How to Lay Concrete for a Dog Kennel

Laying concrete for a dog kennel is no different than laying concrete for any other project. This is a smaller project than most, so you may be able to mix the concrete by hand or rent a small concrete mixer from a big-box home and garden store or an equipment rental company. Some areas also rent a concrete mixer with the cement already mixed in the mixer. Contact a local concrete distributor for premixed cement.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Concrete
• 2-by-4 inch boards
• Cement trowel

1. Measure and mark the area for the kennel. The two short ends (if making a rectangular-shaped kennel) should be the same measurement, and the two long ends should be the same measurement. In addition, both diagonal measurements should be the same to make it square.

2. Dig out the measured area to 4 inches deep. Make the dugout area 4 inches wider than the actual measurement of the concrete slab to make room for the form to hold the concrete. Line the sides of the dugout area with 2-by-4 inch boards to create the form. Make sure the tops of the boards are level all the way around.

3. Wedge re-bar into the form if the pad is larger than a few feet by a few feet. The re-bar will help keep the cement from cracking. Wedge it down so that it's in the center of the 2-by-4 inch boards.

4. Pour the cement into the form. Smooth it out with the cement trowels. Once smooth, drag a 2-by-4 inch board across the top of the cement to level it out. Check for levelness by placing a level on the 2-by-4 inch board. Adjust the wet cement where necessary. Allow the cement to set as instructed by the cement manufacturer. Once it's set, remove the forms.

5. Mist the cement every four or five hours if the day is hot and dry. This will help keep the cement from drying out too fast. Fast-drying cement will crack and ruin the pad.