Pouring a concrete slab is a labor-intensive job. It also requires some skill and good advice if you’ve never done it before. Before you pour the concrete, you need to prep the slab first. In this article, I’ll show you the basics from beginning to end and give you some inside tips to make your concrete slab-pouring job as easy as possible.
When you begin prepping a slab the fist thing you need to consider is the placement. Where is the best possible area? Is the ground level? Will water run onto the slab? All of these questions need to be addressed before you break ground. Rent a builders level from your local rental place before you begin. This will tell you how level the ground is, where the slopes lie, and any dips or mounds in the ground. Set up the level and have a friend go around the perimeter with the level as you check the height. A laser level is the preferred choice and can be worked solo.
Start from the highest area and place a stake or flag into the ground. This should be your corner. Measure the appropriate length and width of the slab. To ensure a square slab, measure from corner to corner. Adjust the stakes on each opposite corner until the measurement is the same. If you move one, you must move the opposite stake or flag the same distance. Once you are satisfied your corner-to-corner measurements are the same, double-check the lengths and widths to ensure your measurements are correct.
Now set up your batter boards. These are boards that are placed around each flag or stake. It will form a rough corner on each corner. Use the laser level to make the batter boards the same height as the highest part of your slab. Make a mark on each stake and transfer it to the batter boards using a level or the laser level. Attach the batter boards with a few duplex nails. Once this is done, you will need to redo the slabs measurements on the top of the batter boards. Measure each length and width accurately. Place a nail in the top of the batter boards. String a line along the perimeter attaching it to each nail. Now do a cross corner measurement as you did previously. Adjust the string and nails accordingly, until you have a square slab with the correct length and widths.
Now that this step has been completed, you can begin to place the form boards. Set the form boards flush with the strings. Drive stakes into the backside of the form boards and attach them with duplex nails. Use a sledgehammer to hold the form boards from bouncing. Continue around the perimeter of the slab holding each form to the strings height and sides.
Now grade the slab using a rake and shovel. Pull a string across the forms and measure down until you have reached the desired thickness of your slab. Use a long straight edge to grade the dirt evenly. Dig any footers and finish grading the slab. Place plastic down along the entire bottom of the slab. Place any steel into the footers as needed at this time. You are now ready to pour the concrete into the forms for your concrete slab.
