Although it may appear difficult to create a concrete floor on the ground by yourself, it is completely doable with the correct equipment and a well-thought-out plan. Whether you’re building a garage, shed, or any other kind of structure, a concrete floor offers a smooth, level surface and long-lasting quality. You can guarantee the longevity and success of your project by adhering to a methodical approach.
Preparing the ground is the first step in this process. This entails removing any rocks, debris, and vegetation from the area. A level, well-compacted base is essential to avoiding future settling and cracking. After clearing the space, you must lay a base layer of crushed stone or gravel to aid in drainage and give your concrete a sturdy base.
The formwork, or the frame that keeps the concrete in place while it sets, must then be assembled. This can be constructed from metal forms or wooden boards that have been firmly fastened to prevent movement while pouring. To ensure that your floor is the right shape and level, you must set up your formwork correctly.
To stop moisture from leaking through the concrete, you can install a vapor barrier after the formwork is in place. This is particularly crucial in regions where groundwater levels are high. You are now prepared to mix and pour concrete after the vapor barrier is installed. For smaller projects, mixing can be done by hand; however, for consistency and convenience, renting a concrete mixer is advised for larger areas.
One crucial step is to pour the concrete. It will take swift action and efficiency on your part to distribute the concrete evenly inside the formwork. You can level the surface and make sure there are no high or low spots by using a screed board. Using instruments like trowels and floats, the concrete must be smoothed and completed after leveling. This process strengthens the surface in addition to improving its appearance.
Allowing the concrete to cure properly is crucial. To ensure maximum strength, this means keeping it moist and shielded from harsh temperatures for a few days. Your concrete floor will be usable and offer a sturdy, dependable surface for many years to come once it has cured.
Step | Description |
1. Prepare the base | Clear the area of debris and vegetation. Level the ground and compact it well. |
2. Install formwork | Set up wooden or metal frames around the perimeter to hold the concrete in place. |
3. Add a gravel layer | Spread a layer of gravel or crushed stone to ensure good drainage. Compact it thoroughly. |
4. Lay a moisture barrier | Place a plastic sheet or similar material over the gravel to prevent moisture from seeping into the concrete. |
5. Install reinforcement | Place steel rebar or wire mesh on the moisture barrier to add strength to the concrete. |
6. Mix and pour concrete | Prepare the concrete mix according to the instructions and pour it into the formwork. Spread it evenly. |
7. Level and smooth | Use a straight edge to level the surface and a trowel to smooth it out. |
8. Cure the concrete | Keep the concrete moist and covered for several days to ensure proper curing. |
9. Remove formwork | After the concrete has cured, carefully remove the formwork. |
10. Finish the surface | If desired, apply a sealant or finish to the concrete surface for added durability and appearance. |
- General requirements for concrete floors
- Step-by-step instructions for constructing concrete floors on the ground
- Determining the zero level
- Preparing the base
- Communications
- Further backfilling
- Waterproofing and insulation
- Reinforcement and underfloor heating
- Formwork and guides
- Making concrete using a concrete mixer
- Manual concrete production and pouring
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General requirements for concrete floors
Concrete floor pouring along the soil should be done in compliance with the regulatory guidelines outlined in SNiP 2.03.13-88’s provisions. It is only under these circumstances that the strength and extended service life of the coating can be ensured.
The fundamental specifications for a concrete floor are:
- The room should be heated constantly – operation at temperatures below zero is not allowed.
- The occurrence of groundwater is preferably at a depth of 4-5 meters, if closer than 2 meters to the surface-necessarily performing pillows of sand and crushed stone.
- It is forbidden to fill the concrete floor on the soil that is not pre -sealing, the soil should also be dry and motionless.
- The bedding layer should also be thoroughly compacted.
- The concrete used for filling must correspond to a minimum strength class B22.5.
- If the floor is in the capillary water zone, a layer of waterproofing is required, as well as layers of thermal insulation, sound insulation.
- When planning the installation of a heated floor system, the concrete covering is poured with a gap between the layer and the wall of at least 15-20 millimeters to avoid deformations.
