Save time with
masonry footings
Figure 1. Commonly used in ancient
times, masonry footings were again
used in Europe after World War II to
speed reconstruction. A system that
complies with the model building codes
was recently introduced in the United
States (see Figure 2).
Build the foundation wall immediately after the
footing is laid
T
ired of waiting for concrete
footings to cure so you can
build the foundation walls? An-
noyed by the concrete subcontractor ’s
schedule or by repairs you have to
make to cracked sidewalks and rutted
lawns damaged by concrete trucks?
Then consider building with masonry
footings.
Masonry, a common ancient foun-
dation material, is again being used to
build foundations. After World War II,
Europe started using prefabricated ma-
sonry footings to make reconstruction
faster and easier. Several proprietary
systems are now available throughout
the world (Figure 1).
The National Concrete Masonry
Association (NCMA) has developed
an economical masonry footing sys-
tem that is now available throughout
most of the United States. The NCMA
system consists of interlocking solid
concrete blocks that are slotted on the
top to receive reinforcing (Figure 2).
Two stretcher units are available: a
4x8x16-inch unit for 8-inch-thick
foundation walls and a 3x8x20-inch
unit for 12-inch-thick foundation
walls. Corner units, 8x8x8 inches, can
be used with either size stretcher
block.
Constructing a masonry foot-
ing
To build a masonry footing, first ex-
cavate below the frost line to solid,
undisturbed soil. Using gravel, sand,
or even mortar, provide a level bearing
surface for the footing blocks. After
preparing the excavation, establish the
corner points and string a line between
them. The layout is square if the diag-
onals between corners are equal.
Place the corner units first. Then in-
terlock the stretcher units, leveling the
footing as construction continues. The
blocks are placed dry without mor-
tar—or formwork.
When the footing is completed, the
first course of block for the foundation
wall can be laid. A bed of mortar can
be placed on the footing blocks to pro-
vide a level surface for the wall blocks.
How much load can masonry
footings carry?
The NCMA masonry footing sys-
tem was tested by the Department of
Civil Engineering at the Virginia Poly-
technic Institute and State University
(Ref. 1). Its test results show that con-
crete masonry footings settle less than
monolithic concrete footings on both
loose and moderately dense sand (Fig-
ure 3).
Based on an allowable soil capacity
of 2,000 pounds per square foot, these
interlocking block pieces can carry the
following loads: The 16-inch-wide
units can carry 2,600 pounds per lineal
foot and the 20-inch-wide units can
carry 3,300 pounds per lineal foot.
The NCMA block footing system
has been designed to comply with the
requirements of the Uniform Building
Code, the Southern Standard Building
Code, and the Basic Building Code.
Check with the NCMA for compliance
with other codes and standards.
 Figure 2. The block footing system developed
by the National Concrete Masonry Association
(NCMA) is laid dry without mortar on a level
bearing surface, usually gravel or sand. The
blocks interlock, and slots in the top accept
steel reinforcement. Mortar is placed on top of
the blocks to provide a level bed for the
foundation wall blocks.

Benefits of masonry footings contractor can lay up the foundation

Contractors charge the same for ma-
sonry and concrete footings, but ma-
sonry footings have many additional
benefits.
Eliminate concrete subcontrac-
tors. With block footings, work
doesn’t have to be scheduled around a
concrete subcontractor. Both the foot-
ing and foundation wall can be built in
the same day.
Eliminate concrete curing time.
Even if coordinating with other trades
is not a problem, waiting for the con-
crete footing to gain strength can be
costly. Workers must either move to
another job and
then return, or stay
Figure 3. Under the same load, masonry footings settle home. The footing
less than cast-in-place concrete footings. These are the system eliminates
results from tests performed on the NCMA footing system waiting time; the
by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
wall right after the block footing is
built.
Winter construction. Contractors
who use the footing block system say
that is saves money on cold weather
construction. Instead of protecting a
concrete footing the extra time re-
quired in winter, then building a ma-
sonry wall and protecting it, they can
complete the footing and wall and pro-
tect the whole structure at once. Blan-
kets, tarps, or even backfilling can pro-
tect masonry footings.
No damage from ready mix
trucks. Block footings can be very
helpful on remodeling jobs. Cracked
sidewalks and rutted lawns from heavy
concrete trucks are eliminated. The
footing blocks can be moved from the
truck to the excavation on brick carts.
Tips from contractors
Contractors using the footing sys-
tem say it’s easy to construct. The
small units can be strung together to
create or match almost any foundation
layout. The sand or gravel leveling bed
only needs to be within _1/2 inch be-
cause mortar can be used to adjust the
level of the first block course. And no
footing blocks are wasted; extra units
are moved to the next job.
A marketing problem does exist
though. Homeowners don’t always be-
lieve that individual precast footing
blocks are as strong as cast-in-place
concrete. Fortunately, tests indicate
that the footing block system is strong.
Because concrete masonry units are
manufactured under carefully con-
trolled conditions the units are not sub-
ject to the variables that plague cast-
in-place concrete.

Masonry footings in seismic

zones
For strength, the footing system in-
terlocks and can be reinforced with
wire reinforcement or reinforcing bars
placed in the slots in the top of the
blocks. If even greater strength is re-
quired, continuous deformed steel bars
can be placed and grouted within the
first course of the block wall. Vertical
steel dowel bars also can be placed and
anchored into the first foundation
course. Before constructing in seismic
regions, check with the local building
officials for approval of block foot-
ings.

—by Bruce A. Suprenant

References
1. Krebs, R. D., G. W. Clough, and Kim
T. W. Lewis, “Segmented Footing Sys-
tem Evaluation,” Department of Civil
Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Insti-
tute and State University, Blackburg,
Virginia, 1987.
2. “Segmental Masonry Footings,”
NCMA-TEK 110A, 1988, National
Concrete Masonry Association, 2302
Horsepen Road, Herndon, Virginia
22070.

PUBLICATION #M880306
Copyright © 1988, The Aberdeen Group
All rights reserved