Anyone on here have experience with dry pouring a small concrete slab? I'm putting up a small Suncast vertical storage shed next to my house and would like to place on a small concrete pad (say 3' x 5'). Dry pouring sounds appealing due to its simplicity. I'm not really worried about the strength or finish as it will be covered with the shed. I'll only be storing a push mower and a few odd 'n end items so it won't be very heavy. Any thoughts or suggestions are much appreciated.

We never recommend it. The possibility/probability of the slab failing and/or cracking is much higher.

I've done it. Watched a few videos on you tube. There is a guy on there that is all he does is dry pour. I followed his instructions. IF I rmemeber right after you smooth it out you start misting it every hour. Can't rmemeber how many times you do this though. Look at this video. This is the guy: How To DRY POUR CONCRETE SLAB and Update of Our 1st Pour

I have worked around concrete enough over the years to think dry-pour is about the laziest and worst way to set concrete. You may say you don't care about it cracking, but once it starts to crack you will change your mind.

[Warning - Mansplaining appended below]
The reason dry mix is such a bad idea is that in order for concrete to hydrate properly the mixture of cement, aggregate, sand and water needs to be homogeneous when it is placed in the form. It is all part of the chemistry and mechanics of how concrete works. If you put the dry cement in the form and start watering it from the top, the water molecules must then migrate on their own to hydrate with the cement particles so that it hardens. Once that top layer starts to hydrate and set, it takes longer and longer for the water molecules to migrate to the lower levels of cement. So what you get is a top layer of concrete that is hard and bottom layer that remains powder or crumbly.

TLDR: Just man up and mix it with water before you pour it. Just make sure you add the correct amount of water. Too much water also makes your concrete weak.

Suck it up and do it right...
Rent an electric mixer and do two bags at a time or call out a readymix truck with the load you need

This. And make sure you have enough metal in the slab. Depending on the load the slab is expected to carry, you may not need much.

Just do it right the first time. You will regret otherwise no matter how much you say it will be a light load and don't care about looks. The time it will take you to fix will be far more than doing it right the first time.

This is one of those things that - don't try to change something that has been proven over many years.

Perfectly fine for small projects like this. BUT….small projects can be mixed in a wheelbarrow so….why not mix in a wheelbarrow to make sure the proper ratios are met and proper curing is achieved? I don't see any advantage to dry pouring.

Also, quickrete does not list this as a means to do it on slabs. Only for fence posts. So, if they don't think it's good enough, then it's probably not. I stopped listening by to GC hacks, YouTube guys and other quacks about what's ok and not ok. Check with the manufacturer. They are your source for proper information. If they say nah, then nah.

Did something similar with wheelbarrow. Hammer a few 6-7 rebar stakes in the ground to give the concrete something to form around. Go to harbor freight if you need any tools.

BrazosDog02 said:

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Perfectly fine for small projects like this. BUT….small projects can be mixed in a wheelbarrow so….why not mix in a wheelbarrow to make sure the proper ratios are met and proper curing is achieved? I don't see any advantage to dry pouring.

Also, quickrete does not list this as a means to do it on slabs. Only for fence posts. So, if they don't think it's good enough, then it's probably not. I stopped listening by to GC hacks, YouTube guys and other quacks about what's ok and not ok. Check with the manufacturer. They are your source for proper information. If they say nah, then nah.

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I have seen dry pour used on fence posts, and almost all of them were crumbling within a few years, if not faster. I would not even do dry pour on fence posts.

I did a slab about that size a few weeks ago for a generator. I think I mixed about 8 bags in wheelbarrow, one at a time. It wasn't too bad and only took an hour or so once I had everything ready to get started. I put some rebar in there too that I poured around. I get where you are coming from on just being a shed but it will probably be worth the time. I assume you already built a small frame anyway.

Thanks all! I wasn't dead set on either method. I agree with most of your comments. I'd rather do it right once and have piece of mind. Had came across this method on YouTube and just wanted to get some opinions first hand.

Based on my calculations, I'll need about 8 - 80# sacks. Probably rent an electric mixer from the local HD. Or maybe I should just mix in a wheelbarrow. Don't want to be too lazy, right Burdizzo? (Just joking with you). I am looking forward to the project. I find finishing wet concrete very satisfying.

For just a little shed you might consider some precast concrete pavers. Get the 2'x2' size and they'll have enough weight to stay put.