- The floor is poured only after the walls and roof are ready.
Step-by-step instructions for constructing concrete floors on the ground
A specific plan is followed when installing a concrete floor on the ground level of a private residence. To put it briefly, all work can be split up into multiple groups.
The primary steps in pouring the flooring are:
- Removing the top layer of soil, compacting it, tamping, preparing
- Leveling the floor with a layer of sand and crushed stone (the thickness depends on the expected loads), tamping
- Pouring the sub-concrete screed
- Laying a layer of waterproofing, thermal insulation
- Creating a reinforcing frame over the entire area
- Pouring the floor with concrete
- Proper drying and maintenance
- Finishing
Determining the zero level
Prior to laying concrete flooring on a private residence, the zero level is established; this marks the edge of the area where the last floor covering will pass through. Every layer below the level is indicated by a minus sign, and every layer above it by a plus sign. There are some exceptions to the rule that the floor is always at foundation level.
The project should indicate the zero level; if not, you must mark it manually. To accomplish this, take a measurement one meter from the planned floor surface, mark it there, and then connect the marks with a single line. After that, take a few steps backward from the mark, concentrate on the foundation’s highest point, and draw another line there.
In order to return to the intended value, concrete floors are poured on the ground along this zero level. Alternatively, you can use a building level (water, laser) to measure the evenness.
Preparing the base
Everything that could cause interference has been removed from the base, including debris. Next, the arable layer—which typically consists of a variety of organic materials that have the potential to break down and distort the concrete floor—is removed. Typically, 35 centimeters of layer is taken off the zero level.
The soil needs to be compacted; if you don’t have a vibrating plate, you can use physical force and a handle-equipped log. Shoe sole remnants shouldn’t be visible on the compacted soil.
Communications
Prior to the installation of the concrete floor on the ground, consider the locations where communications will pass and make all necessary preparations. Since it is impossible to fix a network’s entry points in a concrete screed, pipes are typically installed in larger-cross-section pipes that allow them to be removed and replaced.
Water pipes can be installed at a depth of 50 centimeters, while sewer networks can be installed at a depth of 100 centimeters. Electric cables can also be installed at a half-meter depth because the ground won’t freeze beneath the heated house.
Further backfilling
The floor’s subsequent layers are then filled. The surface is compacted with a cushion of sand and gravel before concreting. First, gravel is poured, watered, and compacted into a 10-centimeter layer. Sand ten centimeters thick is poured on top and packed down. The base is leveled by pouring a layer of gravel on top of the sand once more, compacting it again, then sprinkling on a thin layer of sand and tamping it down.
Waterproofing and insulation
The use of common polyethylene film as a waterproofing agent is made possible by the technology of pouring concrete on the ground, with a thickness of approximately 200 microns. However, for these uses, selecting an insulating membrane is preferable. The entire base is covered with a layer of waterproofing, sealed with masking tape, with a 5–10 centimeter overlap and a minimum 15 centimeter exit to the wall’s edges.
A coarse layer of concrete up to five centimeters thick is poured after waterproofing. The vapor barrier should then be addressed; typically, polymer-bitumen membranes or other materials are utilized for this purpose. Many materials, such as moisture-resistant plywood, foam plastic, expanded clay, isolon, mineral wool or basalt, polystyrene foam, perlite, etc., can be used to create thermal insulation for concrete screed.
Reinforcement and underfloor heating
When designing a ground-level concrete floor, steel or polymer mesh, metal rods, and wire are used for reinforcement. Typically, a steel mesh is selected and set up on unique clamps to elevate the frame above the ground, shielding it with a layer of concrete mortar on all sides.
It is advisable to reinforce large loads on the floor using steel rods up to 15 millimeters in diameter. These rods should be folded several times along and across to create a mesh-like structure, and then tied with specialized knitting wire.
There must be a two-centimeter thermal gap between the screed and the walls when installing underfloor heating. On top of the reinforcing frame are installed the components of the underfloor heating system.
Formwork and guides
When pouring concrete by hand on a private home’s ground, you must ensure that the formwork and guides are installed to a high standard. To achieve a horizontal floor, divide the entire space into equal sections first, then place the bars on the markings so that they are flush with the zero level. Use cement mortar or clay to secure the guides.
