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Concrete should be at least 4 inches thick for steps. This thickness boosts stability and prevents cracking and deterioration. After you’ve built your forms out of wood, fill the void with a sand or gravel base for concrete. Use an all-purpose concrete mix to form your steps. After pouring your concrete steps, be sure to screed and float the concrete. 

If your channel drain is being installed in a driveway, then you will need to pour concrete to secure the drain and prevent it from breaking under the weight of your car. For channel drains that you plan on installing on a walkway or underneath a roof or awning, then you can get away with using a compacted fill.

If you don’t put gravel under concrete, the concrete can crack, sink, bow, or crumble. Even the concrete forming process will not go as smoothly if you are working directly on the soil or bare bedrock. The lack of a proper gravel layer can also lead to drainage issues below your slab, leading to water issues throughout your lawn and around your foundation.

It depends on the type of concrete and how long it takes to cure. Some concrete countertops can be sanded 3 days after pouring, while other slabs may require weeks to cure before sanding.