Often asked: How To Lay A Concrete Floor?

How deep does a concrete floor need to be?

Standard concrete floor slab thickness in residential construction is 4 inches. Five to six inches is recommended if the concrete will receive occasional heavy loads, such as motor homes or garbage trucks. To prepare the base, cut the ground level to the proper depth to allow for the slab thickness.

How do you prepare ground for concrete?

Preparation is the most important aspect of pouring a concrete slab.

1. Dig the ground down to the proper depth.
2. Smooth out the ground with the flat side of a rake so that you have a level surface.
3. Tamp the ground with a hand tamper or mechanical tamper.
4. Pour 2 inches of small, rounded gravel for additional drainage needs.

Can you pour concrete directly on dirt?

Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.

Can I lay concrete yourself?

Placing concrete is somewhat labor intensive, so definitely get some day help. Probably you + 3 guys would knock it out in a few hours. For tools: rakes, trowels, shovels and a 10-ft long 2×4 as straight as you can find to straightedge the concrete as you’re finishing it.

Should you put plastic under concrete?

Recently, though, research has shown that the old traditional layer of 6-mil Visqueen (polyethylene plastic) under the slab is seldom effective for two main reasons: Although it may seem water-tight, this grade of material allows a lot of water vapor to pass through.

Is gravel needed under concrete?

Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. Gravel is especially important in clay soil because it doesn’t drain well, which results in water pooling under the concrete slab and slowly eroding the soil as it finally drains.

What is the best base for concrete?

Most concrete contractors want a mix of coarse and fine aggregate to create a compactable base that is going to be safe for settlement and drainage. Crusher run (a mix of crushed stone and stone dust) is one of the best base materials for concrete flatwork.

Is sand a good base for concrete?

Pour concrete over a solid, well-drained base



of sand or gravel over clay and other poorly draining soils to provide even support.

Why do they put sand under concrete?

One reason it is used as a backfill or sub-grade material. As with all material, it has to be placed correctly and compacted properly. Sand needs to remain damp as well as other material before placement of the concrete.

Do you need rebar for 4 inch slab?

No, you do not need rebar for a 4–inch slab of concrete on grade. A 4–inch-thick slab cast on the ground and in permanent contact with it will float and rebar is not required. Rebar is recommended on concrete measuring 5 – 6 inches thick.

Do I need rebar in a small concrete pad?

Rebar is not necessary for every concrete project. The general rule of thumb is that if you are pouring concrete that is more than 5 inches in depth, you are probably going to want to add in some rebar to help reinforce the entire structure.

Is it worth pouring your own concrete?

Pouring and finishing concrete is pretty easy. Getting it to look as good as a professional requires, well, a professional. However, you can get it to look very presentable, especially for a patio, all by yourself (and a couple of friends).

Can you pour a 2 inch concrete slab?

If done properly, new concrete can often be poured right over an existing slab. For this to be feasible, the contractor needs to pour at least 2 inches thick, use smaller aggregate, and incorporate reinforcement such as welded wire mesh or fiber mixed into the concrete.

How many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×20 slab?

A 60-pound bag yields. 017 cubic yards, and an 80-pound bag yields. 022 cubic yards. For a 10 x 10 slab, you would need 77 60-pound bags or 60 80-pound bags.