3 Steps to Prepare Your Yard for a Concrete Patio

An outdoor living space is a great place to gather with family and friends. But if you’re lacking a sturdy patio or deck, then you might be struggling with wobbly lawn furniture or a lack of space for your fire pit or grill. In addition to getting the proper rebar tools from BN Products-USA, LLC, you’ll also need to properly prepare your yard for a concrete slab. 

Section Off Your Patio Area

When thinking about where to put your patio and how big you want it to be, you should measure out the area with a tape measure, using stakes and string to make sure the space is even and proportional. Measuring out a space in five feet increments and evenly aligning your stakes will give you a space that’s big enough for all of your outdoor entertaining needs. In order to keep the string straight, keep stakes two feet apart along the longest edges, attaching the string as you go. This will give you the perfect visual for what your patio will look like when you’re done. 

Excavate the Area

Next, you’ll want to excavate the area. You’ll need to dig the earth to the proper depth for pouring concrete. In most cases, patios are one or two inches above ground level and about two to three inches below ground.  You’ll also want to take into consideration about two inches of depth for a layer of gravel for extra drainage. If you need to account for a slope runoff, this is where you’ll prepare the ground for that as well. Determine a 1/8-inch slope for every foot of patio to give you the proper rain shed. 

Prepare the Form with Rebar

Once your ground is excavated and the gravel is set, you can begin to outline your patio with a wood frame and mesh rebar. You’ll want to make sure that the frame is properly set before pouring any concrete, so be sure to follow these steps:

• First, attach wooden stakes near each end of 2×4’s, making sure that the smooth side of the stake is flush with the inside of the boards. This is best done with screws and a drill.
• Second, using a mallet or a soft hammer, pound the stakes firmly into the ground, following the outer edge of your string outline. It’s essential to make sure that the corners where your boards meet are straight and form 90-degree angles.
• Lastly, fasten the 2×4’s to one another at the corners using screws and a drill. This will prevent the frame from shifting once the concrete is poured. To keep the concrete from bonding to the wood, coat the form with a commercial release agent or vegetable oil.

Make sure you use the right rebar and rebar tools for your patio project to properly support your concrete slab from below. Choosing the right rebar can be tricky, so let BN Products-USA, LLC help you. We have a wide range of supplies and tools for any of your concrete projects. To speak to one of our team members, give us a call today at (800) 992-3833.