Concrete is the most unforgiving
material builders use.
Once it has cured, mistakes
are "set in stone" and are extremely
difficult and costly to repair. But
like any other part of the building
process, with planning and coordination,
you can ensure a quality
product and minimize callbacks.
Design
A well-designed slab is sized for
its intended use: The more
demanding the use, the stronger
the slab needs to be. Typical residential
slabs for foot traffic, storage,
and vehicle parking are 4 inches
thick, but large, heavy vehicles —
like loaded pickups, oil delivery
trucks, and trash haulers — require
a 5- or 6-inch slab. Parts of the slab
may be thickened to support heavier
loads, such as bearing walls or
fireplaces (see