Most frequently, formwork is constructed from moisture-resistant plywood with mounting honeycombs to guarantee precise and even pouring in line with the zero level. Before installation, machine oil is applied to the elements to facilitate and expedite their removal after pouring.
Making concrete using a concrete mixer
It will be easiest to use a concrete mixer because modern technology requires a private home’s ground floor to be continuously poured with high-quality concrete. To get the job done, all you really need is a mixer with a bowl that can be filled up to zero. 75 cubic meters. To facilitate easy and quick loading into the concrete mixer, gravel, sand, and cement are piled close by.
First, water is added; three buckets should be sufficient if the bowl has a volume of 0.75 m3. Next, up to ten shovels full of gravel are dumped into the water, followed by the addition of cement and a waiting period for it to dissolve. The volumes of sand and gravel required to produce concrete of the desired quality are then added. In order to achieve the ideal consistency, water is also added in the appropriate volume. The bowl can be raised while filling, but it must first be tilted at a 30 degree angle. However, a large angle increase is not advised.
Manual concrete production and pouring
It is possible to pour a concrete slab directly onto the ground without using a concrete mixer. You must adhere to the technology in this instance. In order to prepare the solution, a 2 by 2 meter solid, level area is first prepared. Either a wooden box with small sides (up to 20 centimeters) or a steel sheet is laid as the base.
The surface is covered with a pyramid-shaped mixture of cement, sand, and gravel that are carefully applied in the proper amounts and alternated. Mix one part cement, four parts crushed stone, two parts sand, and five parts water (approximately) to make a mixture for concreting the floor.
After that, a shovel is used to toss the pyramid back and forth in order to mix the ingredients evenly. Create a funnel in the middle of the slide that extends to the bottom. Fill it with water, then use a shovel to combine the ingredients with the liquid. Make sure the dry material protective curb is not disturbed by moving in a circle. Portion preparation of the concrete solution is done based on the speed at which it is laid.
The guides are then filled with mortar after compacted sand and a reinforced concrete structure are placed on top of it. Using a shovel, they first level the layer before using a rule. Since precise horizontality is only applied to the final layer of the floor, beacons are not yet necessary. A level controls the surface, and a long rule levels the mass.
The masters recommend starting with a semi-dry mass because it has a lower thermal conductivity index and is therefore easier to lay. Although it is not as durable, this is not a deal breaker for residential properties. Prepare the mixture as you normally would; just use a little less water.
Constructing a ground floor concrete floor yourself is a satisfying project that can greatly improve the longevity and usability of your area. A sturdy and long-lasting floor is the consequence of correctly completing each step of the plan, which can be ensured by following it step-by-step.
Make sure the ground is adequately leveled and compacted before beginning. For future problems like uneven surfaces or cracking, this foundation is essential. Your concrete slab will have a sturdy base and better drainage if you lay a gravel base and add a layer of sand.
Installing the formwork will allow you to define the floor’s boundaries. After that, reinforcement is added to the concrete to strengthen it and keep it from cracking, such as steel bars or mesh. Care should be taken when mixing and pouring the concrete to ensure even distribution and complete compaction.
The concrete requires time to properly cure after pouring. During this time, keep it out of the weather and from drying out too quickly. The strength and durability of the concrete will be improved by proper curing. You can smooth and texture the surface to your preferred level after it has cured.
It is possible to create a ground floor out of concrete on your own if you have the patience and attention to detail. As you see the fruits of your labor, this practical project not only saves money but also gives you a sense of accomplishment. An expertly constructed concrete floor is an invaluable asset to any property, be it for a garage, basement, or any other area.
If you follow a precise, step-by-step plan, pouring concrete on your own is a manageable project. This tutorial will take you step-by-step through every process, from clearing the space and creating a sturdy foundation to mixing and pouring the concrete to guarantee a smooth, long-lasting finish. Whether you’re working on a patio, shed, or garage, this easy method will give you the confidence you need to accomplish expert results.