Concrete slabs have many uses including in foundations, industrial or commercial floors, and even in some roads and highways. They are also popular for residential use for instance as a base for your shed, garage, or patio floor.
Before pouring the concrete for the slab, you need to ensure that everything else is already in place and the land is adequately prepared. Failure to perform concrete slab preparation could end up with a weak slab or have cracks in the finished slab.
Steps for Slab Preparation
Here are the most important steps to take when preparing land for slab:
- Site Survey and Evaluation.
Whether you’re laying slab for residential or commercial purposes, you need to start by conducting a thorough site evaluation. The contractor will visit the site to check out any obstacles that may get in the way. This includes trees, tree stumps, or any other organic material. They will also take note of any structures around the site where the slab will be as well as any debris or obstacles that need to be cleared out first. This is also a good time to check out the drainage in the area and see if any adjustments need to be done before laying the slab.
- Land Clearing and Grubbing.
The next step is to remove the topsoil and clear any organic materials (grubbing) e.g trees, rocks, and stumps. The soft soil needs to be removed to reach the harder more compact soil underneath. This is because the slab needs a solid and stable base otherwise it will crack. During this excavation stage, the soil that is removed can be stockpiled nearby if it can be used as backfill.
- Grading and Leveling.
This involves removing dirt and making the ground level. To level slopes, dirt needs to be hauled out and this dirt can then be used to fill out low spots in the site. After cutting and filling, the building site needs to be leveled to make the ground as level and flat as possible before pouring the concrete.
- Compacting.
After leveling the ground, a layer of gravel is placed on the ground and compacted. Other than providing a solid foundation for the concrete, the gravel also improves the site’s drainage and helps prevent water from pooling or accumulating beneath the concrete. Once the gravel has been placed, it needs to be compacted so that it can hold together to create a strong and stable surface.
Let’s Work Together
We at Smoot Contracting Group in Arizona are ready to help you with land preparation for slab. We have extensive experience in providing services geared towards land clearing and grubbing, grading, excavation, and demolition. We pride ourselves on providing excellent services and customer care and we make sure all our projects are completed on time. Contact us today for all your earthworks and demolition needs and let’s work together to make your ideas a reality.