Concrete Slabs in Suffolk, VA

Concrete slabs are the plain, flat foundation under a lot of what Suffolk homeowners own: storage sheds, detached garages, pole barns, workshops, carports, generators, HVAC units, and parking pads for boats, campers and tractors. Suffolk has plenty of room for that kind of building. It is the largest city in Virginia by land area, and much of it is rural, with lots big enough for a shop out back. We pour slabs that are level, square and built for the load.

Getting the base right

A slab on soft or poorly drained ground will crack and settle no matter how good the concrete is. Before we form anything, we:

• Strip topsoil, roots and organic material
• Dig to firm soil and fill low spots with compacted crushed stone, not loose dirt
• Raise the slab where the yard is low so water runs away from it after a heavy rain
• Add a vapor barrier under slabs for enclosed buildings, where moisture coming up through the floor would cause problems

Suffolk sits at a low elevation with more than 50 inches of precipitation a year, so lifting a building slab a few inches above the surrounding grade is often worth it.

Thickness and reinforcement

The right thickness depends on what will sit on the slab:

• Shed and HVAC pads: usually 4 inches
• Garages and workshops: 4 inches for cars and light use, with thickened edges where walls bear
• RV, boat, tractor and equipment pads: 6 inches with steel reinforcement
• Post-frame or pole barn floors: thickness set to the equipment and use

HomeGuide's slab guide prices 4-inch slabs at about $6 to $8 per square foot and 6-inch slabs at $8 to $10. If a building permit or a building kit maker calls for a particular slab design, we build to that drawing.

Square, level and ready for the building

A shed or garage kit goes up much easier on a slab that is the right size, square in every corner and level across the top. We check diagonals before the pour, set anchor bolts where the builder needs them, and finish the surface to suit the use: a smooth trowel finish for a workshop floor, a broom finish for an outdoor pad.

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Permits for buildings and slabs

The City of Suffolk's Community Development Division handles building permits and inspections. Whether your project needs one depends on what is going on the slab, so we ask about the building first and check with the city before we pour rather than guess.

Curing and when to load it

Light foot traffic is fine after a day or two. Building on a slab can usually start after about a week, but heavy loads such as vehicles and equipment should wait until the concrete is close to full strength, about 28 days. In summer heat we keep the slab damp or apply a curing compound so it does not dry too fast; in winter we watch the overnight lows and protect a new pour from freezing.

Slab care

• Keep gutters on the building aimed away from the slab edge
• Seal an exterior pad to slow water and freeze damage
• Fill hairline cracks before water gets underneath