Hand Digging Footings 

When you have finished planning and preparing it is time to jump right into the dirty work.  This will likely be the dirtiest and hardest manual work involved in your project.  You may want to consider using a gas powered mechanical auger or hiring someone to dig your footings for you (see below). 

But for any number of reasons you may have no choice but dig the holes by hand.  Take your time and invest in a post hole digger which will work better than a shovel to scoop out dirt.  You will need to dig and remove soil until you reach your necessary size and depth specified on your approved plans.  If you run into large rocks this can become a very strenuous process.  Using 6' a steel pry bar will help. When the holes are finished you will want to clean them out by removing any loose dirt and tamping down the base and sides so that they are solid. 

You may want to create a bell at the base; you can do this by expanding the bottom to the required size.  Once the holes are ready you will want to protect them from collapse until after you have had your footing inspection and can fill them in with concrete.  Depending on how you plan to finish your footings you may need to haul away the excess dirt.  Plan for this or you may end up killing a great deal of your grass.

Mechanized Excavation 

Most contractors use front end loaders equipped with a hydraulic auger to dig footings.  You can also rent a one or two person gas powered auger to save you considerable time and effort.  With these machines you can even dig through ice, snow, and frozen soil during the winter.  You will need to have yard access to drive the machine into position.  Fences and certain kinds of landscaping may make this impossible. If you are going to use a machine that you are not familiar with, make sure to read the operating instructions and take proper safety precautions to prevent an accident.  Be aware that driving and excavating through grass can cause yard damage.  To reduce this damage you may want to have a couple of helpers lay plywood under the vehicles tires or use a track unit.  Try to avoid driving on extremely wet yards and or up steep hills.  Even after using a mechanical auger you will still need to use a post hole digger or shovel to finish the job by cleaning out the holes and tamping down the bottom and sides. A solid base of soil will prevent the footings from sinking poured on loose, compactable soil 

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