Concrete Slabs in Norfolk, VA

Concrete slabs under garages, sheds, carports, HVAC units and outdoor kitchens are simple to look at and easy to get wrong in Norfolk. On low ground, the height of the slab compared with the yard around it decides whether a heavy rain flows past or soaks everything stored on it. The thickness and reinforcement decide whether it holds a car, a workshop or just a lawn mower.

Height and drainage

A slab poured at or below the surrounding grade becomes a pond after a storm. We set the top of the slab above the yard where the lot allows it and pitch it slightly so water runs off one edge, usually toward a garage door or an open side. On a flat lot we sometimes build up the stone base to gain height, and grade the soil around the slab to fall away from it.

The city has its own interest in height. The Pew Charitable Trusts, summarizing Norfolk's 2018 zoning ordinance, reports that new residential construction outside the coastal overlay must be raised at least 16 inches above the ground, with stricter rules inside the Coastal Resilience Overlay and the floodplain. Those rules apply to buildings, not every pad, but they matter if your slab is the floor of a new garage or addition. We check what the city requires for your lot before quoting.

Thickness by use

HomeGuide's slab guide gives 4-inch slabs at $6 to $8 a square foot and 6-inch slabs at $8 to $10. Typical choices:

• Shed pads: about 4 inches, often without heavy reinforcement.
• HVAC and generator pads: small but level and set above grade.
• Garage floors: HomeGuide notes a two-car garage floor is typically 4 to 6 inches thick, and we reinforce them.
• RV and boat pads: thicker and reinforced for the weight.
• Outdoor kitchens: thicker under counters and grills, with any conduit or gas sleeves placed before the pour.

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The base and the vapor question

Every slab sits on crushed stone, compacted in layers. Under enclosed floors such as a garage or workshop, a vapor barrier goes beneath the concrete to slow ground moisture coming up through the slab, which helps keep tools from rusting and stored boxes from going musty in a humid climate. Wire mesh or rebar holds cracked sections together if the ground shifts.

Finish

Garage floors get a smooth or light broom finish that is easy to sweep. Exterior pads get a broom finish for grip. If you plan to coat a garage floor later, tell us at the start; HomeGuide prices epoxy floor coating at $4 to $10 a square foot on top of the slab, and a coating needs a fully cured slab underneath.

Cure time

HomeGuide's slab guide says a slab is walkable in 1 to 2 days, drivable in 1 to 2 weeks and fully cured in 28 to 48 days. Hold off on setting a shed or heavy equipment on a fresh slab until we give you the date.