Concrete Footings

In terms of the depth, or thickness, of the concrete footing, it should be no less than the projection of the footing on either side of the foundation wall.

For example, in the case of an 8” thick foundation wall centered on a 22” wide concrete footing, the footing depth of the concrete footing should be at least 7” thick. In terms of concrete footing dimensional requirements for wood framed homes on continuous spread footings, concrete footings that run along the exterior walls of the home, typical dimensions are between 16” to 22” wide and 6” to 16” in depth, depending upon the load bearing capacity of the soil and the number of levels in the home.

In terms of the dimensional requirements for spot concrete footings, the footing pads placed under Lally columns, the typical dimensions are 24”x 24”, with a 10” to 12” depth, again depending upon the load bearing capacity of the soil and the number of levels in the home.

Steel rebar is also commonly included in concrete footings to provide additional strength and support.

So if you have plans to build a home or home addition, make sure to carefully consider the design and construction of the concrete footings. The lack of, or poorly constructed concrete footings, can cause a home to settle and crack, and potentially make the home too dangerous to occupy.