How to Level a Poured Concrete Slab

Scrub the entire slab with a power washer and scrub brush. Use a mild detergent or concrete stain remover if needed. Dislodge embedded debris and scuff the surface with a wire brush. Continue to hose the surface until you don't see any dirt.

Use a putty knife to fill any small cracks in the concrete with epoxy or a vinyl patching compound for wider cracks.

Arrange form boards around the edges of the concrete. The top of the form marks where the new surface of the concrete will harden. For instance, if the existing slab is 2 inches from the ground, use 2-by-4-inch boards to raise it 2 more inches.

Drill the boards together at the ends. Hammer 1-by-3-inch stakes every 3 feet along the form boards to brace them.

Mix concrete resurfacing compound in a wheelbarrow if you are raising the surface by less than ½ inch. For thicker layers, mix a batch of concrete.

Hose the slab until it is saturated to prevent the old concrete from absorbing the moisture from the new concrete, weakening it.

Brush the compound or concrete over the surface until the form is filled and level the mixture with a trowel. Drag a 2-by-4 over the surface until it is level and smooth.

Cover the slab with wet canvas or burlap to cure the new concrete slowly for two days.