Pouring Your Garage Foundation

A solid garage needs to be built on a solid foundation. Preparing and pouring a garage foundation is usually a job that homeowners would prefer to leave to the pros. However, a competent DIYer can build a solid garage foundation with hard work, patience, and attention to detail. Do it yourself by following these step-by-step instructions.

Site Preparation

Contact your local municipal services and ask them to mark any gas, power, or telephone lines that might be near your building site so you will know where you can safely dig. Use a chalk line to lay out the perimeter of your garage. Use the string and wooden stakes driven into the ground at the corners to mark the footprint.

The amount of supplies needed is dependent on the size. Take note of the measurements and consult your local hardware store professional.

Dig Trenches

Dig trenches for your footings around the perimeter of your garage. Local building codes will specify the minimum depth and width of your trenches, but in general, the trenches should be at least 12” - 18” wide and minimum18” deep. (in areas where the ground freezes, the code may require footings to be at least 48” below ground level to get below the "frost line" and prevent the concrete from shifting). While digging the footings, also remove 3” to 4” of soil from the floor area to accommodate the concrete pad.

Install Wooden Forming Boards

Install your wooden forming boards in the footing trenches, holding them in place with wooden stakes. (These boards will be removed after the footings have set up.)

Install Rebar

Next, install 1/2” rebar horizontally on all the footings, using rebar chairs to hold the rebar three inches off the bottom and sides of the trench.

Pour the Concrete

Pour the concrete for the footings and after the concrete has been poured, but before it has set, install rebar every 12 to 16 inches extending vertically 8 to 10 inches above the surface. This will tie the foundation walls into the footings.

Building Foundation Walls

Typically foundation walls are 8 to 10 inches high and centered on the footings. Install rebar horizontally in the foundation walls before pouring concrete and after the concrete has been poured. Then, insert anchor bolts into the moist concrete extending two to three inches above the surface to hold the sill plates of the wooden garage walls.

Concrete Pad/floor

Spread a two to three-inch layer of sand or fine gravel then compact it down. Next, install a vapor barrier over the sand/gravel layer to help keep moisture out of your finished garage, and once again install rebar, in a grid pattern 16 inches on center over the floor to provide stability to your concrete pad.

After the concrete is poured into the floor area, use a long 2x4 to level the surface and provide a slightly rough surface that won't be too slippery to walk on.

By following these seven easy steps yourself and not hiring a contractor, you will save big! You will take pride in knowing you poured your own garage foundation every time you park the car.

Murray Anderson is a veteran freelancer whose work has appeared in books, newspapers, and newsletters as well as on numerous web sites in both the United States and Canada. He writes on a wide range of topics including home, consumer, and personal subjects, as well as general business and marketing specific topics.