How to Lay Concrete for a Dog Kennel

Laying concrete for a dog kennel is no different than laying concrete for any other project. This is a smaller project than most, so you may be able to mix the concrete by hand or rent a small concrete mixer from a big-box home and garden store or an equipment rental company. Some areas also rent a concrete mixer with the cement already mixed in the mixer. Contact a local concrete distributor for premixed cement.

Things You'll Need

  • Concrete
  • 2-by-4 inch boards
  • Cement trowel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure and mark the area for the kennel. The two short ends (if making a rectangular-shaped kennel) should be the same measurement, and the two long ends should be the same measurement. In addition, both diagonal measurements should be the same to make it square.

    • 2

      Dig out the measured area to 4 inches deep. Make the dugout area 4 inches wider than the actual measurement of the concrete slab to make room for the form to hold the concrete. Line the sides of the dugout area with 2-by-4 inch boards to create the form. Make sure the tops of the boards are level all the way around.

    • 3

      Wedge re-bar into the form if the pad is larger than a few feet by a few feet. The re-bar will help keep the cement from cracking. Wedge it down so that it's in the center of the 2-by-4 inch boards.

    • 4

      Pour the cement into the form. Smooth it out with the cement trowels. Once smooth, drag a 2-by-4 inch board across the top of the cement to level it out. Check for levelness by placing a level on the 2-by-4 inch board. Adjust the wet cement where necessary. Allow the cement to set as instructed by the cement manufacturer. Once it's set, remove the forms.

    • 5

      Mist the cement every four or five hours if the day is hot and dry. This will help keep the cement from drying out too fast. Fast-drying cement will crack and ruin the pad.