Ok, here comes the stupid footer question of the month. I've been researching info on constructing a garage and know that I have to have a footer below the frost line, which in my neck of the woods is 32 inches, my question is exactly WHAT has to be below that line. Does the entire footer need to be below as in a 8 inch thick footer has the top of the footer at
32 inches or does the footer just have to sit or have its bottom at the frost line.I originally thought it was the first way but have since seen some inferences that it might be the second way. I want to do this correctly but if I can start the footer 8 inches higher I save on hand digging 16 x 8 inches of dirt and save on 8 x 8 inches of concrete for the stem wall thus lightening the load on my wallet and back.
Bill