Thread: Garage Slab

Nev,
once you've got the ground levelled, either by hand or machine you'll need to build some profiles at each corner and square and level up for your formwork. You'll need to borrow/buy/hire a screed, bull float, small mag float and a steel trowel as well as an edger. If the slab is large enough you may want a helicopter (steel trowelling machine). While placing and finishing concrete is simple in theory, in practice there's quite an art to it. I've done small slabs (up to 30M2) but when I did my shed (10 x 7.5) I did all the prep work and got a concretor in to place and finish it.

Mick

Nev,

I'm with Mick above, I recon you should try to do all the prep work and get someone with experience in to help you lay it. I need to do the same soon and i've got a couple of friends who do this for a living who are going to come over and help me. I expect i'll pay them an hourly rate for an many hours that they work. i'll let them be the foreman for the work.

/M

Nev, I layed some concrete slabs when building some extra sheds on our property a few years ago. Despite a lot of preparation, time and effort using all the right equipment the results were "OK" given they were by an amateur and served the purpose they were meant to. A few dips in the floor here and there was not going to affect how well stuff could be stored on it!

When it came time to build a garage in our new place in the city I thought about doing the slab myself but got a good deal from the shed mob to do the slab and erect the shed. I must admit it was great seeing 3 guys doing over 2 half days what it took me weeks to do by myself. And the final result was far superior to my best efforts - flat, level, square with a nicely finished surface.....Also, as they were also erecting the shed there was no 'blaming the other tradies' when it was being put up.

If this is going to be something that will affect the value of your home its worth considering getting the pro's in as the results will be around for quite some time.

Nev,
I'm with everyone above - do the prep work yourself but have a professional in to lay and finish.

It looks easy, but it sure isn't. I've done a few small slabs and by the end of each one I'd wished I'd gotten in a pro - mind you I must be a sucker for punishment because I keep doing it.