Concrete is undoubtedly the hardiest material after stone and therefore is used widely in masonry. Be it a patio or a driveway, concrete slabs provide durable and attractive alternative to grovel. Having a concrete slab built can be quite expensive.
Its hardness is only second to stone, making it very useful for masonry jobs. Let us have a look at how you can build concrete slabs on your own with concrete pouring techniques.
Make sure you have a mold ready before you start with the concrete mixture. Such molds are generally made of wood and they need to be well braced. This will enable them to endure the pressure created by the weight of the concrete mixture.
Using crushed stones and a steel wire mesh, a bed is created for the mixture to be poured into. This makes the concrete sludge to be stronger once it solidifies, and improves its longevity. Permanent wooden frames can also be used as the mold for the mixture to be poured into. You should start with the concrete mixture only after the mold is complete.
You can either make your own concrete mixture, or avail a readymade concrete mixture powder from the market. Readymade mixtures are costlier but very easy to use. However, you can easily create your own mixture and save a lot of money.
An ideal mixture contains sand and cement making up for 2/3rds of the final mixture. Add water in the mixture machine and then the dry mixture powder. Switched the machine on at a correct speed to mix the contents properly, and then pour it into the mold. Make sure the slabs surface is even after it has been poured into the mold using a tool like a trowel or a float.
Now you have to make contraction joints with the help of straight planks. These joints will resist cracks on the concrete slabs when it expands due to heat. You can make various attractive designs on the concrete slabs with the help of a broom. Be as creative as you can. The designs will also make the slab less slippery during wet seasons. This is how to pour concrete in a wooden mold and build a slab.