How Do You Build Forms For Concrete Pads?
To support air conditioners, hot tubs, decks, outbuildings and transformers, you’ll need to build a concrete pad for support to prevent your expensive investment from sinking into the ground. Here’s how you can build forms for pads and columns to support them. Measure the area for the concrete pad needed for your particular project. Remove all sod in the designated area with a shovel and level the soil. Dig holes in the ground for the support columns. An air conditioner pad likely will need four for support. Use a manual posthole digger or, if you need to dig several holes, rent a posthole digger. Make the column holes deep enough to extend below the frost line. At this depth, the columns prevent the pad from moving up and down with changes in temperature. Check with the building department to determine the needed depth for your area, but at minimum make the holes 24 inches deep. Create the hole wider at the bottom to allow the concrete to spread out. Insert fiber forms for concrete in
