Pouring concrete is on the cusp of what many do-it-yourselfers will tackle, but with the right preparations and knowledge you can really build something worthwhile. It’s not an overly difficult project, especially when you enlist a handful of friends to help. This article covers site selection, digging concerns, tools, materials and techniques we used to pour an 8′ x 12′ slab for a new shed.

Pouring a shed pad is a great solution for sheds that will be built or delivered onto relatively level ground. For installations on sloped ground, you’ll need to get more creative with a shed foundation designed for slopes and hills. This alternative method for supporting a shed uses post-and-beam construction over poured concrete footers to achieve a level surface for the shed.

Preparation Steps

To achieve a successful pour, there are some preparations that need to take place. Make sure the pad is located in a convenient place, unobstructed by trees or rocks. Do yourself a favor and avoid big slopes that will require lots of digging and more concrete.

Prep Step 1: Locate Underground Lines

After you choose a location, you need to have any underground lines located. In Maryland, we call Miss Utility, but every state will have a similar resource. These services are free, required by law and very simple to use. Call at least 48 hours prior to the start of your project, and they will come out and mark any buried power, communication, gas and water lines. Click here to learn more about digging guidelines, and what the different colors means. Our shed was positioned in a place with no underground lines. That’s why you don’t see anything marked in our pictures.

Prep Step 2: Permits and HOA Rules

It’s important to get the OK from any homeowners association, and, if necessary, obtain a permit. We went about getting approval from the HOA architectural committee and the adjacent neighbors. In our county, an 8′ x 12′ shed does not require a permit. Check local code to make sure you comply.

Prep Step 3: Plan for the Right Weather

Having the right weather can make your concrete pour much easier. We waited for spring to arrive and ground temperatures to rise well above freezing before starting. Concrete can be successfully poured in colder temperatures but you need to use warm water and insulated blankets to ensure the concrete cures properly. We actually had ideal, 70° days and no rain for the entire week.

Tools and Materials

Here are the tools and materials we used to complete this project:

• Tape measure
• 4′ level
• Laser distance measure (pictured below)
• Spray paint (for marking the ground)
• Shovels, garden rake, garden hoe, loppers, water hose, string
• 2′ x 6′ lumber, wooden stakes, screed board, rebar, rebar ties, double-headed nails
• Gravel,
• Concrete (we used Quickrete no. 1006 — see below)
• Concrete mixer
• Handsaw, trowel

For this project, we used QUIKRETE® Crack-Resistant Concrete Mix (No. 1006). It’s a construction grade blend of portland cement, sand, gravel & special reinforcing fibers that reduce shrinkage cracks and improve impact resistance. Check out their full line of products to see which is right for your project. QUICKRETE also has a useful calculator to determine how many bags of concrete you’ll need. We wanted a 4″ x 12′ x 8′ slab and used about 55, 80 lb. bags.

Step 1: Mark the Location of the Shed

This shed will be placed on the property line and we used a laser distance measurer to ensure we had the right distance from the house. We didn’t want to accidentally end up on the utility easement or a neighbor’s property. Using a tape measure and spray paint, we marked off the location of the concrete pad.

Step 2: Dig Out the Foundation

At this point we should have taken a quick measurement of the slope of the ground. This is important because then you’ll know how deep you need to dig. We ended up shuffling the dirt around a bit more than necessary because we dug too deep in certain places. An easy way to find the slope is to put to stakes in the ground with a line between them. Level the line and measure the change in height from the line to the ground.

Regardless, we removed the top layer of earth to get down to more solid ground and ensure the top of our form would sit at least 1″ above ground. We dug deep enough to account for a few inches of gravel and to ensure the slab was 4″ thick. Dig an area bigger than the desired pad because you need room to set the form in place. The loppers came in handy for cutting tree roots and the garden hoe for cutting in the edges.

Step 3: Build the Concrete Form

You can purchase kits to make your concrete form, but we choose to stick build it from 2 x 6 boards. The goal was a 12′ x 8′ pad so we purchased two 12′ boards and two 10′ boards and cut them to size. Make sure you get good, straight lumber and keep in mind that the inside measurement is what matters. The form is removed after the concrete cures. Double-headed nails are not a requirement but they are very easy to pull out afterwards.

Step 4: Set the Form in Place and Level

We moved the form in place and began checking to make sure it was square. The easiest way to accomplish this is to measure the distance on the diagonal (from one corner to the opposite). It takes some back-and-forth to make sure they measure the same but this is very important. Next, we hammered a couple wooden stakes on the outside edge of each side of the form. Using the level as a guide, we hammered down or pulled up on the stakes to achieve level. This also takes some back and forth so go slow. Once everything is square and level, introduce a slight slope to allow water to run downhill.

Step 5: Install Gravel to Achieve Uniform 4″ Depth

Gravel is useful for areas with poor drainage because it allows water to run through without eroding the soil. We put down a couple inches of all-purpose gravel being mindful to maintain the 4″ minimum concrete depth.

Step 6: Install Reinforcing Bar

Reinforcing bar (rebar) are ribbed steel bars used to provide tensile strength to concrete. We placed several bars, reaching into each corner and attached to each other with ties.

Step 7: Mist the Gravel and Rebar with Water

Concrete gains strength through the chemical process of hydration as water combines with the Portland cement. There’s a fine balance because you don’t want too much water or too little. Before pouring the concrete, we misted the form and gravel with a hose. You don’t want water to pool together but everything should be wet. Periodically repeat the process as needed.

Step 8: Mix and Pour Concrete

We rented a mixer from Big Orange. It claimed to be able to mix four 80 lb. bags at the same time but we cut it back to two bags to prevent any spills. You can measure out the water and slowly add it being careful not to add too much. We choose to use the hose and slowly add water till it was a mash potato consistency. The mixer was worthwhile because it eliminated un-mixed pockets of concrete and helped us work faster.

As we dumped each batch, two people would use a shovel and garden rack to spread the concrete throughout the form and into the corners. We mixed a lot of concrete till the form was filled just above the brim.

Step 9: Cut Temporary Stakes Level

Use a handsaw to cut the temporary stakes level with the surface of the frame.

Step 10: Use a Screed Board to Level the Surface

Next, we cut all the wooden stakes so that they didn’t extend over the top of the form. We used a 12′ screed board to strike off the concrete level with the top of our form, making several passes. We worked in a “sawing” fashion, filling in low areas as we progressed from one side to the other.

Step 11: Finish and Edge and the Concrete

Our pad is for a shed so we didn’t much care what the surface looked like after it cured. If you’re pouring a stoop, steps or anything else that will be visible, consider using a trowel, float or brush to finish the surface. A brush finish provides texture and is ideal for steps or other areas that will be slippery when wet. A trowel / concrete float finish is usually applied to interior floors. Troweling takes place after the surface moisture has evaporated, and the concrete has lost its sheen. You can also use a bevel tool to create a clean, professional edge. After the concrete has begun to solidify, run the bevel tool around the perimeter.

Step 12: Ensure Proper Curing by Keeping the Concrete Moist

Properly cured concrete is much stronger, and will have a longer lifespan. We mentioned earlier that it’s important to prevent concrete from drying too quickly as that results in a poor bond. There are a couple different methods for curing concrete, and we choose to periodically mist the slab with water over the next few days. Leaving the form in place is another helpful measure for retaining moisture. We were fortunate to have moderate weather for the entire week following.

Final Pictures