The project is a new porch with a roof on the front of the house. I am pouring six concrete piers at 42″ deep (I am in Chicago).

I am trying to come up with a good form so that I can pour the footings and pier in one pour. I can’t get Bigfoot or Redibase in Chicago (unless I order and get them shipped – I need to do this today or over the weekend, so I got no time).

My current idea is to build a 2×12 footing form, cap it with plywood, cut a hole in the cap for a sonotube, cut slits in the bottom of the sonotube, bend down flaps of sonotube and screw them to the plywood cap. Then I’d fill the hole and pour. Any problems with this that I am missing? Or does anyone have a better way of doing this?

I would also appreciate any thoughts on the connection between the pier and the 6×6 posts. I want to keep the wood off of the concrete.

Thanks.