Pouring a concrete slab yourself can be a big money-saver or big mistake. We show you the best techniques and tools so you get concrete forms right the first time.

Pouring Concrete Walls and Slab

Tools Needed

• Circular Saw

• Hammer

• Level

• Pry bar

• Safety glasses

• Tape measure

Materials Needed

• Rebar

• Anchor bolts

• Concrete

• Forming lumber

• Packable fill

Step 1

Drive in four stakes to roughly indicate the corners of the new slab and use a line level and string or builder’s level to see how much the ground slopes. Flattening a sloped site means moving tons of soil.

You can build up the low side or dig the high side into the slope and add a low retaining wall to hold back the soil. Set and level one side.

Step 2

Stake and Brace the side form to absorb the shock and make nailing easier, hold a sledgehammer behind stakes and form boards as you nail.

Stretch a mason’s line just above the top edge of the 2X12. Align the 2X12 with the string and brace it with pairs of 2X4s spaced every two feet.

Fill and level. Spread and tamp three inch layers of granular fill to within five inches of the top of the forms. This will help concrete forming. Stretch a string across the op of the forms and measure down to the ground. Do this in three or four spots and average the results.

Step 3

Pour and level concrete. Drag a straight 2X4 (screed board) across the top of the concrete forms to level the concrete. Make multiple passes if needed to create a flat, evenly filled area.

Step 4

Round off slab edges. Round the edges of the slab with an edging tool after any surface water disappears. Work the edger until the edge is smooth.

• If the edger sinks in and leaves a track that’s more than 1/8 inch deep, wait for the slab to harden slightly before proceeding.

Step 5

Smooth with trowels. Hand floating removes imperfections and pushes pebbles below the surface.

Step 6

Let it harden and remove forms. Keep concrete moist after it’s poured so it will cure slowly and develop maximum strength.

• The easiest way to ensure proper curing is to spray the finished concrete with curing compound.

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