How to Form a Concrete Porch

If you want to add onto your home with a concrete porch, prior to pouring the "mud" or concrete, you'll need to set "forms." Concrete forms are no more than four 2-inch by 4-inch lumber beams that make a box into which wet concrete is poured. They are called "forms" because they form the edges of the concrete. All this project requires is some common hand tools and a little planning.

Rake
Shovel
1-inch by 2-inch stakes
Rubber mallet
String
Line level
2-inch by 4-inch lumber
Hammer
Nails

Instructions

- 1
  Start by excavating the grass and evening out the top soil surface. Use a shovel and dirt rake to excavate grass and leave the area where the concrete porch will be poured free of any grass or vegetation. Try to level the dirt surface using the shovel and rake.
- 2
  Drive four 1-inch by 2-inch stakes into the ground on the four corners of the pouring perimeter. Wrap string around one stake and run the string to the remaining three to form a box. Place a line level on the string and adjust until all four sides are level.
- 3
  Fasten 1-inch by 2-inch wood stakes to 2-inch by 4-inch lumber beams with a hammer and nails. The stakes should be perpendicular to the 2-inch by 4-inch lumber beams. Pound the stakes into the ground inside the string box with a hammer or rubber mallet. Then, connect all four 2-inch by 4-inch beams with a hammer and nails.
- 4
  Adjust the 2-inch by 4-inch "forms" until they are even with the level string. This ensures the concrete porch forms are level and make the concrete pour even. Once the forms are level, remove the string and stakes it was wrapped around. Wait for the concrete to arrive or mix it yourself and pour into the form box.

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