How to Dig a Slab Foundation Footing

The foundation of many homes consists of three main parts: the footings, the slab and the walls. The footings are made of concrete, and are placed along the edges of the slab to provide support. The footings are placed beneath the frost line, the part of the ground that is deep enough that it doesn't freeze during the winter. This placement prevents the footings from shifting when the ground freezes and thaws.

Wooden stakes
Hammer
String
Tape measure
Spray paint
Excavator
Shovel
Rake
Tamper

Instructions

- 1
  Drive wooden stakes into the ground around the perimeter of the foundation and tie them together with string to mark the perimeter. Check the positioning of the stakes and string against your plans, and make any adjustments needed.
- 2
  Spray paint the ground along the string lines, and then remove the stakes.
- 3
  Dig a hole in the ground inside the lines you spray painted, going to the depth of the bottom of the concrete slab. For smaller projects, rent a 1 1/2-ton excavator, but for large projects, hiring a contractor with a full-sized excavator might be a better option.
- 4
  Dig a trench around the perimeter of the hole for the footing that extends beneath the frost line. The footing needs to be at least twice as wide as the foundation walls. Add an extra foot to the width to provide room for the wooden forms for when you pour the concrete footing.
- 5
  Remove any rough, uneven edges of the foundation walls and footing trench with a shovel.
- 6
  Level the soil in the bottom of the footer trench with a rake, and then compact it by tamping it down.

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