@hausplans]

Thanks, I appreciate that!

[@657spy]

No, it's wrong.

[@RealZachAttack28]

When your building the new warehouse can you make long form videos I love watching your videos and learning how to do such a valuable skill

[@hausplans]

I appreciate the suggestion, will have to think about that👍 thanks so much for supporting the channel

[@gpslightlock1422]

Good looking mix. More than we can say for most of the flat work videos.

[@hausplans]

👍

[@JohnDoe-xm9ql]

Great channel and content.. Real and important stuff.

[@hausplans]

Thanks

[@christopherbell2091]

Not much steel in the pour

[@hitmanzerosix9978]

That's cute. Using a backhoe/excavator to dig the footers. I cannot remember how many I dug by hand growing up working with my dad. Y'all got it easy! And this was in Northern Michigan in gravel ground. We dug minimum 3' deep by 2' wide.

[@liamfarrell8166]

Oo I do like a good concrete video. Plus showing the prep that goes into setting out footings is good. Shows folks that it takes a fair effort and hard labor to get it right.

[@mycookie011]

Did concrete for about 10years and now I do inside work as maintenance to go easy on my body but I sure as hell miss those days. Every day was exciting and would always get me pumped right before a pour. Now I gotta get pumped when new parts that I need arrive.....yay...😊

[@FrankTheTank417]

Please make more videos like this, so I can save them to a playlist when I start building my own house/commercial building. Cheers!

[@hausplans]

👍

[@WilliamHollinger2019]

Yeah get lots of permits too from local government.

[@657spy]

If you want to so it wrong. Not smart.

[@jefferybowman1094]

Wall dowels should be in place prior to placement of concrete. Concrete should be vibrated to ensure consolidation of concrete around the dowels.

[@UniversalPatriots]

Great information.

[@hausplans]

Thanks for watching👍

[@juicywumbo984]

This is literally pure gold to me. Thank you!

[@hausplans]

You're very welcome!

[@davidelliott5843]

Shallow footings need rebar. A deeper trench with thicker concrete does not. In areas not subjected to deep frosts need deeper footings. Clay subsoils are stable until an extended drought dries the clay. Dry clay shrinks and your house will crack up as parts of it sink.

[@hausplans]

All true, you know your stuff

[@Highplainsdrifter44]

Yeah, I’m not sure where you that idea. But that is incorrect. I would never have a deeper trench without a grade beam or atleast a double mat of rebar. Just asking for trouble.

[@davidward5607]

@Highplainsdrifter44 Depends what you are building but if it's a house I would say you are wrong. In the UK its called a trench foundation. You dig down to the specified depth, usually at least 1 metre, and then fill the whole trench with concrete. Uses more concrete but much faster than a strip and no messing around tying rebar

[@RJ-sr5dv]

And once it gets saturated again it will swell and uplift, sometimes more than it was originally. That’s why pier and beam foundations along with post tension slabs are done in areas where clay is prevalent

[@davidward5607]

@RJ-sr5dv not in London where most of the ground is London clay. So long as you go down 1-1.2 m you are fine.

[@jersey3686]

As someone who wants to build my own home with the hands God gave me, videos like this are teaching me everything I need to know. I want the house out of brick with a concrete foundation. I was originally planning on using Roman designs for roads to build it, with a concrete shell, then placing the bricks on the concrete.

[@dospinos1392]

I'm happy that I understood all of this because I worked as an engineering field technician for a company doing quality control on various projects for a couple years.

[@billb2000]

Awesome video! Been in construction most of my life, but your simple, thorough explanation is a thing of beauty!!! I never really heard the frost line explained in connection with the footer before.... Thanks!

[@hausplans]

Wow, thank you!

[@ECO-AFRO]

I place KZbin among the 10 top inventions of all time. Wow! Knowledge like this. Priceless❤

[@hausplans]

Agree, we were in Moldova and met a man who built an entire American style house just from watching KZbin videos. Super impressive!

