How to make a pier foundation for a log cabin

This is how we did it:
Using piers for this foundation made it possible to use about 24 cubic yards of concrete, instead of about 45 cubic yards for a typical home, while still maintaining structural integrity. According to 2 engineers, the 1st layer of logs provides the strength that a footer would typically provide.

We used 5/8" - 3/4" plywood half sheets I found on craigslist- they were 4'x4' sheets. The guy I bought them from said they were used one time each to ship wheels to the GM plant. We used 3' square based truncated pyramidal piers as laid out on our plans, except for the 3 largest piers- those I made even larger- 5.5' square, and 5' tall.

Nailed the forms together with ringshank nails, then added 3 collars to each form.

Laid them all out in the foundation holes. buried them up to their necks with dirt, just in case. Had the cement truck fill the inner piers first, then come back the next day and fill the outer piers. It took three trucks of cement. It cost about $1200. Put a piece of rebar in each one while wet.

Waited two weeks and then un-buried the piers, peeled the plywood off. Found the piers were somewhat bumpy- didn't beat the concrete hard enough, so mixed up more cement and covered the faces of the piers. topped off with felt and pressure treated wood.

The logs are drilled and then set down on each piece of rebar. The rebar is bent over the top of the log to hold the log in place.

Music: https://www.bensound.com