Screeding a concrete pad question

[bmxdukie]

Hi folks. Im pretty good at diy concrete with broom finish.
Im pouring a pad that is 12 x24 x 5" for a spa. Usually i would rent a powerscreed, but around here the biggest i can get is 10'.
How would one suggest to screed this? Im by myself and need it perfect flat.
I was hoping to screed off the forms. But now might have a problem.
Finish doesnt need to be perfect as the tub will be on it. But I'd still like it the best i can do.

 

[ddawg16]

About the best you can do it get a 16' 'straight' 2x4 and just walk it down the form

 

[firebirdparts]

They make an aluminum or magnesium 16 foot 2 x 4 just for that, probably longer. But you don't need that of course.

To do it with shorter screeds, I'm a total hack, but i would just drive a gauge pin right out in the middle of the slab wherever you want. Establish the elevation between the pins and the sides of the form with a shorter screed. If you want, you can remove the pin after you are sure you don't need it anymore, but that is a little hard to do every time.

I would prefer to use a wood 2 by 4 over that, though, if you want it flat. The pins are really nice for when you want it higher in the middle.

 

[swampman]

Drive a grade stake in the middle of the pour like firebird said. When everything is to grade around it, either pull it out, or beat it down a couple of inches below the surface.

 

[LXCam]

Screed stakes are your friend in this case.

 

[harley jim]

They got it right on the money. Put one or however many pins in the center and go.
We poured a 30'x 50' slab last year, we put 12 pins (1/2" rebar) out in the field as we screened past them we pounded them down a couple of inches. Works great.

Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Renegade1LI]

Hi folks. Im pretty good at diy concrete with broom finish.
Im pouring a pad that is 12 x24 x 5" for a spa. Usually i would rent a powerscreed, but around here the biggest i can get is 10'.
How would one suggest to screed this? Im by myself and need it perfect flat.
I was hoping to screed off the forms. But now might have a problem.
Finish doesnt need to be perfect as the tub will be on it. But I'd still like it the best i can do.

I would double check the pwerscreed, 12' is considered the standard with 6' -16' available

 

[tstaude]

can you do it in two pours that are 6 x 24?

 

[bmxdukie]

I think im going to use rebar and those little u shaped chairs. Ill put in a length of gas pipe and pull it out as i screed it.
Thoughts?

 

[The Cobbler]

guy that poured my garage pad used a grade stake in the middle & screeded from that . pulled it out and voila!

 

[rburke65]

Just one grade pin is all you need