[@user-vf7vs8rz2t]

I like learning about construction it’s one of the few categories. I don’t know a lot about and I have a big interest in homesteading and learning how to build real long lasting structures, but I’m also smart enough to pay somebody when I’m notsure I can do it. I did not even fathom how much goes into just making a foundation. I understood the reinforcement part but I had no idea. They were two separate parts to the cement that become one.

[@twobrotherskayaking4736]

Built many houses. Every footer we installed with planks and rebar we also used a lazar level as this is somewhat critical. Didn't hear this mentioned but good video!

[@kurbtastic4436]

That footing looks so pretty.

[@jason1440]

Here in the Midwest, they use plastic forms for the footers. Then, concrete and rebar are put in. This helps prevent rusting rebar.

[@fiskeflax4894]

This building technique was abondoned in the 60's where I live. But I live in an older house built this way and we had a lot of trouble with moisture. Today vitually all houses are built on a concrete slab under the whole house. Normally there is a thick layer of insulation and capillary breaking underneath the concrete, and floor heating molded in the entire slab.

[@hausplans]

This is not a house, it’s a commercial warehouse building. Also, it will be a concrete slab that’s 3 feet higher than the footer. Some moisture is not gonna be a problem.

[@leftyeh6495]

The slab gets poured on top of the footings. If you have moisture issues you need proper drainage. Concrete doesn't ever stop water.

[@snorman1911]

Where are all houses built with a concrete slab? Around here, they have a crawl space unless it has a basement.

[@Suave6869]

When I did Culverts, we called footings tow walls, and their man purpose was to keep water from eroding underneath the culvert and floating the culvert up and destroying the road and culvert

[@Betteruthanme1999]

Love it. Very educational! Facts and no BS. And no religious message.

[@TheShrededward]

In Japan, they put gravel on the bottom, then use these pounding machines to pound the gravel down. Once that is done, the rebar is put in and the cement is poured for the foot of the foundation.

[@paradisecove4146]

THANK YOU FOR THIS. YOU WILL AFFECT MANY PEOPLE IN POSITIVE WAYS WITH SUCH WISDOM. ❤

[@hausplans]

Thanks so much

[@Akooks]

That self leveling slump, gotta love it. Makes life so much easier.

[@JosefLarsen]

In Sweden, modern building standard is basically excavating the whole area down to below freezing, fill with drainage, then thick styrofoam for insulation and THEN concrete slab on top. Whole house is “anchor”, and drained and very insulated from underneath.

[@CashmobDP]

I was a cement mason for a couple years. Can’t nothing happen without a solid foundation

[@hedzzup420]

I love that you used a Sawzall blade as a straight edge in your drawing.

[@hausplans]

👍

[@raymaiden958]

Great to see rebar caps on every vertical bar.

[@blitzkreg335]

To think that your house can actually "float" up or "sink" down in, what I like to consider as solid, material over many years is insane.

[@jjthor407]

I plan on doing a small amount of concrete work on my own . This was a good video to watch to see how rebar works and how it should be placed !

[@hausplans]

👍

[@travisyarbrough4033]

when I got to see what goes into the foundation at 10 years old when we doubled the size of our house ..... It is VERY important or the whole thing can be a total loss. Love to see this.

[@jmackinjersey1]

Pro tip from an Operating Engineer. Always place the blade BEHIND you when you are digging. This is the Proper placement as it gives you more leverage when digging. Also, it allows more movement when digging and allows you to be able to see straight down into the hole/trench. It also keeps the bucket from hitting (and tearing up) the blade. Doing this will make you ten times more productive and efficient, which will not only save you money, but allow you to make more money. This is one of the first things they teach you in Operating Class, as well as the owner's manual.

[@dannyh773]

I did this for a couple of summers in high school. We would use stirrups and 4 rebars. After footings were in. We ran rebar across the whole area like a checker board. And everything was lifted with bricks. Everyone once in a while I pass thru some of the places. The subdivisions are still there. This was 43 years ago.

[@dougpeters1625]

Excellent video! Thank you for posting. So many people underestimate that the integrity of a house starts right here.

[@hausplans]

No doubt!

