How to Lay a Concrete Base

Erecting the Form

• 1

  Mark the area for the concrete base or pad with marking paint. Extend the marks out by 3 to 6 inches to accommodate the space necessary for the form.

• 2

  Dig out the marked area to a uniform depth of 6 inches. Compact the ground of the hole with a tamper, which is a long metal pole with a flat base and two handles on the side, or a mechanical tamper available for rent from most hardware stores.

• 3

  Spread landscape fabric over the base of the hole including the sides of the hole and overlapping edges by 3 inches.

• 4

  Arrange 2-inch-by-6-inch planks around the perimeter of the hole in a square or rectangular shape. Stand the 6-inch edges vertically. Drive 3-inch nails through the sides of corner planks into the ends of adjoining planks to make the 90-degree corners. Drive nails through the tops of the planks at an angle into the ends of adjoining planks to create a straight line with multiple boards.

• 5

  Hammer ground stakes with a mallet spaced every 2 feet along the external edge of the form with an additional stake placed at each junction between boards. Lower the head of the stake so it is flush with the top of the form or slightly below the top.

• 6

  Place a level on top of the form. Elevate or lower the level as needed to obtain a level structure for side-to-side measurements and front-to-back. Hammer 3-inch nails through the ground stakes into the form to lock in the position. Leave the head of the nail extruding slightly from the ground stake for easier removal.

Pouring the Concrete

• 7

  Pour a 1-inch layer of crushed gravel into the base of the hole. Compact the gravel with a tamper. Verify the depth of the hole with the gravel bed is at 5 inches. Add or remove gravel as needed.

• 8

  Mix and pour concrete into the form until the form is half full. Lay out lengths of steel rebar in a grid manner creating 2-foot square grids.

• 9

  Fill the remainder of the hole with concrete. Drag a spare wood plank across the top of the form to level the concrete to the top and to remove excess material. Smooth the concrete over with a float.

• 10

  Finish the concrete with a trowel for a smooth finish once the concrete takes on a dull, grey appearance and the surface water evaporates. Pull the bristles of a push broom across the surface of the concrete to create small grooves for a skid-resistant finish.

• 11

  Cover the concrete pad with plastic for 7 days. Remove the concrete form and plastic.