Screed the Concrete Surface

What happens in this clip

Once the concrete has been roughly spread, use a long, straight screed board (which can be a piece of dimensional lumber like a 2x4, or a specialized aluminum screed) to level the surface. Position the screed board across the formwork, ensuring its ends rest securely on the top edges of the forms. Move the screed board back and forth in a sawing motion, while simultaneously pulling it forward across the concrete. This action effectively removes any high spots of concrete and fills in any low spots, ensuring a consistently flat and level surface across the entire slab. Repeat this process as needed until the entire slab meets the desired grade and consistency.

Goal: Achieve a flat and level concrete surface.

What's used

Tools

• Rubber Boots
• Screed Board
• Aluminum straight board
• 2x4 lumber
• Work Gloves

Materials

• Wet Concrete

About the full video

This project details the initial phase of installing a concrete slab, involving the efficient delivery of wet concrete via heavy machinery, followed by manual spreading and precise screeding to achieve a flat and level surface. This prepared slab is intended to serve as a sturdy foundation for outdoor living spaces such as a hot tub pad or a patio area, designed for cookouts and relaxation.

Step 6 of 10: Screed the Concrete

Using a straight piece of lumber (such as a 2x4) as a screed board, rest it on top of the 2x6 formwork. Move the screed board back and forth in a sawing motion across the surface of the wet concrete, dragging excess concrete with it and filling low spots. This process levels the concrete to the height of the form.

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 (this video)
   • 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
    • 4:03–4:08 Remove Formwork
    • 0:52–0:54 Remove Formwork