[@litspeed7940]

Don’t forget the compaction/density test, pest control and vapor barrier

[@dennismcconnaughey4155]

Ive poured concrete my whole life from footers to walls an everything between an love it

[@jjdwnbyci]

Where's your key way ? 2x4 set into center of footing that is removed later to key the foundation to the footing

[@hausplans]

The rebar sticking out of the footings and into the foundation wall, serves the same purpose as a keyway

[@frederickevans4113]

Here, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, due to the high clay content in the soil (expansive soil), you actually do want to disturb the soil below the foundation/footers. Well-built structures here will have the soil excavated and either replaced with "select fill" (soil without clay) or the existing soil will be lime-stabilized. The soil (either replacement or lime-stabilized existing soil) is replaced in small layers ("lifts") and each layer is mechanically compacted before the next layer. Really, really good construction may resort to piers (pilings) driven down to the bedrock or hard limestone rock - pier & beam construction. Changes in moisture content will cause the clay soils around here to expand (moist) and contract (dry). This causes many houses around here to have settling and cracking walls. All these mitigation techniques have a financial cost and an amount of potential benefit. Builders tend to compromise between cost and benefit to give the structures an acceptable level of movement and an acceptable construction cost. Otherwise, the concrete and rebar is much the same as elsewhere.

[@jasonsaboury3227]

Thank you for this, I’m building a public art park and needed this knowledge for a massive wall where I need to dig below the freeze line 💪

[@hausplans]

👍

[@degrom542]

This is a correct statement that many do not follow . It's critical to pour the footings on original undisturbed ground not over a layer of gravel. Thanks Haus plans for pointing this out.

[@hausplans]

👍

[@henryng9406]

That assumes the original ground material is firm, solid and stable. Otherwise, you need to sub-excavate and replace with solid, angular rock ... and compact unless it's a non-compactable material.

[@johnnyjones444]

Great video!

[@hausplans]

Thanks!

[@fluffy1973]

I remember drawing these during my CAD days

[@user-tf7dx7qh9t]

Absolutely love general construction.

[@youtoob1811]

Never knew that little factoid about the foundation having to be below ground freeze point. Very interesting.

[@hausplans]

👍

[@bartomiejo.8303]

I could watch this all day long

[@hausplans]

Thanks for watching

[@royzalias8660]

I poured slabs,driveways ,basements for 8 years . One year I got on a crew just pouring footers . Other than digging with pick and shovel ...it was gravy . Followed the last concrete truck out and on the way home every pour .

[@jorgesantana7931]

Out here in So. Cal we don’t use chairs we use doubbies we do use chairs but in between 2 curtains of steel . What state are you at

[@chinhuanglee8576]

I learn 3 years of educational course in this 30seconds video. Thank you

[@hausplans]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PIVfirestarkproducon]

my toxic trait is thinking this single video has equipped me with enough knowledge to build an entire house on a deserted island should i ever end up on a survival show

[@dogsbyfire]

Fascinating explanation! I knew part of this but not all. Thank you so much!

[@hausplans]

You're very welcome!

[@kennyphillips5153]

Drill piers are the lowest being beneath the footing.

[@benmcclure1602]

My Grandmother said a giod education is a solid footing for life, my Grandfather said a good skill set was a good footing for life! They were Both right! Miss you both Grandma and Grandpa!

[@hausplans]

👍👍

[@michaelchristner384]

Rebar will always rust, even inside the concrete. That is why when building a pad for an elevator it has to be water proofed.

[@challis5513]

I just absorbed so much new information that my brain liked

[@4xm413]

You are a very thorough, smart fella.

[@TheEducatedDrunk]

My crew dug all our footings by hand. A backhoe would have been great but in the mountains you can't get a backhoe where you need it. 2 jackhammer guys and 2 shovel guys.

[@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936]

How do the appliances, sheetgoods and trusses get delivered? A small vibrating compactor could be put in place with the crane that will be needed for other material handling.

