| Footings: | | | | code of area and extending upwards past the |
| Normal footings should be 8-12" deep by 24" wide. | | | | point of the projected cmu foundation block |
| When the land in use is not perfectly flat you | | | | height plus 8" . |
| must add "step downs" which are drops in the | | | | Now you have a continuously tied in footing and all |
| footing appearing as steps. At the end of the | | | | threads pointing up in the air to tie your structure |
| footing prior to the step down you should add a | | | | to for uplift protection. Install grade stakes |
| piece of plywood to stop the concrete from | | | | throughout the footing to assure that you have a |
| going any further. The step down should be 8" | | | | continuously level concrete footing base. Don't |
| deep and 16" from the top of the upper footing | | | | forget the pier footings. The location is |
| to the bottom of the stepped down footing. The | | | | determined by a structural engineer or state |
| 8" step down is so the cmu blockwork will | | | | licensed architect. The footings for them is |
| continue at a consistent run without having to fill in | | | | basically the same as the home perimeter but |
| voids. | | | | without attaching to anything else and without |
| A normal imperfect lot may contain as many as 8 | | | | vertical 5/8" all threads. The footing steel for the |
| step downs then 8 step ups on the opposite side. | | | | piers is a tic tac toe design using 5/8" rebar in |
| A transit should be used when digging a footing | | | | chairs. Make sure that the footing height, also |
| and determining the proper locations for step | | | | marked with grade stakes ends up being the |
| downs in footings. A standard practice for steel | | | | same height as the perimeter footing or in |
| rebar in footings for a residential application is | | | | increments of 8" up or down for adding cmu |
| double 5/8" rebar running continuous throughout | | | | block to ensure a completely level footing ready |
| the footing using bent pieces for corners and step | | | | for block. Pour the concrete to the grade stake |
| downs. The rebar should be placed in standard | | | | height and smooth the concrete to a flat position. |
| "chairs" which hold the rebar off of the bottom of | | | | When the concrete dries you are ready to lay |
| the footing. 5/8" all thread needs to be attached | | | | the foundation blocks. |
| to the footing rebar every 6' to 8' depending on | | | | |