How to Pour a Garage Floor

Last Updated: September 15, 2021

Given that garages usually house dirty cars, tools and other household items, many homeowners choose to floor their garages with simple cement. Taking a weekend to learn how to pour a garage floor is an easy process that will provide you with an even, sturdy floor for years to come. With few materials and a simple process, you can quickly have the utilitarian, good-looking garage floor you've always wanted.

Steps

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1
Build a frame for your garage floor.
- Your frame will keep in the cement fix and delimit the area of your floor. Use four simple wooden boards pushed against the walls of the garage and secured either by weights or nailed together.
Even out the garage floor by removing any debris and evening out any irregularities in the surface using a trowel or other tools.

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This is best done from the end of the wheelbarrow, evening with the trowel as you move along. Pour 3 inches (or 5 cm).
6
Place the steel rods or rebar around the edges of the freshly poured concrete mix and through the middle of your floor if working with a large area.
- These bars will provide strength to the concrete. Have the bars prepared before pouring. Allowing the concrete to dry too much between pours will create layers and make the concrete weaker. To attain an even floor, pouring slowly and evenly.
Go as high as you wish your floor to be.
Ensure an even floor by checking that there are no air pockets or pools of cement in the corners.
Check that no air bubbles or other irregularities form.
If the boards are hard to lift, let the floor sit for another day.
Tap the surface with a boot or a hammer to make sure it is solid and free of cracks.

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Question

Do I need plastic between the gravel and concrete?

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Yes, 6-mil minimum. Concrete is not only porous (it's a sponge), but it's colder than the ground because its thermal retention isn't as good as dirt, clay, sand or what have you. You really need to stop ground moisture and its condensation against the concrete to stay away in order to be dry, mold-free and rot-free on any wood, cardboard, carpet or metal above the floor.

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How much gravel should be under a 4" thick garage floor?

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It can depend on the type of soil you have. For sandy soil, 2" of gravel would be good. But on clay or loam soil, that doesn't drain well, a 6" or 8" gravel base would be needed.

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Question

I have a 5 x 3 and 3 ft hole I need to fill in my garage. Do I fill the hole with bricks as well?

Joshua Pigeon

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Since you likely need to dig down to level the the ground and to make room for your gravel base, you can fill it with the soil. And if the hole is still there, you can fill it with gravel. Ensure the hole is packed solid as well.

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Tips

Try to pour cement on a cool, humid day so that it dries more slowly and evenly. Pouring cement on a hot, dry day might result in cracking.

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Going over the surface of the concrete several times as it dries will result in a more even floor. As long as you do not change the texture of the cement drastically, there is no harm in evening it as often as you wish.

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Moisten the wood of your frame so that the concrete can form to it more easily.

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Warnings

Make sure to pour slowly, evening with a trowel as you go, and pouring less than you think you need.

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Things You'll Need

Concrete mix
Wheelbarrow
Four large boards
Metal rods or rebar
Trowel
Gloves

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