- 1). Prepare the area and begin pouring. After all the preliminary steps have been taken and the specific pouring location is ready, lightly spray the entire pouring location with a garden hose or other watering utensil. When the entire area has been sprayed, you may begin pouring the concrete.
- 2). Make sure "the form" (the area where you've just poured the concrete) is completely filled. To ensure that every inch of the form is compressed, you can walk through the concrete with rubber boots or use a tamper for larger areas; a 2 by 4 will suffice for smaller areas.
- 3). Use a 2 by 4 or some sort of tool or board to level the concrete. Before leveling be certain that the concrete is thoroughly packed together. Level the concrete, going back & forth in a sawing motion across the whole area.
- 4). Make provision for the concrete to expand and contract during changes in temperature or other stresses by cutting "contraction or isolation joints." Use a 2 by 8 piece of wood to determine whether or not the concrete has set well. If the concret can support the wood all is going well. To make the contraction joints use a groover to make an incision (the cut should be approximately 1/4 of the slab's or concrete's thickness). Use the same piece of 2 by 8 wood to guide the groover. You can also use a saw to make the incision as well. If the area you're cutting is narrow (e.g. sidewalk), make the joint incisions at every 4 to 6 foot point. For larger areas make them 4 to 6 feet in every direction.
- 5). Get two beveled clapboards and coat the them with motor oil, insert a nail into the top of one of the boards and place them both horizontally into the concrete. Once the concrete is settling, remove the board with nail and allow the other one to remain. Doing this supplies a sufficient isolation joint for largely expanding areas.
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