When building, repairing, or upgrading your pool area, patio, sidewalk or driveway, concrete is often the material of choice. That is when I turn to my concrete slab professionals to help get the job done.
Concrete slab construction presents many variables that must be considered before a concrete pour begins. Because of concrete’s setting time, a slab pour requires efficient planning so that all of the elements required to place a good slab are done in time and done correctly. Some of the issues to consider include proper subgrade preparation for concrete slabs, calculating proper water-to-cement ratio in the concrete mix, placing control joints, allowing proper curing time, and much more.
Once we’ve poured the slab, as you see in the video, we smooth the surface with a wood float. Pushing and pulling the float across the wet concrete to smooth the surface thoroughly and to put a sheen of water on the top.
When the surface is smooth and even, we let the concrete stand — as little as 10 to 20 minutes in hot, windy weather, up to 4 to 5 hours in cool weather.
After we finish the surface, we’ll sometimes cover it with plastic sheet film and weight the plastic down. The concrete needs to “cure”.
Depending on what part of the country you are in, you can expect to pay somewhere between $2.50 and $3.50 a square foot for some concrete hardscape. A specific finish, color, curves etc. will all add to cost. Ask around; get a recommendation.
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