Collection by Michael Sylvester
Dwell Home Venice: Part 10
In this series, Sebastian Mariscal designs a home in Venice, California, that brings the outside in. We track the project from start to finish with future resident Michael Sylvester. Part 10, December 2011: Pouring Concrete Slabs
After all of the preparation it is time to pour the concrete slabs on the ground floor.
Your contractor should be on the construction site daily to check on work progress and monitor the job.
The pour moves on to the living room where the red PEX radiant heat tubing is evident.
Using a straightedge to level the surface.
In the foreground is a vibrator which helps to remove air bubbles and settle the concrete.
The instrument with the long blue handle is called a bull float - it helps to smooth the surface. The blue plastic tent above the work area is used to keep pine tree needles from falling on the wet concrete.
Using a hand trowel to tidy the edge where a door tread will rest flush with the concrete floor.
Application of a retarder finish.
Water jet removal of retarder.
The slabs are covered with thermal blankets which help with curing. The objective is to retain moisture under the blankets as the concrete cures.