How To Pour Concrete | Northeast Pennsylvania

If you work with concrete, or are thinking about a career that involves working with concrete, then you have to know how to work quickly and precisely. Concrete can be a difficult material to work with, since you have pour concrete precisely and shape it before it dries. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to make a concrete surface, here are the basics to help you pour concrete perfectly.

STEP 1: SET THE FOUNDATION

First, clear your area of any debris until only exposed earth is showing. The soil beneath the concrete is called the subgrade, and it has to be compacted to provide stability to your concrete. After compacting your subgrade, you’ll add your subbase, which is comprised of either small or large stones. The large stones allow water to flow through easily. The small stones are more compactable but also more costly. Your subbase should be 4 to 8 inches deep, then compacted with a hand tamper or plate compactor.

STEP 2: PREPARE A FORM

A form is a wooden perimeter around the pouring site that is secured with special nails or screws. For perfectly finished concrete, you’ll need to make sure that the angles of your form are exact and that the forms have a slight slope to them to prevent water from pooling in the middle of the concrete.

STEP 3: LAY WIRE MESH

Insert a wire mesh or rebar over your subbase to add stability. This is especially important for load-bearing concrete, like driveways. Adding a wire mesh also helps to prevent cracks from forming over time.

STEP 4: MIX AND POUR CONCRETE

To make your concrete, mix together Portland cement, sand, and aggregate at a ratio of 1:2:4. Then, add just enough water to the mixture to bind all the elements. After the concrete is mixed, pour it into your form until the high point is reached. You and others will spread out the concrete to fill every part of the form.

STEP 5: SMOOTH IT OUT

Smoothing out the surface of your concrete takes several steps. First, move a screeding tool along the form to flatten out the wet concrete. Next, you’ll use a bull float to press down on the wet cement to compact it. This also helps the cream, or gravel-free concrete, to float to the surface. Placing a straight board at a right angle across the concrete surface, use a groover to make straight lines in the concrete every five to six feet. These lines will help the concrete to resist cracking. Finally, take a broom and gently sweep it over the surface of the concrete. This makes the surface less smooth, which helps to improve traction.

STEP 6: FINISHING TOUCHES

After your concrete is totally dry, you’ll will need to cure and seal it so that it will last longer. Simply paint the surface with a concrete sealant, then allow to cure for 28 days. The sealant helps the concrete to cure as well as prevents cracks and discoloration.

ABOUT A+ ENTERPRISES

A+ Enterprises is dedicated to delivering quality products, displaying professionalism within the firm, seeking new opportunities for expansion and profitability, and providing an environment for individual success. If you have a commercial or residential construction project that you need taken care of, please contact Northeast Pennsylvania’s highest rated site-work contractor today by calling 570-373-9996 or filling out the form below. You can also follow A+ Enterprises on Facebook!

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July 22, 2020

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June 23, 2020

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May 6, 2021
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August 21, 2020

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May 27, 2019

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October 17, 2019
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August 11, 2020

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April 10, 2019

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August 8, 2019
Hard working guys got the job done in one day. I recently bought a foreclose property and have A+ Enterprises help do the clean up. Its a 3 bedroom house full of junk, and everything was gone at the end of the day. Image a house hoarders live in, 3 bedrooms, each with bed, dressers, night stand, TV and many other trash, you do not want to be in the room more than 1 minute. Kitchen full of dirty dishes, appliances and dining table with chairs. At the end of the day, whatever not bolted down was gone, including most of the nasty carpet. I will definitely use their service again. Great service and the hard working people.

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April 7, 2021

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February 23, 2020

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June 11, 2020
Top notch. I called and spoke with a Guy named Sal. Very friendly and excellent Customer Service, 100%. I was set up in minutes. The pricing was great. Delivered it next day. When it was time for pick up I advised that I would be working and not able to hear the door so just knock hard. I went out on my Lunch break wondering what the heck? And the Dumpster was gone. Great service. Great Price. I called about 6 Dumpster Rental places and of all of them, A+ Was definitely the best and Props to Sal. Great Service. Truly is A+

Baby Cakes
June 10, 2020

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March 26, 2019

A+ Enterprise . . .gave an accurate estimate. . .did a PROFESSIONAL job. . .the team was "on-time" completed the work on schedule. . . very easy to work with. . . Highly Recommend!

Wes Coates
January 22, 2020