Whether you’re building a garage for your car or a workshop, the foundation slab should be strong enough to support all of its weight. This means that you need to pay special attention to the concrete mix and how it’s poured.
Slabs are made by pouring concrete into a form, and the amount of cement required varies according to local building codes. However, there are a few common techniques that you can use to create a sturdy slab.
One method is to dig footings for the foundation. This is a simple but effective way to build the garage’s base.
This is a great option for homes that are situated on slopes or have steeply sloping terrain. It’s important to note, though, that these foundations can only be built in areas with a high enough ground water table.
The footings should be at least 1 foot wide by 18 inches deep, and the area should be flattened down to a consistent slope before pouring the concrete. This isn’t always an easy job, and you may need to get help from a construction company or a friend who has the skills to do it.
Another approach is to build a slab using a mix of concrete that’s specifically designed for a garage. These mixes often include air-entraining agents, which limit the damage a concrete slab is subjected to through seasonal freeze-thaw cycles.
For added strength, you can also add fiber reinforcement to the concrete mix. The fibers are inexpensive, but they’ll increase the slab’s resistance to cracking over time.
You can also use a groover to create control joints in the concrete. Grooving is an effective way to minimize the number of random cracks that occur as the concrete dries and shrinks.
To prepare the site, remove any vegetation and other debris from the property. This will make it easier for the concrete contractor to work on your garage.
Next, mark the perimeter of your new garage by spray-painting a line around the area or using wooden posts with string tied between them. This will ensure that your new garage is a consistent width from side to side and that the corners are 90 degrees.
Once you have the foundation marked, dig the trenches needed to lay out your concrete. This is a great way to start preparing your site, and it’s an essential part of getting the concrete truck to the area you want to pour it.
It’s also a good idea to make sure that the concrete is level, as this will help you avoid the problem of uneven concrete that can cause your slab to crack. It’s also a good idea to place an expansion joint in the concrete as soon as it’s mixed.
The expansion joint will allow a little of the concrete to dry before it’s set, which will decrease the chance of the slab settling. It’s a good idea to put a layer of sand or gravel on the bottom of your slab before you pour it so that the concrete has something to bond to.
