How to pour a garage slab

• 1). Using a chalk line from a building supply store, mark the boundaries of your garage so you know where your concrete will be poured.
  
  
• 2). This step is important as there are two depths that must be dug for the slab to be completely stable. Dig your footers for the garage slab. The inside portion of your slab should be dug six inches deep. The outer 18 inches of the slab (near the edges) should be dug 12 inches deep.
  
  
• 3). A concrete curb has to be created to keep the concrete from escaping the boundaries of your slab. To do this, place the 2x10 form boards around the perimeter of the garage area. The 2x10 form boards should be six inches higher than the level of where the finished slab will be.
  
  
• 4). Inside the perimeter of 2x10 form boards, a second barrier will need to be created. Using the 2x6 form boards, place them six inches away from the 2x10 form boards.
  
  
• 5). Insert the stakes into the ground at equal intervals directly against the 2x6 form boards using a hammer.
  
  
• 6). Using double headed nails, attach the stakes to the 2x6 form boards. The form boards should be placed around all four sides of the garage area, unless you are attaching it directly to the house or building. In that case, the form boards should be placed around the three sides that are not going to be attached to the house.
  
  
• 7). Mentally mark your garage area into thirds although the division need not be exactly perfect. Place 3 inch dobey bricks on the lines that mark the thirds.
  
  
• 8). To keep the rebar from having direct contact with the dirt, put the ½ rebar rods on top of the dobey bricks.
  
  
• 9). Place the foundation bolts according to the plan, following the manufacturer's directions.
  
  
• 10
  
  Spray the form boards (both sets) thoroughly with diesel fuel to prevent the concrete from sticking to the wood. Allow the diesel fuel to dry completely before continuing.
  
  
• 11
  
  Using sand from a building or concrete supplier, fill the entire slab area with a 2 inch layer of sand. Gently dampen the sand with a water hose and rake it smooth.
  
  
• 12
  
  Using more ½ rebar rods, construct a grid in your slab area. Lay the rebar rods 16 inches away from one another horizontally and then repeat the process with the rebar rods being laid vertically. Your slab area should appear to have a bunch of 16 inch squares in it.
  
  
• 13
  
  Tie the rebar pieces together with rebar wire so that the squares do not shift when you pour the concrete on top of them.
  
  
• 14
  
  Pour the concrete into the inner portion of the footings. When the concrete is cured, which could take up to three days, remove the inner 2x6 form boards.
  
  
• 15
  
  Once the inner 2x6 form boards have been removed, pour concrete into the remaining outer 18 inches of the slab area, where the depth is 12 inches.
  
  
• 16
  
  Again, allow the concrete to set, which may take several days, and then remove the outer 2x10 form boards.