7/30/98 This shows the complete outer wall of the foundation forms in place, with the inner wall in place for some of the lower forms. Once the outer wall is located and built, the installation of reinforcing bar (rebar) and the inner wall goes much faster because the outer wall is used as a locator.

7/30/98 This is a view of the northwest corner showing the outer and inner form walls in place. The top of the foundation will be "stepped" as it goes up the hill. Note that the bottom edge of the forms does not extend down to the bottom of the trench. When the concrete is poured, it spreads out past the form walls to form a wider foundation footing at the bottom.

7/30/98 Installing a 2x6 board on the inner wall of the foundation. The carpenter's apprentice is using a tapered wedge and a level to make sure the top of the inner board is exactly level with the top of the outer board before he fastens it to the form stake. In places there are small gaps between the boards, but the concrete is too thick to go through these gaps in significant amounts.

7/30/98 Looking south along the east wall of the foundation, this shows the first level of the rebar and inner form wall in place. The lower rebar is fastened to three inch concrete blocks called "dobies" to keep it located well up inside the concrete when the wall is poured. Flat metal strips are placed between the boards and fastened on the outside to set the correct space between the walls of the form.

7/30/98 This is a view of the completed form for the lower (north) wall of the foundation. The outer wall on the right is braced by the diagonal form stakes. The inner wall on the left is located by the metal strips placed between the boards. The metal strips are also used to locate and fasten the reinforcing bars.

7/30/98 Another view of the inner form wall and the pegs which fasten the metal strips on the outside of the board. When concrete is poured into the form, it forces the walls apart, and these strips and pegs stop the spread of the form walls at just the right width. After the concrete hardens, the pegs are removed and the ends of the strips are broken off with pliers. The form stakes have a short length of plastic pipe covering the first few inches above the ground (example at left). When the concrete is poured and spreads out from under the bottom of the forms, this keeps the form stakes from having direct contact. They can be easily removed after the concrete is dry.