how to pour concrete floor? tips please

[bdymnjm]

I found info needed for prep of the base materials, reinforcement, vapor barrier, insulation, thickness, relief cuts, strength and more reading threads. I want to pour my floor inside the foundation wall already built.The floor will be 15 x 21 feet. What I need help with is ideas for screeding and how to trowl the floor to the proper level.
I have looked at some build photos and since most are contracted out to pros it seems they are able to do this with out any guides for the floor surface level.

I take pride in doing projects myself and having some help as needed. Ideas for diy and using simple tools are what I am looking for.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[pattenp]

If you've never done this before I highly recommend getting someone with the experience and proper tools. It's not as easy as it may seem. I'm the type to do everything myself and after doing a couple concrete sidewalks I wouldn't even think of tackling a floor of that size. When the concrete truck(s) show up you need to be ready to go nonstop until it's done.

 

[pstnbly]

+1 on pattens post, hire a pro, ask if you can work with him, be there from start to finish. Learn, it's not rocket science but there is no substitute for experience, polishing can make or break the job and is not something you can learn on you own without guidence

 

[Milton Shaw]

Don't attempt this by yourself if you have never finished concrete. You will have several tons of mess to clean up with jack hammer if you attempt this. Call a concrete company and get their recommendations on someone to call and get estimates from. They know the ones that do good work, show up on time and are dependable. Should not cost more than $300-$500 for someone to pour and finish and that would be money well spent.

 

[1jjpop]

Very good advice Milton ..Concrete going to be there for years , if a bad job , you will regret it ever time you look at it for years.. My 2 cents worth...

 

[Zeke]

Well, there's bound to be some vids on YouTube. You said you needed help. Just hire a finisher as your help. But at least go watch some concrete work before attempting to coordinate your own job.

And FWIW, it's 'place' concrete, not pour. At least you didn't call it cement.

 

[MoonRise]

Hmmm, 'interior' slab having never done it before? Hire it out.

Cause concrete waits for no one.

Once the water hits the mix, the clock is ticking and there is no 'time-out'. You place and finish the concrete when it 'wants to' and on its schedule, or you have a mess to look at or remove.

I'm all for DIY and have done exterior concrete, but in this case I really do say to hire it out.

 

[IOWNJUNK]

In the process of doing this as well. The idea of diy came to mind but the only concrete work I have done is a sidewalk and a few 6x10 dogpens. Simple things I could reach across. I have settled on roughly a 24x36x6 slab so diy is out. What am I looking at pricewise? If its supposed to cost $3000 thats fine, I want to be sure I'm not paying someone $250 to do crappy work. And vice versa.

 

[hh76]

+1 on pattens post, hire a pro, ask if you can work with him, be there from start to finish. Learn, it's not rocket science but there is no substitute for experience, polishing can make or break the job and is not something you can learn on you own without guidence

Rocket science might be easier to learn from a book than concrete. With concrete, you need to develop a feel, which cannot be done through words and numbers.

And FWIW, it's 'place' concrete, not pour. At least you didn't call it cement.

Why does it matter? All the professional concrete guys I've worked with have refered to it as "pouring", or "a pour".

 

[bdymnjm]

If you've never done this before I highly recommend getting someone with the experience and proper tools. It's not as easy as it may seem. I'm the type to do everything myself and after doing a couple concrete sidewalks I wouldn't even think of tackling a floor of that size. When the concrete truck(s) show up you need to be ready to go nonstop until it's done.

I agree this is harder than a sidewalk or small shed slab. I would likely take on a sidewalk or slab if I could screed it across the top of forms and use the bull float without walking in the mix.

 

[bdymnjm]

+1 on pattens post, hire a pro, ask if you can work with him, be there from start to finish. Learn, it's not rocket science but there is no substitute for experience, polishing can make or break the job and is not something you can learn on you own without guidence

I called one pro before and been waiting for a call back for a couple days so was still thinking of options. I will make more calls today.

 

[bdymnjm]

Don't attempt this by yourself if you have never finished concrete. You will have several tons of mess to clean up with jack hammer if you attempt this. Call a concrete company and get their recommendations on someone to call and get estimates from. They know the ones that do good work, show up on time and are dependable. Should not cost more than $300-$500 for someone to pour and finish and that would be money well spent.

Good Idea Milton, I called the concrete salesman I dealt with for the delivery for the footings. He gave me a phone number for a guy he recommends for this job. Left a message for the guy.

 

[bdymnjm]

Very good advice Milton ..Concrete going to be there for years , if a bad job , you will regret it ever time you look at it for years.. My 2 cents worth...

That is true, I could regret a bad job if I do it myself. I don't need perfection so I wouldn't be too hard on myself for it. If I pay someone else I would expect better results of course.

 

[bdymnjm]

Hmmm, 'interior' slab having never done it before? Hire it out.

Cause concrete waits for no one.

Once the water hits the mix, the clock is ticking and there is no 'time-out'. You place and finish the concrete when it 'wants to' and on its schedule, or you have a mess to look at or remove.

I'm all for DIY and have done exterior concrete, but in this case I really do say to hire it out.

That is my worry if the time on the cement clock runs out and it kicks before I can do all the trowling. I would have bumps or worse.

 

[bdymnjm]

In the process of doing this as well. The idea of diy came to mind but the only concrete work I have done is a sidewalk and a few 6x10 dogpens. Simple things I could reach across. I have settled on roughly a 24x36x6 slab so diy is out. What am I looking at pricewise? If its supposed to cost $3000 thats fine, I want to be sure I'm not paying someone $250 to do crappy work. And vice versa.

Iownjunk, I own junk also! My slab would be easier to manage since it's a much smaller area. I probably wouldn't consider being in charge on placing your size slab. I am getting quotes now.

 

[bdymnjm]

Rocket science might be easier to learn from a book than concrete. With concrete, you need to develop a feel, which cannot be done through words and numbers.
^^
I can relate to this after dealing with 2 part mixes there are variables in set time that you learn from using them. Directions are just a start. The concrete would be a big mess if it set before I was done. The concrete salesman even said he could retard the set time but that there are many variables so I should hire someone probably.


Why does it matter? All the professional concrete guys I've worked with have refered to it as "pouring", or "a pour".

I wasn't going to say anything but here are a couple web pages where the job is called pouring concrete. Placing seems correct also. I like getting educated on GJ

http://www.concretenetwork.com/install-

concrete.htmlhttp://www.dulley.com/diy/dw102.htm

 

[bdymnjm]

Well, there's bound to be some vids on YouTube. You said you needed help. Just hire a finisher as your help. But at least go watch some concrete work before attempting to coordinate your own job.

And FWIW, it's 'place' concrete, not pour. At least you didn't call it cement.

Good idea on going to see some work being done. I am also looking into hiring qualified help or just hiring it out. Got one quote on the higher side of what I was expecting.