How to Build a Vertical Cement Form With a Rebar

Many house and small building foundations are made using forms into which concrete is poured around supporting metal rebar. The concrete provides compression strength, while the rebar supplies torsion strength. Most people will pay a contractor to build a foundation, even if they plan to build the rest of the structure themselves, but you can easily build the foundation yourself.

2-inch-thick, 1-by-8-foott lumber
1-by-2-inch lumber
Hammer
Nails
Marking sticks
Concrete
Concrete mixer
Shovel
Rebar
Level
Plumb bob
Trowel

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the area where you will be placing the foundation. Place marking sticks in the ground to define a foundation shape 8 to 10 inches thick.
- 2
  Position two 1-by-8-foot boards at one outer corner of the markers and hammer the ends together to make the form for that corner. Repeat this with two more boards to make the inner part of the form in that corner.
- 3
  Hammer 1-by-2-inch strips across the top of the corner form to hold the inner and outer parts upright. Use a level and a plumb bob to make sure the boards are straight and level.
- 4
  Make the other form corners in the same way as the first one. Add more boards to connect both inner and outer corners. Add strips across the top to hold the form together.
- 5
  Push a length of rebar into the ground, so that it is vertical in the center of the form. Repeat this every 2 feet all the way around the form.
- 6
  Mix your concrete according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Pour the concrete into the form along the foundation. Use a spare rebar as a pole to remove any air pockets by stabbing it into the concrete all around the foundation.
- 7
  Smooth the concrete with a trowel. Allow the concrete to harden. The time required for this will depend of weather conditions and the concrete you use.

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