Forms

After digging out the foundation, the next step is to build forms.

The ground is extremely hard where we are building, but some areas need to be compacted.

The first real step to building forms is finding the corners and making sure everything is square. The guy working the sledge is the infamous Steve of King Concrete.

As you put the stakes in, you also set string lines to mark the outside of the walls. You will notice two parallel strings here, the string in the center is the outside of a wall right in front of the photographer. The string to the right is for a wall at the far end, the string is just extended. The colors of the string do not matter in this photo.

Here is the beginning of the forms. The stakes are pounded in the ground and the form lumber is nailed on. The height of the top of the lumber is critical and constantly adjusted to be correct.

Here you can see both sides of a form. Many stakes are needed to hold the concrete in.