Pouring Your Own Concrete Patio? How To Avoid Problems With Site Preparation And Ensure Quality Results
If you're adding a patio to your home for the summer and you've decided to pour the concrete for yourself, take steps to avoid mistakes with your project. Pouring concrete requires attention to detail. The information provided below will help you avoid problems during the construction of your new concrete patio.
Start With a Good Base
When it comes to pouring concrete for a patio, you've got to start with a good base. Without a firm foundation, you may not get the results you want. In fact, problems with the base can cause the concrete to crack and collapse. To ensure a strong base, you need to make sure that you prepare the area correctly and account for moisture.
Prepare the Area
The first thing you'll want to do is dig down to the proper depth. It's never a good idea to pour concrete directly onto the surface of the soil. For maximum stability and durability, the concrete should sit several inches below the surface of the dirt and several inches above the surface.
Account for Moisture
If the area you've chosen for your patio is susceptible to water exposure, you'll want to account for moisture. The best way to ensure proper drainage and avoid moisture damage is to add a layer of gravel to the soil.
Take Care of Loose Soil
Once you've prepared the area and added the gravel, you'll want to make sure that there aren't any gaps in the soil. Gaps in the soil can cause your concrete to collapse, especially if there are significant spaces. To ensure a firm foundation, you'll need to tamp down the soil. You can rent a tamper from most home improvement stores. When tamping down the soil, you'll want to ensure even results across the area. To do that, you'll need to use a level. If you find areas that aren't level, add soil or gravel and then check again.
Create the Proper Form
After you've prepped the soil, you'll want to create the perfect form. The form will ensure that the concrete stays in place while it's drying and curing. When creating the concrete form, you'll need to ensure that it's completely straight. Like with the soil, you'll need to use a level to ensure proper results.
Choose the Best Concrete
Finally, if you're going to build a new patio, be sure to choose the right concrete. Using the wrong concrete could cause your patio to fail under the pressure. For maximum strength, you'll want to choose ready-mix concrete for your patio addition. Ready-mix concrete is designed for strength and durability.
If you're going to pour the concrete for your own patio, use the tips provided here to ensure proper site preparation. For questions or concerns, be sure to contact a company like Southport Concrete Corp near you.