4 key steps for laying a concrete slab

Whatever your next building project, chances are you are going to need to start with concrete. Making sure you have a solid foundation is essential for ensuring the successful and safe completion of any concrete construction, so make sure you follow these four handy tips.

1. Prepare your laying site.

The first thing you need to do, before even mixing your concrete, is prepare the site where you will be laying your slab. Pouring your concrete onto solid and well-drained ground is key for strength and stability down the line. Consider hiring an excavator from Kennards to make short work of digging out a suitable patch of land, and be sure to compact your site well with one of our rollers.

2. Build a form around your perimeter.

Now that your site is prepared, you will need a form around the exterior of where you are going to lay your concrete. Usually made of wood, a form provides the necessary support for maintaining the precise shape for your slab. To avoid mishaps and protect against unsightly leakage, be sure to gather the right tools for cutting and assembling your form. Depending on the area and depth of your slab, it may also be necessary to reinforce your form to keep the corner joints tight.

3. Get in the mix.

Once you've laid out your form, it's time to get down to business. Mixing the concrete is the first step, and for any reasonably sized project you will most likely need a mixer. Kennards has you covered with a range of mixers to suit any scale of project, so be sure pick one up. The secret to strong, maneuverable concrete lies in the amount of water added, with a drier mix resulting in a stronger, longer-lasting end result. Once your concrete is mixed and malleable, you're ready to begin pouring.

4. Good vibrations.

To add that last layer of strength to your freshly poured concrete, consider using a vibrating unit to disperse any troublesome air pockets. As concrete dries it tends to shrink and become more compact, and vibrating can aid in that process and increase the density of the final product. The less air in your slab, the less chance of cracking or crumbling down the line.

Whether you are planning a small garden tool shed or laying the foundation for a new house, your local Kennards Hire representative has the tools and advice you need. Make sure to speak to us before beginning your next project.