Once you've signed the contract for a concrete project and we've got a date on the calendar, there's a short list of things homeowners can do to make sure the pour day goes smoothly. None of this is required, and we can work around just about anything, but a yard that's ready when we show up saves time, sometimes saves money, and avoids the small hassles that can otherwise pop up mid-pour.
Here's what to do in the few days before the crew arrives.
Clear the work area
Move vehicles out of the driveway and any space the truck or crew will need to access. If we're pouring a driveway, that means parking on the street or at a neighbor's for the day of the pour and a few days after while the slab cures. If we're pouring a patio in the back, we need clear access from the front yard or driveway through to the work area, usually through a gate.
Move patio furniture, grills, potted plants, kids' toys, and anything else that's currently sitting in or near the pour area. Anything within about ten feet of where we're working should be cleared. We've had crews waste an hour at the start of a job just moving a homeowner's stuff to the side, and that hour is on the clock.
If there are bushes or tree branches hanging within three feet of the pour area, trim them back. We need room to move concrete from the truck or pump to the forms, room to set forms cleanly, and room to finish the surface without leaves and debris falling into wet concrete.
Mark what's underground
Sprinkler heads are the big one. If you have an irrigation system, mark every head in or near the work area with a flag or a small stake before we arrive. We can usually spot them, but if they're buried in tall grass or hidden under mulch we might miss one and that's a guaranteed fix afterward.
Buried utilities are the bigger concern. Anything we're going to dig for (sub-grade prep, footings, retaining wall foundations) needs an 811 utility locate before we put a shovel in the ground. We handle this on our end for our work, but if you've added anything privately like a low-voltage lighting cable, a propane line to a fire pit, or a buried dog fence, those won't show up on an 811 ticket. Tell us about them before pour day.
Same goes for septic lines and well lines if you're on either of those. We need to know where they run.
Don't soak the area beforehand
This one surprises people. Don't water your yard heavily in the week before the pour. Wet ground means we can't compact the sub-grade properly, which means we may have to delay the pour while the soil dries out. Skip the deep watering until the project is done.
If we're doing a major dig-out, ignore your sprinklers in the work area entirely for a week before. NC clay holds water, and a well-watered lawn can mean a one or two day delay even with no rain in the forecast.
The last thing is access. Make sure we have gate codes if you live in a gated community, and that any side gates between the front yard and the back are unlocked or that we know where the key is. If you'll be at work the day of the pour, leave a way for us to get in.
We handle the actual site prep, grading, compaction, forming, and pouring. Homeowners doing the small stuff above just keeps the project on schedule and avoids surprises. If you have questions about prepping for an upcoming pour or want a free estimate on a new project, call (704) 313-8403.
Related service: Concrete Driveways