Michel spent the last couple of weeks completing the formwork and levelling everything. The was grueling work (there is almost 500 feet of footings with many steps and angles); he worked relentlessly to get this completed for Saturday morning’s pour.

For the forms, we used the FastFoot product (a plastic membrane that holds the concrete). It has several advantages – first, the formwork is built with 2×4 suspended above ground (instead of full 2×8), making it easier to level and place the forms. Second, the plastic membrane stays in place after the pour, providing a continuous moisture barier below the footings and the floor slab. Although not required, we also installed rebar in the footings for added strength and crack control. Here’s an example of what  the formwork with the Fastfoot product looks like (you can see the future screened-in porch in the back):

Completed formwork with the fastfoot and rebar installed

Here’s another picture that shows the plastic membrane used for forming steps:

Footing steps in the screened-in porch

We had the building department inspection and the engineering (geotechnical) inspections Friday afternoon. Both passed and were are have the green light to pour the footings.

Michel, John and I worked late Friday night and started again Saturday at 5AM to finish the Fastfoot and rebar installation before the concrete and pump shows up at 7:30 Saturday.