Magnolia_State_Ag said:

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Thanks all! I wasn't dead set on either method. I agree with most of your comments. I'd rather do it right once and have piece of mind. Had came across this method on YouTube and just wanted to get some opinions first hand.

Based on my calculations, I'll need about 8 - 80# sacks. Probably rent an electric mixer from the local HD. Or maybe I should just mix in a wheelbarrow. Don't want to be too lazy, right Burdizzo? (Just joking with you). I am looking forward to the project. I find finishing wet concrete very satisfying.

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Don't waste money on renting. Get a wheelbarrow, shovel, and hoe and mix it. Put two bags in and get after it. Most people mix three bags but it is more work. Not much but will require a bit more muscle.

Magnolia_State_Ag said:

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Thanks all! I wasn't dead set on either method. I agree with most of your comments. I'd rather do it right once and have piece of mind. Had came across this method on YouTube and just wanted to get some opinions first hand.

Based on my calculations, I'll need about 8 - 80# sacks. Probably rent an electric mixer from the local HD. Or maybe I should just mix in a wheelbarrow. Don't want to be too lazy, right Burdizzo? (Just joking with you). I am looking forward to the project. I find finishing wet concrete very satisfying.

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Just do it in a wheelbarrow. I did 50+ bags in a wheelbarrow and would do it again. It's not that hard.

Did some small slabs mixing in a black plastic molasses tub, worked out pretty easy. Just tip the tub over and then turn it upside down to empty it. Don't even need a wheelbarrow then.

AgToadie said:

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For just a little shed you might consider some precast concrete pavers. Get the 2'x2' size and they'll have enough weight to stay put.

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This^

We have a suncast shed thats probably 15+ years old. Been sitting on pavers and been just fine.

I just hand mixed 20 bags of 80# sacrete using a large wheelbarrow and large hoe. Poured a small slab in August heat.

Done it several times in the past, small concrete projects are a simple DIY job, even for an old arthritic fat man.

Use a 2x4 to screed it and buy yourself a trowel. I have my grandfather's concrete tools.

FYI McCoys sells rebar in 10' lengths so easy to transport on your truck for small jobs.

Go to Harbor Freight and spend ~$150 on an electric mixer. It will save you a ton of work.

Don't put too much water in the mix either. Yes, it makes it easier to put in the forms and level but it makes a crappy finished product. After you are done placing and troweling and it sets up enough that you can walk on it without leaving a footprint, take a soaker hose and lay it on top of the slab and turn the water on - you want the slab consistently saturated with a little bit of standing water on top. Leave it for 7 days before doing anything on the slab.

schmellba99 said:

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Go to Harbor Freight and spend ~$150 on an electric mixer. It will save you a ton of work.

Don't put too much water in the mix either. Yes, it makes it easier to put in the forms and level but it makes a crappy finished product. After you are done placing and troweling and it sets up enough that you can walk on it without leaving a footprint, take a soaker hose and lay it on top of the slab and turn the water on - you want the slab consistently saturated with a little bit of standing water on top. Leave it for 7 days before doing anything on the slab.

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Spend $150 on a mixer to mix 8 bags???

AgToadie said:

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For just a little shed you might consider some precast concrete pavers. Get the 2'x2' size and they'll have enough weight to stay put.

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3rd this, but get a do some ground prep to prevent uneven settling. Dig down a couple of inches and backfill with a couple bags of base material, then tamp down and level with some sand.

hillcountryag86 said:

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schmellba99 said:

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Go to Harbor Freight and spend ~$150 on an electric mixer. It will save you a ton of work.

Don't put too much water in the mix either. Yes, it makes it easier to put in the forms and level but it makes a crappy finished product. After you are done placing and troweling and it sets up enough that you can walk on it without leaving a footprint, take a soaker hose and lay it on top of the slab and turn the water on - you want the slab consistently saturated with a little bit of standing water on top. Leave it for 7 days before doing anything on the slab.

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Spend $150 on a mixer to mix 8 bags???

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Yes. Then sell it after. Way easier on your back and you get a better mix.

I have done both. The dry way will create a very rough, unprofessional look. My dry poured drive way extension hasn't cracked but I used rebar in it. 40 bag pour.

If I did it again I would have done it wet.

I have probably don't 5 slabs of wet. Just didn't have my kids available to help like you need with wet.