How to Build Basement Footings

Mark the location of the wall onto the ground by spray-painting the perimeter lines on the ground. Keep the lines for the inner and outer edges of the footings far enough apart to fit the width of at least two of the blocks you're using to build the wall.

Excavate a trench between the two lines that extends beneath the frost line. If the frost line is only a few inches deep, you can dig it by hand with a shovel, but if it's several feet deep, use heavy equipment, such as a 1 1/2-ton excavator.

Drive wooden stakes into the ground inside the trench a few inches inside the trench's walls. Nail 2-by-4 boards to the stakes to create a form for the concrete.

Dig a small trench along the outer edge of the main trench to be used for drainage. Slope the bottom of the drainage trench 1 inch for every 20 feet of length.

Pour 2 inches of gravel into the drainage trench, lay the drain tile into the drainage trench and cover the drain tile with 10 to 12 inches of gravel. The drain tile is plastic pipe that is perforated to allow water to flow through.

Place a level on top of the forms so it spans the trench. If one side of the form is higher, tap it down with a rubber mallet until it's level. Do this every few feet around the entire length of the footings.

Place plywood sheets into the form to divide it into smaller sections if you cannot complete the pour at one time. Skip this step if you can complete the form in one pour.

Pour the concrete into the form until it's just above the top of the form. For large footings, hire a contractor to pour the concrete.

Drag a 2-by-4 board across the top of the form to smooth the concrete. Allow the concrete to cure for at least four to five days.

Remove the framing from around the footings and fill the gaps between the footings with dirt.