FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Foundations and Masonry Work

Guide Home
  • Concrete & Masonry Basics
  • Building Foundations
  • Waterproofing Foundations
  • Retrofits and Add-ons
  • Masonry in the Landscape
  • Brick
Mastered in a Minute

How to Pour and Finish a Small Concrete Slab

All you need are a few simple tools and a basic understanding of how concrete works to get beautiful results on any slab.

By Andy Engel
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Background
      Window
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      There are lots of reasons you might need to create a small pad out of concrete—maybe for an air conditioning compressor, a propane tank, a foundation for deck stairs, or even a pool pump and filter. Whatever you need yours for, watch builder and Fine Homebuilding senior editor Andy Engel demonstrate the right techniques to get a nicely finished slab, from settling and leveling the wet mix into the forms to tamping down the aggregate and using the proper tools for finishing.

      Videos in this series

      deck building Part 1: Forming a Small Concrete Slab

      Get the base right and the rest is easy

      concrete slab Part 2: Hand Mixing Concrete

      Mixing concrete with a hoe in a wheelbarrow is simple and fast

      concrete slab Part 3: Placing and Finishing a Small Slab

      Tamp down the aggregate in the mix to make a surface that’s easy to finish


      More about building with concrete:

      How to Finish a Concrete Patio Slab — Concrete can be finished in one of several ways. Here, Mike Guertin discusses several approaches, including brushing, troweling, and edging.

      Reducing the Risk of Cracks in Concrete Slabs — Whether the slab is free-standing or tied into an existing structure, taking a few precautions will help prevent problems later.

      Pouring Concrete Slabs — This is how a truckload of wet concrete is transformed into a smooth, flat slab. Less than ideal weather coming up? There are ways to handle that, too.

      Fixing Concrete Cracks: Basement Slab Repair — Cracks in concrete basement slabs aren’t uncommon. Matt Risinger explains how to fix cosmetic defects with a two-part filler called RS-88.

      Placing a Small Concrete Slab— Although the amount of concrete that’s required is small, a landing for a deck stairway or, in this case, a pad for a propane tank requires nearly the same forming and finishing techniques as a full-size slab

      Previous: How To Build a Form for a Small Concrete Slab Next: Placing a Small Concrete Slab

      Guide

      Foundations and Masonry Work

      Chapter

      Concrete & Masonry Basics

      Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters
      See all newsletters

      View Comments

      1. JimmySzmak | Mar 28, 2016 01:49pm | #1

        Thanks for another great One Minute video. Well done.

      2. kdbergin | Mar 29, 2016 10:36pm | #2

        Good technical info. A few suggestions: (1) Background music is too loud - it distracts from the content. (2) Dust mask is a great idea when dealing with dry concrete. The worked had gloves on, but we couldn't see if he was masked.

      3. TN_P_Elm | Jun 12, 2016 09:33pm | #3

        Great video, short and sweet, but very informative.
        Thanks,
        TN_P_ELM

      4. brianrussell | Jul 05, 2016 05:06pm | #4

        Great video! Thank you. I noticed there was no rebar steel in the form. I was taught to put rebar in about every 12" depending on the intended load on the slab. Why wasn't any regard used in this video?

      5. AndyEngel | Jul 06, 2016 11:43am | #5

        Brianrussel, rebar seemed like overkill for a 3 x 3 non-structural slab.

      6. saugertiesdigital | Mar 12, 2017 03:54pm | #6

        Just a thought and another
        Two choices... Either lay some this plastic on the inner side of your wooden frame ...
        or
        Spray some WD 40 type oil base on the same inside of the frame...
        Doing so, prevents the concrete/ cement from adhering to the wood frame so it is easier to remove and........................................ gives the outside edge of your base a neat clean look.

      Log in or create an account to post a comment.

      Sign up Log in

      Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

      Foundations and Masonry Work

      Foundations and Masonry Work

      Trusted, comprehensive guidance from the pros for working with concrete and masonry

      View Project Guide

      View All Project Guides »

      Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Foundations and Masonry Work Project Guide.

