Concrete Slabs & Pads in Gainesville, FL

Concrete slabs and pads hold up cars, sheds, workshops, AC units, generators and hot tubs. A slab has one main job: stay flat. That depends on what is under it. In Gainesville, much of the ground is sand, and sand under a slab shifts when water gets to it. So every slab and pad we pour starts with soft soil removed and a base compacted in layers, with the top set a little above the yard so rain runs off instead of under.

Garage and carport floors

Many Gainesville homes from the 1970s and 1980s have carports or garages with original floors. Those floors often have a low spot that holds water, cracks that cross the whole slab, or edges that have broken up. We can break out and replace a floor under a carport or inside a standing garage, working around posts and walls. HomeGuide's slab guide says most two-car garage floors are reinforced concrete 4 to 6 inches thick. We slope garage floors toward the door so water drives out.

Slabs for new buildings

If the slab is going under a new enclosed building, like a garage, workshop or room addition, the Florida Building Code adds steps. Under section R318 of the residential code, the soil under the slab is treated for termites after the base is compacted, and the treated soil is covered with a vapor retarder at least 6 mil thick. If it rains before the vapor retarder goes down, the soil has to be treated again. A licensed pest control company does the treatment and issues the certificate. We schedule around that and work with whoever is building the structure, so the slab size, thickened edges and anchors match the plans.

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Shed pads

A shed pad is lighter work, but it still has to be level or the shed racks and the doors stick. HomeGuide's slab guide says shed slabs are usually about 4 inches thick and typically need no reinforcement. On bigger sheds or softer ground we often add wire mesh anyway. We make the pad a little bigger than the shed, raise it slightly above grade, and can add a ramp for a mower or wheelbarrow.

Other pads

• AC condenser pads and pool equipment pads
• Generator pads
• Trash can and recycling pads
• Parking pads for a boat, trailer or RV
• Hot tub pads, thicker and reinforced for the weight of a filled tub
• Basketball half-courts and play slabs

Permits

New buildings and some slabs need a permit, and the rules depend on whether you are in Gainesville, another town or unincorporated Alachua County. We check what your project needs before we schedule and work with your builder on any inspections.

Taking care of a slab

Keep downspouts pointed away from the edges. Fix leaking hoses, pool lines and irrigation heads near the slab, since steady water under concrete is the main cause of settling here. Seal garage floors, or ask about a coating if you want something easier to clean.