Masonry & Concrete SOP Example

Concrete Footing Pour — Residential Addition

Form, pour, and finish a continuous strip footing for a residential addition per code requirements.

1. Form inspection & pre-pour checklistWalk the entire form perimeter before ordering concrete. Check that form boards are plumb (within 1/8" per 4 feet), adequately braced against soil pressure at the pour, and that form stakes are set at maximum 4-foot intervals. Confirm the form interior dimensions match the plan dimensions. Verify the form top elevation is consistent across all four sides using a laser level or builder's level — record the elevation at all four corners and at midpoints. Flag any low spots greater than 1/4" for shim correction before the truck arrives. Confirm all call-ahead permits and inspections are satisfied.
2. Rebar placement & clearance verificationInspect the two runs of horizontal rebar (typically #4 or #5 depending on the plan spec) — verify they are continuous around the perimeter with lapped splices of minimum 40 bar diameters at all joints (24" for #4, 30" for #5). Confirm rebar is supported on chairs at the correct height to achieve minimum 3" concrete cover below the steel and minimum 2" cover from the sides. Wire all lap splices. Tie any vertical rebar dowels that will project above the footing for the wall above. Photograph the completed rebar placement before the pour for the project record.
3. Concrete delivery & placementReceive the concrete truck and confirm mix design on the delivery ticket: 3,000 PSI minimum, correct aggregate size, and water-cement ratio. Do not accept concrete where additional water has been added at the site without the truck driver logging it — site-added water reduces strength. Direct the chute or pump hose to deposit concrete in lifts of no more than 12" deep. Do not move concrete by raking long distances horizontally — reposition the chute or pump hose as needed. Place concrete continuously around the form — do not allow a cold joint to form by letting a previously placed section begin to set before reaching it with the next section.
4. Consolidation with vibratorInsert an internal concrete vibrator at 18" intervals throughout the full length of the footing — vibrate each insertion point for 5–15 seconds. The vibrator liquefies entrapped air and compacts the mix around the rebar and into form corners. Do not vibrate in one location for more than 15 seconds — over-vibration causes aggregate to settle and bleed water to rise. Keep the vibrator 2" away from form faces and 3" away from rebar to avoid displacing steel. Withdraw the vibrator slowly — pulling it out quickly leaves a void channel.
5. Screed, float & set anchor boltsStrike off the footing top surface with a 2x4 screed board riding on the top edges of the forms — pull toward you with a sawing side-to-side motion to embed aggregate and level the surface. Follow with a bull float or hand float to close the surface and produce a level finish. Install any anchor bolts, hold-down hardware, or rebar dowels while the concrete is still workable — verify their spacing, embedment depth, and location from the plan before the concrete sets. A template board with pre-drilled holes for bolt spacing makes this accurate and fast.
6. Cure, strip & documentProtect the fresh concrete surface from direct sun and wind if ambient temperature is above 85°F — cover with wet burlap or curing compound immediately after finishing. In cold weather, cover with insulating blankets to maintain minimum 50°F concrete temperature for the first 7 days. Do not strip forms until the concrete has reached sufficient strength — minimum 24 hours in warm weather (above 65°F), 48–72 hours in cool weather. After stripping, photograph the completed footing from all four sides and document the pour date, weather conditions, batch ticket number, and any deviations from plan in the project file.