      Start Free Trial

      Concrete & Masonry Basics
      • Choosing & Mixing Concrete
      • Concrete & Masonry Tools & Techniques
      Building Foundations
      • Foundation Basics
      • Foundation Footings
      • Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs)
      Waterproofing Foundations
      • Waterproofing Strategies
      • Foundation Drains
      Retrofits and Add-ons
      Masonry in the Landscape
      • Patios, Walkways, and Driveways
      • Retaining Walls
      • Dry Stone Walls
      • Fire Pits
      Brick

      Fine Home Building

      Newsletter Sign-up

      • Fine Homebuilding

        Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

      • Green Building Advisor

        Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

      • Old House Journal

        Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters

      Follow

      • Fine Homebuilding

        Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X
        • LinkedIn
      • GBA Prime

        Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • YouTube
      • Old House Journal

        Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

        Subscribe Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X
      • Fine Homebuilding

        Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X
        • LinkedIn
      • GBA Prime

        Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • YouTube
      • Old House Journal

        Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

        Subscribe Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X

      Membership & Magazine

      • Online Archive
      • Start Free Trial
      • Magazine Subscription
      • Magazine Renewal
      • Gift a Subscription
      • Customer Support
      • Privacy Preferences
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Careers
      • Terms of Use
      • Site Map
      • Do not sell or share my information
      • Privacy Policy
      • Accessibility
      • California Privacy Rights

      © 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

      Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

      • Home Group
      • Antique Trader
      • Arts & Crafts Homes
      • Bank Note Reporter
      • Cabin Life
      • Cuisine at Home
      • Fine Gardening
      • Fine Woodworking
      • Green Building Advisor
      • Garden Gate
      • Horticulture
      • Keep Craft Alive
      • Log Home Living
      • Military Trader/Vehicles
      • Numismatic News
      • Numismaster
      • Old Cars Weekly
      • Old House Journal
      • Period Homes
      • Popular Woodworking
      • Script
      • ShopNotes
      • Sports Collectors Digest
      • Threads
      • Timber Home Living
      • Traditional Building
      • Woodsmith
      • World Coin News
      • Writer's Digest
      Active Interest Media logo
      X
      X
      This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

      Main Menu

      • How-To
      • Design
      • Tools & Materials
      • Video
      • Blogs
      • Forum
      • Project Guides
      • Reader Projects
      • Magazine
      • Members
      • FHB House

      Podcasts

      • FHB Podcast
      • ProTalk

      Webinars

      • Upcoming and On-Demand

      Podcasts

      • FHB Podcast
      • ProTalk

      Webinars

      • Upcoming and On-Demand

      Popular Topics

      • Kitchens
      • Business
      • Bedrooms
      • Roofs
      • Architecture and Design
      • Green Building
      • Decks
      • Framing
      • Safety
      • Remodeling
      • Bathrooms
      • Windows
      • Tilework
      • Ceilings
      • HVAC

      Magazine

      • Current Issue
      • Past Issues
      • Magazine Index
      • Subscribe
      • Online Archive
      • Author Guidelines

      All Access

      • Member Home
      • Start Free Trial
      • Gift Membership

      Online Learning

      • Courses
      • Project Guides
      • Reader Projects
      • Podcast

      More

      • FHB Ambassadors
      • FHB House
      • Customer Support

      Account

      • Log In
      • Join

      Newsletter

      Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters
      See all newsletters

      Follow

      • X
      • YouTube
      • instagram
      • facebook
      • pinterest
      • Tiktok

      Join All Access

      Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

      Start Your Free Trial

      Subscribe

      FHB Magazine

      Start your subscription today and save up to 81%

      Subscribe

      We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

      Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

      Start your FREE trial

      Already a member? Log in

      Privacy Policy Update

      We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

      Cookies

      Analytics

      These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

      Advertising/Social Media

      These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

      Essential

      These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

      Delete My Data

      Delete all cookies and associated data