Concrete Pad

[JDGREEN4ME]

We are planning on building a 24' x 24' garage next spring. Just received a quote today for the pad that was $4700 dollars. That is for concrete rated at 4000 pounds, 4" slab with concrete poured 25" deep and 18" wide around the perimeter. Stated if code states frost footers we will need to go 42" deep and the cost will increase accordingly. I was figuring around $2K for the concrete portion of the job and I was kind of surprised by their quote of $4700. Am I unrealistic or is the concrete guy nuts? (Finger Lakes Region of NY)

 

[westbrooklawn]

Sounds high to me. It comes out to right around 16 yards concrete. Worst case should be about $190/yard poured and finished... that would equate to about $3040.

Again, that should be worst case... I could get that poured in this area for around $2400.

 

[Dave5264]

I paid that much for a 24x28 slab a few yrs ago. That included excavating the whole area 4'-5' down, puting in weeping tile and back filling with Gravel (i had some Clay so it had to go).

If they're putting in a frost Footer, that will certaily add a bit. In our area if you go over a certain size or if its 2 story (i think thats why) we have to go 4' down (or more), pur a footer, build a 4' block wall (or pour a wall) fill the cavity of the wall with gravel, then pour the slab on top.

 

[20 20]

Can you call around and get some other quotes, that'll be your best bet as far as price range. I know that the prices change a lot going from 1 area too another.

 

[CurlyDave]

Can you call around and get some other quotes...

I have found that competition and the free market is a boon to the buyer, especially in today's economy. Every time I get quotes for something, the price gets lower and lower. Especially if I subtly let them know there is competition.

The woman across the street from me paid over $6k to get a very large oak tree near her house taken out two years ago. A few months ago I paid $750 to get two larger trees, in a worse position, taken out. I had bids of $3500, $2000, $1800 and $750.

 

[chrisreedtn]

By your avatar pic, you have a back hoe, Just go to the codes dept, see what they require for frost protection. Lay it out, dig it out. You will need to add some gravel, 4"-6" compacted (just rent a small plate tamp ((should be less than 100 for a day)) and knock that out. If you (your codes or insurance) require a contractor liscense get them to place your welded wire fabric and prob some reinforcing steel (rebar) for the turndown portion. I.E. angles down from the slab to the footing, with a continous bar at the bend, and one at the bottom and top. This will minimise cracking from freeze thaw conditions. You dont have to have a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) unless you want it or codes require it. But you could really do all this your self, and save a large labor charge. You can even order the concrete yourself, but if using a large contractor it may be cheaper for them to order it. If your handy enough to do this much. (its really simple) then just hire them to finish it, and poss saw cut it, to limit cracking (you dont wanna try this unless you have experience) or youll have little ponds of water in the floor when it gets wet. You can prob hire some experienced people really cheap to do side work right now, and you pull the permit from the codes dept. Contractors are dying for work. Just hire the people though, not the company lol. If (I dont know what NY allows) but since you can possibly get it for agricultural purposes (your gonna store your tractor in there , then codes may not require much of anything.. That makes it really easy.

Good luck

 

[MarkV]

That would be way high in my area. Grab the phone book and let your fingers do the walking.

MarkV

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

We will be in NY in two weeks and we have a meeting with the local codes officer so we will be able to get some of our questions answered. For sure we are going to get some more quotes for the concrete work. I also want to follow up on the thickness of the pad as we talked to some others and they went with 6" instead of 4".

 

[CurlyDave]

I agree with chrisreedtn, you can do all of the prep work and forming yourself, and get some seat time while you are at it. This cuts the cost significantly.

About the only part where you need a pro is to finish the concrete on the day of the pour.

Don't call a concrete contractor, call a concrete finisher. He will advise you on all of the prep work and forming, and then will show up with a crew on the day of the pour. In our area he will want about $250, plus $100 per worker that he brings.

You can do it--this isn't rocket science.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I agree with chrisreedtn, you can do all of the prep work and forming yourself, and get some seat time while you are at it. This cuts the cost significantly.

About the only part where you need a pro is to finish the concrete on the day of the pour.

Don't call a concrete contractor, call a concrete finisher. He will advise you on all of the prep work and forming, and then will show up with a crew on the day of the pour. In our area he will want about $250, plus $100 per worker that he brings.

You can do it--this isn't rocket science.

Part of my problem is I sold the tractor and at this point haven't replaced it yet. It would still be way cheaper to rent one for a weekend.