Build a Concrete Pad Outside Your Front Door

If concrete work sounds intimidating, start with a simple project such as a small porch or patio.

Problem: The area outside your door gets muddy when it rains.
 
Solution: You can build a concrete pad outside your door. Although concrete work can seem intimidating, it's really fairly simple. The same principles used on small projects also apply to larger projects.

Equipment list:
Standard carpentry tools such as hammer, nails, screwdrivers and screws
Rake
Mattock
Hoe
Shovels
Pointed trowel
Edging tool
Wooden floats
Wire snips
Leather work gloves
Wooden stakes for layout and form work
2 X 4 boards for the frame
Pre-mixed concrete (just add water)
Reinforcing wire
Asphalt-impregnated fiber board (isolation board)

• One key to successful concrete work is preparation. Be sure to have all your tools and materials on hand before you begin.
• Concrete work can be physically demanding, so get some friends to help you.

Prepare the area for the concrete pad

1. After you determine the layout, mark it by driving stakes along the edges and stretching strings between the stakes.
2. Remove the sod and soil in the area where the pad will be placed. Remove the soil to an even depth of about 6 or 7 inches.
3. Pour in about 5 inches of gravel to form a sub base, then tamp the gravel down about one inch. You can rent a tamping tool from an equipment rental store or use a homemade tamp. Power tamps are available for larger projects. The sub base will allow water to drain away from the concrete and will provide a stable base.
4. Cut the 2 X 4 boards to size to create the form for the concrete pad.
5. Place the longest 2 X 4 on its edge under the appropriate string.
6. Drive a stake behind the 2 X 4 for support, and secure it with all-purpose screws.
7. Position the side boards in the same manner, and screw the corners together for added support.
8. Install isolation board along the wall of the house. This will provide a buffer so that if the concrete pad moves slightly, it will not affect the house.
9. Cut the reinforcing wire to size and lay it in place. Place the wire on top of some rocks so that it is raised slightly above the sub base.

Begin mixing the concrete

1. For small jobs, you can use bags of pre-mixed concrete. Dump one bag of mix into a wheelbarrow.
2. Slowly add water to the deep part of the wheelbarrow.
3. Use a hoe to mix the concrete with the water. Mix it until it has the consistency of oatmeal.

Pour the concrete

1. Pour the concrete into the form, one wheelbarrow load at a time, and use the hoe to smooth it out.
2. Slide a trowel between the concrete and the form boards. As you slide the trowel along the edge, tap the boards with a hammer to release any air pockets, which could weaken the edges.
3. Place a long board on top of the form, and work it back and forth to be sure the concrete is level and flush with the top of the form. This process is known as screeding.
4. After screeding, smooth the concrete with the wooden floats. Use an arcing motion and apply light pressure to avoid gouging the concrete.
5. After the concrete begins to get firm, drag a broom across the top in straight lines. This creates what is known as a broom finish, which provides a texture that won't be slippery.
6. Use an edging tool around the edges along the form boards to provide a more rounded, finished look.
7. Place a plastic sheet over the concrete and allow it to cure for three days.
8. Remove the plastic sheeting and form boards. Then back-fill any voids with dirt.