How to Pour a Concrete Pad

Concrete is hard to beat when it comes to versatility and durability. For smaller jobs, pouring your own is certainly something you can do without spending a lot of money. Host Rebecca Kolls, with some help, shows how to make a little pad of concrete, to use in front of a service door, under a spigot or to set your grill on.

Premixed concrete can be bought at any home center for only a few dollars. Refer to the chart on the bag to determine how much dry mix you will need for your project. For the step to Rebecca's utility door, the project took about four bags, for a total of $12.

Build a simple form with 2x4s to pour the concrete into and place it where you want your pad.

Besides a shovel, wheelbarrow and hoe, you also need a float, a still trowel and an edging tool, all of which can be picked up at a hardware store. Before mixing the concrete, prepare the site by covering it with three to four inches of No. 5 gravel. Mixing concrete is a workout, and it takes a little energy to bring the concrete to a good consistency. You'll know when the cement is ready when it packs when pushed with the hoe. If water streams out, then it is too wet and more dry mix needs to be added. If you push the aggregate in and the cement is too crumbly to pack, then more water needs to be added.

Screeding fills in any small holes and pushes out air bubbles.

Pour the concrete mixture into the waiting form. Rebecca equates this part with making a gelatin dessert. After the concrete is in the form and has been roughly leveled out, you have to screed it. This involves leveling off the concrete with a 2x4. Remove any excess concrete from the top as you level it off.

Rebecca decided she wanted to imprint a fern on the slab of concrete. You can also make imprints with sunflowers, daisies or any other flower than can be pushed into the concrete to leave an impression. Use the side with the most texture to make the imprint. Use a flat trowel to push the plant into the concrete and smooth the rest of the surface.

After laying the concrete, make sure you clean your tools off right away; otherwise the concrete will stick to it forever. Allow the concrete to set overnight, and you'll be able to walk on it the next day, although you have to be careful not to drag your feet, because it will scratch. You can also pull off the flower or plant forms the next day. It's a good idea to keep the slab damp for a week, either by sprinkling it or laying wet burlap over it, to make it stronger.