How to Pour a Concrete Patio

The first thing that needs to be done is to prep the area that will be the patio. Measure out the area outlining with stakes. Measure down from the bottom of your doorway 7 1/2" and make a mark on the siding. This will be the top of your patio. You will need 10" from that mark for gravel and concrete. If you have significantly more than that, you will have to add steps in 7 1/2" increments. This will be explained in a different how-to article. Once you have established your height, pound a stake into the ground at the height you just established.

Go to the edges of your patio and attach a string ling loop around one end and pull it across to the other parallel end so it goes over the stake buy the door you used to establish height. With both ends tightly attached, pound in at the same time as you helper until the line just touches your reference stake. Use the string level to adjust to level.

With your reference height set, nail one end of a 1x6 board to match your height. Have your helper nail the other end to a stake as you hold it. Next, do the same for the side perpendicular to the one you just did to establish a square corner. Measure 3' up one of the boards to make a mark and 4' up the other board to make a mark. The distance between the marks should be exactly 5'. Nail a board on top of one of the forms leaving the other end free to move until you are exactly at 5'. Then nail the other end to the perpendicular board forming a triangle.

Repeat this step on the opposite side. Once the form boards are attached on opposite sides and square corners are established, you can make sure the front and back measurements are the same and finish putting the forms together.

Now it is time to establish the pitch. Code requirements are 1/4" per foot. Use your level to determine this pitch. Your partner can adjust the form height as needed. Make sure the outside corner stake is pounded in before this step. Once the pitch is established, nail the form to the stake. Now all you have to do is keep the front forms level as you nail the forms to stakes. After the patio forms are in place, go back and place stakes every 2' to prevent buckling.

It is now time to add gravel. 3/4" or 7/8" clear stone should be used. The quarry or landscape company will estimate how much you need. Always get 1/2 ton more than what they recommend. make sure the measurements you give them are accurate.

Once you have all the gravel in between your forms, make sure you have about 3 1/2" to 4" from gravel to the top of the form. You now have to compact the gravel with a rented plate compactor. This will prevent settling. Make at least 2 passes and make sure that the gravel is spread evenly before compacting.

Now lay a few 2x4's about half the width of your patio. Use your string line to make sure the board sits exactly the same as your forms. Repeat this for the length of the patio.

You are finally ready to pour concrete! Call up you local concrete distributor and give them your measurements. They will bring out enough concrete for the job. Make sure you have a boat float, mag trowel, steel trowel, and edge trowel, and an 9' 2x4 before you order your concrete. Depending on how your yard is set up, you may need to wheel barrow the concrete to the back yard.

You will have the option of what kind of concrete you want based upon the finish you want. You should generally always get fiber-mesh concrete because of it's added strength.

As the truck pours the concrete, you will have to be quick and shovel and rake the concrete between the 2x4's as best you can. Use the 9' 2x4 to screed the concrete smooth. Basically you move the board back and forth as you pull across the top to make the concrete smooth. You just have to run the board on top of your reference boards and follow the string line on the house. Repeat for the areas you could not get always using 2 reference points to screed off of. When you are done pouring the concrete and have screeded it, pull the 2x4's you used as references in the middle of the patio out. Fill in the holes by tossing shovel fulls of concrete from outside the formed and poured patio. use the boat float to level out the concrete.

While one person cleans the concrete off the tools, the other should take the edge trowel and go around the entire perimeter of the patio. This will create a nice smooth edge. Once this is done, use the boat float to smooth out any areas that you see are high or low.

Once the concrete has cured about 20 minutes after you pour it, you should be able to give it it's finish. For this example I chose a broom finish. Simply drag the bristle broom across the patio in the direction of the pitch to make a broom type texture.

once the concrete has cured for about 12 hours, the concrete forms can be removed. You then should buy concrete sealer to protect against the concrete face flaking off.

You are now done! You now get to enjoy your patio.