I'm going to show you how you can lay a concrete pad.
Now, these can be used for driveways or paths,
but the one we're laying today is for a shed.
First you have to decide where your shed's going to sit.
You need to allow enough distance from hedges or fences.
Now, the shed I'm going to build is 1.8 by 1.5.
This timber will be the boxing for our concrete pad.
I've already pre-cut my timber to length.
I'm using 100-by-25 rough sawn untreated timber.
I'm now going to nail the boxing together, using 75-mil nails.
Just leave your nail sticking out a little way.
When we take the boxing off, it's
going to make it nice and easy.
Now I'm just going to make sure that our boxing is
nice and square.
To do this, I'm just going to measure the diagonals
and ensure both ways are exactly the same dimension.
I've got 2,472-- spot on.
Next thing you want to do is dazzle around the outside edge
of your boxing.
Our concrete pad requires 75 millimeters
of compacted basecourse underneath 75 millimeters
of concrete.
There are different depths of pads for different jobs.
Check Mitre 10's online guide for the correct pad
for your project.
Now, the pad can be level with the ground or raised above it.
We want our concrete pad level with the ground.
So this means we need to remove 150 millimeters of soil,
to allow for the compacted basecourse and concrete.
The boxing is pegged in place.
Make sure the boxing is level, so the shed sits flat.
Then fix the pegs to the boxing.
And then just rake and remove any loose dirt.
Because our concrete pad is for a shed,
we have decided to put in a rebate.
This is for the walls of the shed to slot onto.
Right, now we can put in our basecourse.
And this is your chance to hire a compacter.
They're really easy to use.
Next we add a layer of sand, and then we're
going to give it a rake.
The sand will fill in the holes in the basecourse,
making a nice smooth surface.
Now it's time for the polythene.
Make sure you tuck it in neatly.
A pad this size doesn't really need mesh,
but I'm going to add it anyway just to show you how it's done.
We're using little concrete blocks
to hold the mesh off the polythene,
so it sits in the middle of the concrete slab.
Time for the main event--
mix your concrete in a mixer, according to the instructions,
and then pour it into the boxing.
I've tapped the boxing, to settle the concrete
and get the air bubbles out.
For the first stage of the finishing process,
I'm using this 4-by-1 to screed it off.
Next, we're going to use the magnesium trowel.
This stops drawing the water up and out of the concrete.
And finally, a steel trowel, to give us a nice smooth finish.
Wait between one to two hours, and then repeat
this final step, for an even smoother finish.
Now we just need to wait for the concrete to cure.
Keep an eye on it.
Concrete that dries too fast can crack or shrink.
So you may want to give it a light spray with a hose,
in sunny conditions.
For something this size, you'll need to leave it
for around 48 hours.
Right, now it's time to take our boxing off.
First thing you want to do, just give the boxing a light tap.
This will make it easier to remove.
Take our screws out of the pegs.
Now we'll just pull our nails out of the boxing
that we left sticking out.
And just very gently lift that up.
And there's our finished pad, with rebate ready for our shed
to fit onto--
Easy As.
For all the help and advice you need to get the job done, just
head down to Mitre 10.