Professional Documents
Culture Documents
How To Form Concrete Walls
How To Form Concrete Walls
Ahmed Jerbi
HOW TO FORM
CONCRETE WALLS
Wiki How
Table of Contents
Part1 Wall Footers............................................................................................................................2
1. Measure and outline the space for your wall. .................................................................................. 2
2. Dig out the soil to form space for the wall and footer. .................................................................... 3
3. Compact and level out the soil with a tamper tool. ......................................................................... 3
4. Pour 6 in (15 cm) of gravel into the hole. ......................................................................................... 4
5. Place a layer of steel rebar ⅓ of the way up the hole....................................................................... 5
6. Mix and pour concrete to fill the footer hole. .................................................................................. 5
7. Cover the footer and let it cure for at least 7 days. .......................................................................... 6
Part2 Building Forms ........................................................................................................................7
1. Stack wood planks to create a frame for the wall. ........................................................................... 7
2. Nail studs into the back of each frame to bind the boards together. .............................................. 7
3. Lay wales across the studs to strengthen the forms. ....................................................................... 8
4. Attach a brace board over the back of the wales. ............................................................................ 9
5. Create the rest of the braces with additional boards and stakes. .................................................... 9
6. Nail 3⁄4 in (1.9 cm) plywood sheets to the frames. ........................................................................ 10
Part3 Installing Forms ..................................................................................................................... 11
1. Set the forms on plywood boards near where you plan on building the wall................................ 11
2. Drill 1⁄8 in (0.32 cm) holes on either side of each stud.................................................................... 11
3. Run wires through the holes and tie them to the wales. ............................................................... 12
4. Tighten the wire tie with a stick or another tool. ........................................................................... 13
5. Slip wood spacers beside each wire. .............................................................................................. 13
6. Drill through the spreaders and wire them together. .................................................................... 14
Part4 Pouring & Curing Concrete .................................................................................................... 15
1. Mix enough concrete to complete the wall all at once. ................................................................. 15
2. Pour the concrete in layers, starting at the end of the wall. .......................................................... 15
3. Pull the spacers out as you pour the concrete. .............................................................................. 16
4. Smooth out the concrete with a screed or another tool. ............................................................... 17
5. Cover and cure the concrete for up to 4 days. ............................................................................... 17
6. Remove the forms and the wires attached to the concrete........................................................... 18
7. Cover the wall and let it finish curing for up to 24 more days........................................................ 19
How to Form Concrete Walls
Co-authored by Gerber Ortiz-Vega
Last Updated: July 28, 2022
Concrete is one of the cleanest and most versatile types of wall material available. Whether you
need a wall as a property marker, a support structure, or to hold back soil or water, you can
make one by building wood frames called forms. A concrete wall needs to be built on top of a
concrete footer in order to be stable. Afterward, place the forms and pour the concrete to shape
your wall. Creating a wall is big work, so consider contacting a professional for help or advice to
ensure you get a stable structure.
• Marking chalk, along with any of the other supplies you need for the wall, are available at
most hardware stores.
• Be aware of any utility lines or other obstacles in the area. Your local utility companies can
help you with this.
2. Dig out the soil to form space for the wall and footer.
Clear out sod and soil according to your wall’s width. When you have that done, begin digging
out space for the footer. Divide the wall’s width in half, then measure that far down from the
soil line. Then, dig out a space underneath this point that is twice as long as the wall is wide. [1]
• The footer needs to be below the frost line, which is about 1 ft (0.30 m) below the soil’s
surface on average. Check your local government’s municipal code for an exact estimate.
• The footer size you need depends on the wall you wish to create. A good footer is as tall as
the wall is wide.
• If you already have a concrete base in place, you do not need to create another one.
Instead, skip to setting up the form.
2. Nail studs into the back of each frame to bind the boards together.
Use more 2 in × 4 in (5.1 cm × 10.2 cm) boards to assemble the frame. Space the studs
out every 16 in (41 cm) along your frames. Instead of laying the studs flat, turn them on
their sides. Then, use about 4 3 1⁄2 in (8.9 cm) nails per stud to secure them all to the
frames.[7]
• Place the nails about 2 in (5.1 cm) from the top and bottom edges of each stud.
5. Create the rest of the braces with additional boards and stakes.
Start with a wood board sharpened into a stake you can plant in the soil outside. Set
another wood board on its side, running it from the brace board to the stake. Then, add
a third board, running it diagonally from the center of the brace to the stake. Use more
nails to attach the boards to the brace and stake.[9]
• The additional brace boards need to be about 12 in (30 cm) long. The exact length depends
on the size of your wall. Taller walls need longer braces for extra support.
6. Nail 3⁄4 in (1.9 cm) plywood sheets to the frames.
Flip the frames over to the sides without the studs. Fit the plywood so it’s the same
length and height as the frame you’re putting it on. Then, use more 3 1⁄2 in (8.9 cm) nails
to connect the plywood to the studs. Place a nail about every 12 in (30 cm) along the
length of each stud.[10]
• Nail through the plywood and into the studs. If you work the other way, the screw ends will
stick out into the concrete you pour, affecting your wall.
Part3 Installing Forms
1. Set the forms on plywood boards near where you plan on building the wall.
Place 3⁄4 in (1.9 cm) pieces of plywood on the ground. These shoe plates need to be
wide enough to support the forms you built. Arrange them so they border the hole in
your yard where you plan on pouring concrete for the wall. Before you continue, make
sure the shoe plates and forms leave the correct amount of space you need for your
wall.[11]
• Plant the stakes firmly in the ground. When your forms are in place, they won’t budge at all.
Test them out by pushing against them with your hand.
• If you’re having a hard time getting everything to stay still where you need it, try using wire
ties. Wrap wires around the studs in the forms to tie them to the shoe plates. Drill holes in
the plates as needed to attach the wires.