How to Lay a Domestic Concrete Floor

Lay a bed of gravel or crushed stone on the ground if you are pouring the concrete floor in an unfinished basement with a dirt floor. Level the gravel or crushed stone so it is at the same height throughout the area where the floor is going.

Hire a ready-mix truck to deliver the concrete. For a concrete floor that is room-sized or larger, it isn't reasonable to try to mix the concrete yourself.

Spread the concrete over the surface of the crushed stone. Make the slab at least 4 inches thick for stability. Make the surface roughly level with a shovel and rake.

Smooth the surface of the concrete after it has all been poured. Use a straight board to make passes back and forth across the surface of the concrete in a sawing motion. Repeat this process every two hours as the concrete cures.

Go over the surface of the concrete with a power trowel after it has become hard enough to walk on. A power trowel is a large machine that looks like a fan pointed at the floor. Its spinning blades give the concrete floor a smooth, polished and professional appearance.