Q&A for How to Pour a Concrete Foundation

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If you pour footings without rebar laid flat, but you do have rebar standing up out of it, should it be turned out and redone?

Anthony "TC" Williams
Experienced Landscaper
Anthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas.

Anthony "TC" Williams

Experienced Landscaper

Expert Answer

Yes, it would need to be replaced. If there is no horizontal rebar in pour and only upright, then the concrete is not reinforced structurally and may fail load bearing.

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Question

How do you create a foundation for an addition to your home?

Agustin Renoj
Home Improvement Specialist
Agustin Renoj is a Home Improvement Specialist with Renoj Handyman based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 18 years of construction experience, Agustin specializes in carpentry, painting, and exterior, interior, kitchen, and bathroom renovations. Renoj Handyman is a family-owned business that consists of craftsmen trained in all areas of construction.

Agustin Renoj

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

In most places, you'll need to submit a proposal to your city before you start. Once that's approved, you have to dig down to solid ground, then attach the rebar to the original foundation that you're attaching to.

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Question

Do I need a footing for a garage foundation?

Outersepdx

Community Answer

Yes, you need a footing under all foundation walls, including garages.

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Question

Since we don't have level ground, can we pour walls to make the foundation level?

Community Answer

Yes. You should make the tops of your foundation forms level so that when you screed off the concrete, you are left with a level surface.

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How long does it take for concrete to set?

Outersepdx

Community Answer

It can vary by concrete type and ambient temperature. It will support your weight in a few hours, and is essentially fully cured at about 4 weeks.

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Question

Instead of drilling holes and inserting pins, can I just leave 2 feet of rebar sticking out of the first pour to attach to a second pour later?

Outersepdx

Community Answer

You should poor the whole thing at once. The part about pinning the foundation is if you're pouring next to an old foundation.

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Do I put a v in the cement footings before I pour the walls to prevent water from going under the cement walls?

Community Answer

A V will make absolutely no difference, especially if the footings are underground.

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Question

Is it a good or bad idea for my contractor to trench a 4 ft. solid wall in one pour?

Outersepdx

Community Answer

Are you talking about a mono-pour? This is a more complicated pour, but is better than the two-pour method because you do not have the weak cold joint between the footing and the stem wall.

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Question

What can I do if I did not put a polyethylene sheet on my foundation?

Community Answer

If you’re in a very dry climate, you probably have no problem. However, if you’re anywhere else, you have a significant problem. If there’s ground water up to the slab, your concrete’s pores will fill with water. If it freezes where you are, the water in the concrete will freeze. Even if there is groundwater at the concrete or block footer, the water will wick up the footer into the slab. You are taking a huge risk by building on top of your foundation without the sheeting.

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Should all groundwater that is in the hole be pumped out? How long should I wait to pour foundation after the water is out?

Community Answer

All the water has to be out of the trench, and you should be looking at dry #6 rock or what the building code mandates. I like #6 rock with 2 layers of landscape fabric on top. This really is more difficult than most “do it yourself projects”, and getting it wrong it could be very expensive. There’s a lot to think about, from getting the water out now, to having the water drain away from the foundation after the trenches are filled in. And of course, all the foundation work in the middle.

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Question

I see so many people building in my part of the world without these useful methods. How high can you build (i.e. floors) with this strong foundation? Is there a limit to the number of floors?

VS Enterprises

Community Answer

The number of floors you can build on a strong foundation varies based on the quality of materials, soil conditions, and engineering practices. A well-constructed foundation can support multiple floors, but it's essential to consult with a structural engineer to determine the specific limits for your building.

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