How to Pour a Concrete Slab: A Step-by-Step DIY Guide
Forms, sub-base, reinforcement, screeding, finishing, curing — exactly how a 10x10 DIY slab goes from dirt to done.
Pouring a 10x10 slab is one of the most satisfying weekend projects in homeownership. Here's the exact playbook.
1. Prep the subgrade
Excavate 8". Add 4" of crushed gravel. Compact with a plate tamper — twice.
2. Build forms
2x4 lumber, staked tight every 3 feet. Slope away from buildings at 1/4" per foot for drainage.
3. Place reinforcement
6x6 W2.9 wire mesh suspended on chairs in the middle of the slab thickness — not lying on the dirt.
4. Order or mix concrete
1.4 yd³ from a ready-mix truck for a 10x10 at 4" thick (includes 10% waste).
5. Pour and screed
Pour from the far end. Drag a 2x4 across the forms in a zigzag, sawing motion.
6. Bull-float, edge, groove, broom-finish
Once bleed water disappears, float, edge, cut control joints at 1/4 the depth, then broom for traction.
7. Cure for 7 days
Cover with plastic, keep damp. No foot traffic for 24 hours, no vehicles for 7 days.
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