Concrete - Pouring a Concrete Pad

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A concrete pad provides a stable surface.

Pouring a Concrete Pad

Skill Level: Intermediate

High traffic areas around the grill, in front of the doghouseand the trash collection spot are usually bare and muddy.Pour a concrete pad to stop the mud and save yourself thetrouble of trying to grow grass in these barren areas. Lowe'sis happy to provide this information as a service to you.

Article Content

Tools & MaterialsSelect the Type of MixFigure How Much Concrete You NeedPrepare the SitePour the ConcreteCure and Seal the Pad

Tools & Materials

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Tools

Shovel

3 lb. sledge hammer

Tape measure

Tamper

Level

Line level

Claw hammer

Hoe

Wheelbarrow

Hand float

Bull float (For a large pad)

Edging tool

Grooving tool

Street broom

Materials

Forming boards

2x4 long enough to screed the pad

Stakes

Mason's cord

Concrete

Gravel

Fine sand

6 mil plastic

Wire remesh (if you don't use fiber-reinforced

concrete)

Concrete sealer

Select the Type of Mix

There are many types of premixed masonry products available. Choosing onecan be a confusing task. To simplify the selection process, narrow the field tothree basic mixes.

Regular concrete mix is a mixture of sand, gravel, and Portland


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SAFETY NOTE:Always wear a dust mask and goggleswhen working with dry concrete mix.The chemicals in wet concrete may

cause burns or skin irritation. So, alwayswear gloves, boots and goggles to avoid skin contact with wet concrete. Always

read and follow the manufacturer's safetyprecautions.

Concrete pad site preparation

Skewed level bubble

cement. Regular mix should be used in conjunction with wireremesh. Remesh adds stability to the concrete and helps ensure thepad doesn't develop large cracks. Regular mix works best when it'spoured in warm weather.

High early strength concrete mix is best for cold weather pours. High early strength mixes have the same ingredients as regularmixes and an additive that shortens the setup time for the concrete.The shortened setup time helps the concrete cure before it canfreeze in cold conditions. High early strength concrete alsorequires remesh.

Fiber-reinforced mixes have the same ingredients as regular mix and synthetic fibers that help strengthen theconcrete's bond. Fiber-reinforced concrete can be poured without using wire remesh.

Compare the properties of each mix to your needs and choose the one that suits your application best.

Figure How Much Concrete You Need

To determine how much concrete you need, use our concrete calculator. Keep in mind that hand mixing concrete is timeconsuming and labor intensive. If you need more than 1/2 cubic yard, you may want to order the concrete premixed in atruck.

Prepare the Site

Determine the best location for the pad. Try tochoose a location that is already level to reducethe need for digging.

Mark the corners for the pad withstakes. Use the 3,4,5 method to check the stakes for square. Set the stakes 6" back from each corner. Dig out thearea inside the stakes 6" deep. Mostconcrete pads are 4" deep; digging to 6" gives you enough room to lay agood base for the pad.

1.

Use a tamper to compact the bottomof the hole. Fill in 2" of the bottom ofthe hole with gravel and fine sand. Compact the gravel and fine sand witha tamper.

2.

To promote water run-off, the pad needs a slight slope. One-quarter inch ofdrop per foot of length is usually sufficient. Determine which direction youwant the water to drain, then stake and nail the first forming board on thehigh side of the pad. The stakes should be on the outside of the form to helpsteady the forming boards. Check the forming board to ensure that it is levelfrom end to end. Install the second forming board at the low side of the pad.Use a line level to check for level between the first and second boards. Thebubble in the level should read slightly toward the high side of the pad.Adjust the boards as needed. Stake and nail the last two forming boards.Backfill behind the boards with soil removed from the hole so they don'tdeflect (move) when the concrete is poured.

3.

Cover the bottom of the hole with 6 mil plastic. The plastic serves as a vapor barrier and helps prolong the life ofthe pad.

4.


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Screeding the pad

Edger Groover

If you aren't using fiber-reinforced concrete, cut and fit wire remesh into the form. Place the remesh on small blocksso that it rests at half the height of the pad.

5.

Pour the Concrete

If you liked making mud pies, you're going to love pouring concrete. Have all yourtools ready before you start mixing the first batch.

Mix the concrete according to the manufacturer's instructions.1.

Coat the insides of the forming boards lightly with cooking oil. The oilkeeps the concrete from bonding to the boards and simplifies removing theforming boards later. Fill the form with wet concrete. Be sure to work theconcrete into the corners.

2.

Screed the concrete with a 2x4 long enough to reach across the pad. Restthe 2x4 on top of the forming boards and work it back and forth in a sawingmotion. As you work the board back and forth, pull it from one end of thepad to the other. Make several passes with the screed board to even out thepad and knock down the high spots. Fill any low spots with fresh concreteand screed the pad until the top is flush with the form.

3.

While the concrete is still wet, use a wooden or metal float to smooth the pad. Move the float in a semicircularmotion along the top of the pad. Hold the leading edge of the float slightly above the concrete to avoid gouging thesurface. As you float the surface, the gravel is forced down and excess water and air pockets rise to the top.Continue floating until the slab is smooth.

4.

After the concrete begins to set, use an edging tool along the sides of the pad. The edging tool breaks the pad loosefrom the form and compacts the sides of the pad. For large pads, use a grooving tool every 6' to 8' to make controljoints in the pad.

5.

Surface the pad. One of the most popular and simplest surfaces for concrete is the broom finish. Dampen thebristles of an ordinary street broom and drag it lightly across the pad's entire surface. The broom makes small ridgesin the concrete and provides traction to the surface of the pad.

6.

Cure and Seal the Pad


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Proper curing and sealing promotes high strength and long life in the concrete. Follow these steps to protect your pad:

Cover the pad with plastic for forty-eight hours to prevent it from flash drying on top.1.

Uncover the pad and remove the forming boards. Allow the pad to continue curing according to the manufacturer'sinstructions.

2.

After the pad cures, apply concrete sealer to protect it.3.

Was this information helpful? Please let us know your do-it-yourself experiences. We'd love to hear from you!

These How-To's are provided as a service from Lowe's, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse of How-To information for the World Wide Web. The information in Lowe's "How-To" clinics is intended to simplify jobs around the house. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes and local regulations change; therefore, Lowe's assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures. Please read our terms of use.

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Concrete - Pouring a Concrete Pad