Help Do I need footers installed

[BigBlue1]

Sorry this is my first post I have been lurking around for awhile getting great ideas from everyone. I am looking to build a 40X50 bolt together metal building. I am trying to do alot of my work myself to save on cost and say I did it. I am in south Dallas Texas where the ground is black gumbo mud when it rains. I was planing on doing a 6 inch slab with rebar and fiber. I have done a driveway and a sidewalk that turned out really pretty fair. My Question is do I need a concrete footer around the slab the hold the building? I have seen people do a footer and some that have not? I have confused myself with to much data! Could someone please clear it up for me

 

[slicktoptt]

I would say yes, you need to. Would you question a footer for a 2,000 sq ft house? 40x50 is a big building and all the weight is going to be on the edges of the slab. At 6" deep I would be concerned with the slab breaking.

 

[BigBlue1]

I would say yes, you need to. Would you question a footer for a 2,000 sq ft house? 40x50 is a big building and all the weight is going to be on the edges of the slab. At 6" deep I would be concerned with the slab breaking.

Thanks, it looks like a job for the pro's then. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[mikeyr]

why a pro job ? a footer is just a "vertical" slab that is 1 foot thick and as many feet deep as you need to get beyond frost lines which I assume in your area is not much. If you can pour a slab you can pour a footer.

 

[blkhonda1991]

you are definitely going to need footings at the column locations, maybe not a continuous wall

 

[rburke65]

Just a crazy thought here......Do you have any building codes......What does the building inspector say?

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Just a crazy thought here......Do you have any building codes......What does the building inspector say?

I agree, may want to look at the building codes.

 

[uhcrandy]

Look into a "monolithic pour" slab. Basically its a regular slab with the perimiter thickend and containing the rebar.. Its like a footer and slab in one. Most southern states acept this since there is no chance of freezing. It also depends on the soil.. Ask your building dept..

 

[ddawg16]

Many moons ago when I used to live in Texas....the prefered method was mono slab with tension cables....after they poured the concrete and it had time to cure....(typically 1-2 weeks) a guy would come out and pull the 1' steel cables integrated into the slab until they were under considerable tension......this basically gives you a monolithic slab that should float on top of the soil and take any type if ground movement there is.

Back to your original question....yes, you need footers....that is where a majority of your strength is....without them it would be like having a window without a frame....

To be honest, if you are asking this question, you are most likely in over your head.

 

[ironman2424]

i agree with uhcrandy. dig the edges deeper and taper the inside of them. a somewhat triangle shape just wont be exact. that way theres more surface on the bottom than on top. a pyramid shape is strong enough at the edges.
i did this on my 24x32 shop.