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Can I use a 5 gallon bucket with the bottom cut out for a footing form?
I have lots of 5 gallon buckets around the house, can I cut out the bottom and remove the bail and use it as a form instead of buying sonotube?
10 Answers
- pucman1961Lv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
As long as the it goes below the frost line. You did not state what this for . Any time I put in posts for a fence I just used sank a hole deep enough and put in the cement in around the post below the frost line. If you don't put in deep enough the ice in the ground will shift the post. I live southern Ontario so the ground freezes a 6 inches down without a good snow cover. I sank my holes down at least 3 feet down and then added the cement. This way I prevented any shifting of the posts
- Anonymous8 years ago
It could be used as a form for the footing cap... but not the footing itself. Anything that's not dug into well-packed, existing soil is not really functional as the actual foundation. But if it's just used to get the wood framing structure up off the dirt a ways above the top of the actual pad footing, then sure, it should work fine. It won't just slip off like a bucket on a sand castle, though. It's going to take some prying.
- 8 years ago
Sure, permits or not. It will work as a form.
But a 5 gallon bucket is tapered so use it upside down so you can remove it.
- GawdLv 58 years ago
you can cut the bucket with a grinder(similar to taking off a cast)
cut 2 sides of the bucket so it comes apart in 2 halves
(if you have a whole bunch already
i would presume you can get some more if ever needed again)
Source(s): if its for deck support you can cut small notches in a cross(+ shape)you make this by pushing pieces of 2x6 into the concrete after you fill it( dont fill it all the way or it will over flow from the dispersement) on top(before it dries completely to have a place to hold the side rails unless it will be lower than the deck then you could place a piece of 4x4 in the centre about 5 - 6 inches down from the top to hold the posts that will hold the rails this will prevent it from slipping off the form(from many years of use) - XTXLv 78 years ago
=== the 5-gAL BUCKET is tapered and if that is not a problem to your footing form plan it does sound to me to be a very solid form == and it is reusable == you are not telling us what the use of these concrete cylinders are you going to use them as a base for a deck OR what ??? once the concrete dries in these cylinder forms you could have trouble removing the concrete == just try one or two and see the result ...
- ?Lv 78 years ago
It depends on what you're doing and if you're doing it with permits. If it's just a backyard project, no permits you could do it. I'd suggest using some mold release and using the bucket upside down to make sure you can get it off.
Source(s): build stuff - Anonymous8 years ago
you can, I would suggest that you grease up the entire inside with grease so that the bucket can be removed after it has cured enough
- ?Lv 45 years ago
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- Irv SLv 78 years ago
Sure, why not?
You do need to be sure the length is adequate for the footing depth required. though.