[@salvadorvega9834]

you should see his face when they bring the crane in to set the trusses where they told him an excavator wouldn’t fit

[@leftyeh6495]

Backhoe is a useless tool. I do however drive my mini-excavator into some crazy spots. Usually just to get a nice spot to bring the big excavator in. Unless you're planning on setting trusses with a helicopter (they do set steel and pour concrete with them here) you have a spot to dig with an excavator.

[@henryng9406]

How were you able to get concrete there? Can't imagine you mixed & placed it by hand.

[@Reubenhubert]

Trench footers are dug by me and a friend when we worked for my brother-in-law.

[@leemeyer748]

Up here in Minnesota the depth of bottom of a foundation is 4 feet in the southern part of the state and further north it is 5 feet.

[@myronstambaugh761]

I always thought it was the BOTTOM of the footing that must be below frost depth. Great video! Much appreciated!

[@hausplans]

That’s correct, only the bottom of the footing needs to be lower than the frost line. I realize my drawing was confusing and made it look like the top.

[@cbekkadja]

Yes more!

[@hausplans]

👍👍

[@kabarmering520]

Im im this business since last 10 years, and yet I learn something new ;)

[@geso91]

A small correction. It isn’t critical for footings to be placed in undisturbed natural ground. Usually you gotta remove and recompact a couple feet of earth below the footing because we know there is going to be settlement, so it should at least settle evenly.

[@657spy]

You couldn't be more wrong.

[@hausplans]

Not saying you’re right or you’re wrong. The truth is soil conditions very so much depending on where you live. That’s required for the clay that we have but it might very well be the practice in your area.

[@MaximusBacon]

Good video! Quick, informative, and helping people expand their general knowledge about things. Thanks for uploading.

[@hausplans]

👍

[@That-Google-Guy]

This was AWESOME!! I would kill for more cool stuff like this!

[@dimasprajoko]

Use to look down on civil engineering, since i look at the brick laying part😅 Eventually i learned more about it and it adds to things i want to have knowledge about

[@vancemarten7178]

Great vid about the footings/foundation.

[@denisemurphy3915]

Clear explanation, thank you.

[@jamieharland9080]

Wow, I’m glad you told me that I had no idea I thought Houses floated like boats

[@henryng9406]

Float like boat? I hope you're just kidding.

[@josuepdrn23]

Depends on the area as well. In Chicago you have to have frost protection 42” below ground and typically your foundation will be exposed 6” above finished grade

[@hausplans]

👍

[@michaelmcgee2026]

I know ur from Chicago bc ur referring to the suburbs as Chicago and not as "the city". :)

[@backfuckinhurts]

does this mean your footer must be 42 inches deep?

[@illiniwood]

@@michaelmcgee2026 To the locals, anything that touches Cook County is considered Chicago.

[@josuepdrn23]

@@backfuckinhurts no. So from grade to bottom of footing it must be 42” in the ground.

[@bosshogg3548]

Never knew if it freezes below it will let the house up learn something new every day ❤

[@hausplans]

👍

[@VP411Designs]

Awesome video, would love to see and learn how waffle squares like foundation setups used to be designed and with plumbing setup ?

[@quintonhurst2415]

Make sure to put a visquin plastic under the rib bar it will be more helpful for long term.

[@benische]

The rebar holding the foundation walls to the footing is a great idea! We've always used pocket screws for that

[@hausplans]

👍👍

[@User_92020]

I'm not even a construction worker but this was educational and fascinating.

[@hausplans]

Thanks

[@elieliason5239]

That is absolutely 100% professional

[@hausplans]

Thanks

[@tedebayer1]

In the 80s, I was part of a engineering firm that placed 5 m x 1 m deep (6'x3'+/-) footings for some rather large structures, but they actually had to anchored by long rods to the rock layered far below the excavation, which was actually already some 30 feet deep, and each (x16) the size of a football field.. Some pretty big footings

[@freespeech469]

You can also consider using concrete wall forms for your footings. You can add rebar on multiple level and have them all tied together which will make your footing much stronger. The concrete Slump also matters. Don’t pour it too wet or too dry. A 5/6 was good for Michigan using a 12” wide wall form 48” tall. Our frost line was 36” I believe, maybe even 48”