Instructions for Pouring Concrete Slab

A concrete slab can make a nice backyard patio or an area for your teenager to shoot the basketball. Pouring a concrete slab is one of those home projects that most people hire a professional to do. But with a few instructions, the average handyman can tackle the job.

Build the Form

Anytime you pour concrete, you need a form or border for the concrete to take shape. You will need to do some digging so that the concrete slab will be level with the ground when you pour it. You want the concrete slab to be about the width of a 2X4, so dig about 3 ½ to 4 inches deep.

You do not need to lay a subfloor for walks, patios and other common do-it-yourself concrete slab projects. The concrete can be poured right over the dirt. Use some temporary 2X4s to make the form, and lay them on the outside edges of the border you have dug. You want to make the frame as strong as you can because concrete is very heavy, and you want it to stay.

A level can help you to achieve the proper slope of the form. The concrete slab should slope down about half an inch and away from buildings or structures to allow water to run off.

Pour the Concrete

Spray the form where the concrete will be poured lightly with a hose. Pour the concrete into the formed area and try to compact it. You can use a tamper or walk around on it with rubber boots. Check that it is compacted around the border. Use a 2X4 with a straight edge to make the concrete level by working it in a sawing motion across the concrete. After the concrete is about set, use a plank to groove out contraction joints, which will let the concrete contract and expand in extreme weather. Cut out the contraction joints about every 4 to 6 feet.

Finish the Concrete

Use a float and a trowel to give a smooth finish to the concrete. It should be smoothed out with the first rubbing of the float. The trowel will provide the final touch. Use a steel trowel and move it around in a circular motion to create a swirled look. Use the wood float rather than the trowel while the concrete is still a little damp if you want the concrete more heavily swirled. Drag a softer brush across the concrete when it is still half wet to produce some soft parallel lines. Use the trowel on the concrete when it is almost dry to produce lines that are lightly textured. Use a broom to produce some artistic patterns. It creates a rough finish that makes the concrete safer to walk on when it is wet. Check that the pattern you select will not cause standing water on the concrete, which is why concrete often cracks. Add some colorant to the concrete if you would like to make it look a little different.

References

• BuildEasy
• Concrete Secrets
• ICanFixUpMyHome.com

Resources

• Concrete Supply Co.
• ConcreteNetwork.com