Concrete Pouring for Slabs: The Step-by-Step Method We Use On Site

Pouring a concrete slab isn’t “just a pour.” It’s a tightly sequenced operation that protects quality, safety, and programme. Below is exactly how we deliver slab pours on live projects—summarised from our internal method statement and adapted for residential and mid-rise work in London.

1) Pre-Pour Setup (Formwork, Rebar, Services)

• Formwork & propping: We erect and brace formwork as per the approved method and drawings, then check it again before any concrete arrives. This prevents blow-outs and level errors. 
• Rebar cleaning & fixing: Reinforcement is cleaned (wire-brushed) and fixed per the approved shop drawings to maintain cover and load paths. 
• Openings sealed: All penetrations and edges that could leak cement paste are closed off to avoid honeycombing. 
• MEP first-fix: Electrical boxes, conduits, service pipes and drains are installed and tied in place before the pour so nothing shifts. 

2) Final Inspections & Surface Prep

• Setting out: We mark beam lines, slab edges and finished top level so every trade is working to the same datum. 
• Clean down: The deck is blown clean (compressed air) to remove debris that could weaken the surface.
• Engineer’s sign-off: A final inspection is completed and recorded prior to casting. No truck backs up until we have approval. 

3) Concrete Placement & Compaction

• Pumping plan: We start with one pump, controlling the pour sequence to minimise cold joints and keep a steady logistics rhythm. 
• Vibration: We compact with mechanical vibrators (one running, two on standby) to remove trapped air and achieve density—critical for strength and durability. 

4) Finishing & Early Protection

• Initial finish: We strike and trowel the surface (wood floats/trowels) to the specified finish class.
• Immediate cover: The slab is protected early using polyethylene sheets and hessian—this preserves moisture and shields the surface from wind/sun. 

5) Curing & Strip

• Wet curing: Once the surface has set, we maintain continuous moisture with wet hessian under polythene for the specified curing period. This is the single biggest lever on cracking control and long-term strength. 
• Formwork strike: Props and formwork are removed strictly to spec (not early), protecting deflection/finish quality. 

6) Quality & Safety Controls You Can Expect

• Approved mix only: We place to the approved concrete mix and test regime (cubes/core as specified).
• Trained crew: Pours are run by trained operatives with designated roles (pump, hose, vibration, finishing, QA).
• Method-led delivery: Work follows the signed-off method statement, with safety measures in place throughout. 

Why This Process Matters

• Flatness & Levels: Proper set-out and vibration give better flatness (easier finishes, fewer levelling compounds).
• Strength & Durability: Correct curing boosts compressive strength and abrasion resistance while reducing shrinkage cracking.
• Programme Certainty: Good logistics and pre-pour checks mean fewer remedials and re-work days later.

Typical Equipment & Materials on Our Slab Pours

• Equipment: Pump, mechanical vibrators, compressed-air cleanup, trowels/floats.
• Materials: Approved concrete mix, hessian, polyethylene sheets, MEP conduits/boxes as per drawings. 

Thinking About a Slab Pour?

We can price, plan and deliver your slab as a bundled package—engineering, temporary works guidance, pour management, QA, and curing plan—so you get the finish and performance you’re paying for.