Steps for Making a Patio Slab
- 1). Draw the borders that you want for the patio slab with landscaping paint, including 2 extra inches on every side for the form boards.
- 2). Dig out 8 inches of soil from the patio site. If you build the patio by a house, grade the floor 1 inch deeper for every 4-foot distance from the house so rainwater drains in the correct direction. Make three passes over the soil with a plate compactor machine to squeeze out air pockets, stabilizing the soil.
- 3). Assemble 2-by-6-inch form boards against the walls of the expanse, placing them on their sides. Stack them in two layers to cover the 8-inch deep interior walls fully. Brace the forms with 1-by-4-inch stakes around the outer corners and sides.
- 4). Dump ¾-inch aggregate in the patio site, and spread it evenly over the soil. Compact the aggregate until it packs into a hard surface. Lay wire mesh across the surface to reinforce the concrete.
- 5). Pour wet concrete into the form, beginning at the side nearest the house and working downward. Shift the concrete with a hoe to even it out and fill the form's corners.
- 6). Smooth the concrete surface with a trowel or floater board. Drag a clean straight edge back and forth to smooth hard-to-reach spots.
- 7). Drape wet burlap or canvas over the top of the concrete and keep it wet while the concrete cures for one week.
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