Step 1: Dig Footing Hole By Hand (Option 1)

Once you know the frost line and have called 811, you can begin digging your footing holes. The first option to dig the hole for the footing is by hand.  This can be done with a shovel, post hole digger and a digging bar.

Start with the digging bar and loosen the surface of the ground.

In this case the soil was hard and had lots of rocks in it, so the digging bar was necessary.  Alternate the digging bar and post hole digger to remove the soil to the proper depth.

Make sure to dig to the edges of the marks for the hole diameter.  The holes need to be to the specifications given on the plans and approved by the local municipality.

A shovel can be used to take out larger amounts of soil.  Depending on the depth of the hole, the shovel can only be used towards the top of the hole.

Step 2: Dig Footing Hole with a Power Auger (Option 2)

Another way of digging is with a power auger.  These will usually be a 2 person configuration with a motor on top to power the auger that will dig into the ground.  The auger size can be specified to the size that is desired.  Some common sizes are 6”, 8”, 10” and 12”. These can be found at many hardware and tool rental locations.  They may be rented for the half day, day or week. 

Step 1: Pre-inspection Check

For a permitted decking project, you will need to have an inspector review the footing holes. Before the inspector comes out to inspect the holes, it is a good idea to do a pre-inspection check to verify that the holes meet all the criteria that the inspector will be looking for. Is the hole to the proper depth as stated on the plans? In this case the depth was 24”.

Is the hole the correct diameter?  The hole should be a cylinder so the bottom should be the same diameter as the top. In this case the diameter was 12”.

Is there any loose soil in the bottom of the hole? If so, remove the soil so the bottom is a hard surface. Is there any debris in the hole?  Debris such as trash, tree roots, pipe or wires should be removed as these items can leave a void if they are left in the concrete. Is there water in the bottom of the hole?  This could happen if it rained the night before, a sprinkler was left on and filled the hole, or ground water is seeping into the hole.  Remove any water from the hole and let it dry out before the inspection.  Make sure the hole is dry before the concrete is poured for the footing.

Step 2: Footing Hole Inspection by Municipality

When all the holes have been verified and are ready for inspection, call the local municipality to schedule the inspection.  Municipalities can be different, so be sure to check with the local municipality in the area for time frames of the inspection. 

The inspector will make a visual inspection and check the number of holes that are listed on the plans and make sure that the number of holes on sight are the same as the plans. The inspector will then check the items discussed in the pre-inspection list such as depth, diameter, loose soil, debris, and water in the hole. 

If the inspector finds any discrepancies with the holes, they will ask for them to be corrected.  If the items are small and can be corrected quickly, they may allow the correction at that time to sign off on the inspection sheet.  If the corrections cannot be corrected quickly, or the inspector does not have the time, they will not sign off on the inspection sheet and ask for a reinspection to be called.  This can lengthen the time for the building of the project, so it is always a good idea to make sure the holes are to the correct specifications.

Once the holes have been inspected and are approved, the inspector will sign off on the inspection sheet.  Now the concrete can be poured for the footings.

Step 1: Purchase Concrete

When purchasing concrete, look for a mix with a minimum of 3000 psi compression strength and is ready to have water added to it. These mixes will have the concrete, sand and gravel already mixed in the bag. These items can be purchased separately and mixed on site, but a more in-depth knowledge of the ratios would be needed. PSI is pounds per square inch and refers to how much compression strength the concrete has. In this project a 4000-psi concrete was used due to availability and it is higher than the minimum.

Step 2: Mix Your Concrete with a Wheelbarrow (Option 1)

One way to mix the concrete is to use a wheelbarrow and a shovel. This option allows you to mix one bag of concrete at a time, move the wheelbarrow to the hole and pour the concrete directly into the footing hole. This option works well with smaller projects.

Place a concrete bag into the wheelbarrow and, using a shovel, cut the bag in half.

Flip the bag over and fold the bag.  Lift the bag out of the wheelbarrow and let the concrete fall into the wheelbarrow.

Add water to the concrete and mix thoroughly.  The concrete should be wet throughout.  Make sure to mix all the concrete and do not leave any dry patches in the concrete.  The concrete should look like stiff mud when mixed correctly.  Too much water will make the concrete look like murky water instead of stiff mud, and it will weaken the concrete causing it to lose its compressive strength. To avoid this, add the water a little at a time until the mixture is correct.  Water can always be added, but it cannot be taken out.  If the concrete is mixed with a little too much water, it can take longer for the concrete to set up, which could delay the building process.

Shovel the concrete into the hole.  The footing will have to be a specific thickness so use a stick or piece of rebar with a mark on it to help measure.  Fill the hole with concrete until it reaches the line or is slightly above it. Remember that the measurement is the minimum, so it can be thicker than that.  In this case the footing was required to be 6” thick. 

Tamp the concrete with a scrap piece of lumber to level and smooth it out.  This will give the support post a smooth and flat surface to sit on.

Step 3: Mix Your Concrete with a Concrete Mixer (Option 2)

Another option is to use a concrete mixer, which can mix more bags of concrete at a time making process more efficient.

When using the power mixer, start by adding some water.  Pour the concrete into the mixer a bag at a time.  Turn the mixer on and let the water and concrete start mixing.  Add water a little at a time until the correct consistency is reached.

Once the first bag is mixed thoroughly, add another bag, and repeat the process until the mixture is to the desired consistency.  The size of the mixer will determine how many bags of concrete can be added and mixed at one time.  Check with the rental location to determine the capacity of the concrete mixer. Once all the concrete has been mixed to the desired consistency, pour the concrete into the wheelbarrow.

Repeat the process of shoveling the concrete into the hole (outlined in Step 2) and measuring the footing to the proper thickness on all remaining holes.

Step 4: Let the Concrete Set

The climate conditions outside determine how much time will be required for the concrete to set up. In a warm climate the concrete can set up in as little as 24 hours and be ready to build on. In a colder climate the concrete can take longer.  Check the hardness of the concrete before building on top of it, and if there is a question about it being ready, then wait another day before building. Keep this in mind when planning the timeline for the project.