Aaron wrote:
I am in the initial planning phases of building an attached garage. Has
anyone created their own foundation for such a structure. I have been
involved in framing a structure but not the actual foundation building and I
wanted to know if this was something beyond the scope of a DIY'er. I am
aware of all the basics that go into making footings and concrete slabs but
I am specifically interested in gotchas or things like grading the land
especially if there is a steep slope to content with, thanks.



When you make up your reinforcing steel in the footer trench be sure to
add one length of galvanized rebar to the top. Tie it twice to every
piece of rebar it crosses. Stub one end of it up at the point were the
buildings electrical power will enter the building. As long as you
don't line the footer trenches with plastic that will be the best
grounding electrode that the buildings electrical service could have.
Do not substitute a bare copper conductor unless you Cadweld it to the
reinforcing steel. The bare copper does not stand up well to the
concrete's corrosive affects.
--
Tom Horne

"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison