Footings and foundations are to homes what feet and legs are to the human body: footings anchor the home to the ground onto the earth foundation and , which in turn carries the weight of the home.
Although the footings had been made from a number of materials in history— stone, block and even treated wood — reinforced concrete is used in the vast majority of new homes. The contractor erects wooden forms, installs steel reinforcing bars (“rebar”) between the form faces, then fills the forms with poured concrete. After the concrete sets, the forms are removed.
The construction of footings is best left to the pros that can assess the soil conditions and decide on the proper depth and width for the footings as well as the proper placement. The dimensions of footings also depend on the size and type of structure that will be built.
Placement of footings is crucial to provide the proper support for the foundation and ultimately the structure. Concrete footings may also be needed for projects such as a deck, pergola, retaining wall or other types of construction.
