Remove Form and Backfill

What happens in this clip

After at least 24 hours of curing, it's safe to remove the wooden form. Begin by digging out any loose dirt around the exterior of the form with a shovel. Use a hammer and pry bar to gently separate the form boards from the concrete. Apply outward pressure on the form before lifting it away to avoid chipping or damaging the freshly set concrete edges. Once the form is removed, backfill the remaining trench around the concrete pad with dirt and topsoil, using a rake and shovel to make the area flush with the top of the pad and surrounding ground.

Goal: Remove the wooden form and fill the surrounding area with dirt

What's used

Tools

• Hammer
• Pry Bar
• Rake
• Shovel

Materials

• Dirt
• Topsoil

About the full video

This project details the process of building a concrete pad for deck stairs, ensuring it's level with the ground and properly cured. It covers planning, building and setting forms, excavating, pouring, and finishing the concrete.

Step 10 of 10: Remove Formwork

Once the concrete has cured sufficiently (typically after 24-48 hours, but check local conditions and concrete type), carefully pry off the 2x6 lumber forms. Use a pry bar to gently loosen the forms from the concrete. Be careful not to chip or damage the edges of the concrete pad.

Open this step in the guide

Every video in How to Pour a Concrete Landing Pad for Deck Stairs

1. Step 1: Excavate Area

   • 13:17–15:33 Prepare Stair Base and Pour Concrete Pad
   • 0:04–0:15 Site Preparation and Trench Digging
   • 4:20–8:36 Prepare & Pour Concrete Pad

2. Step 2: Install Formwork

   • 2:04–2:33 Build and Position Concrete Form
   • 0:33–0:47 Formwork Installation
   • 0:00–0:34 Lay Out and Assemble Initial Form Boards

3. Step 3: Add and Compact Gravel Base

   • 2:21–2:33 Add & Compact Basecourse
   • 3:15–4:05 Lay and Compact Gravel Base
   • 0:20–0:38 Prepare Gravel Base

4. Step 4: Place Rebar or Wire Mesh

   • 2:45–3:06 Add Steel Reinforcement (Rebar)
   • 1:30–1:40 Add Wire Mesh Reinforcement
   • 5:41–6:46 Rebar Placement for Reinforcement

5. Step 5: Mix and Pour Concrete

   • 0:30–0:42 Pour and Level Concrete
   • 3:10–3:41 Pour and Screed Concrete
   • 1:58–2:31 Mix and Pour Concrete

6. Step 6: Screed the Concrete

   • 0:04–0:13 Screed the Concrete
   • 0:24–1:01 Screed the Concrete Surface
   • 0:17–0:45 Screed the Concrete Surface

7. Step 7: Float the Concrete

   • 0:16–0:25 Float the Concrete Surface
   • 0:44–0:46 Hand Float Concrete Surface
   • 1:15–1:29 Float Concrete

8. Step 8: Finish the Concrete

   • 0:07–0:11 Trowel for Smooth Concrete Finish
   • 10:04–11:22 Final Troweling and Finishing
   • 3:30–4:49 Concrete Floating and Troweling

9. Step 9: Cure the Concrete

   • 2:08–2:39 Cure Concrete
   • 0:57–0:59 Cure Concrete and Remove Forms
   • 5:50–6:12 Cure the Concrete

10. Step 10: Remove Formwork

    • 8:43–10:04 Remove Form and Backfill (this video)
    • 4:03–4:08 Remove Formwork
    • 0:52–0:54 Remove Formwork