Concrete guides
Concrete Guides & How-Tos
Plain-English answers to the questions that come up before every pour — curing time, slab thickness, rebar, PSI, and more. Each links to the calculator that does the math.
How Long Does Concrete Take to Cure?
How long does concrete take to cure? Walkable in 24–48 hours, 70% strong at 7 days, fully cured at 28 days.
Read guide →How Thick Should a Concrete Slab Be?
How thick should a concrete slab be? 4 inches for patios and floors, 5–6 inches for driveways and vehicle loads.
Read guide →Does Concrete Need Rebar?
Does concrete need rebar? Structural slabs, driveways, and footings do; thin walkways often don't.
Read guide →How Long Before You Can Drive on New Concrete?
How long before you can drive on new concrete? Cars after 7 days, heavy vehicles after 28 days.
Read guide →How Much Water Per Bag of Concrete?
How much water per bag of concrete? About 6 pints for an 80 lb bag, 4.
Read guide →What PSI Concrete Do I Need?
What PSI concrete do you need? 3,000–3,500 for patios and slabs, 4,000 for driveways and footings, 4,500+ for heavy duty.
Read guide →How Deep Should Footings Be?
How deep should footings be? Below the frost line — 12 inches in the south to 48+ in the north — and into undisturbed soil.
Read guide →How to Pour a Concrete Slab
How to pour a concrete slab, step by step: plan, excavate, form, base, reinforce, pour, finish, and cure.
Read guide →Concrete vs Cement: What's the Difference?
Concrete vs cement — what's the difference? Cement is an ingredient; concrete is the finished material made from cement, sand, gravel, and water.
Read guide →What Temperature Can You Pour Concrete?
What temperature can you pour concrete? Aim for 50–90°F — about 50°F is the practical minimum and 95°F the max at placement.
Read guide →Dry Pour Concrete: Does It Actually Work?
Does dry pour concrete work? Yes for small, non-structural pads — but it cures weaker than mixed concrete and isn't for driveways, footings, or anything load-bearing.
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