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Started By
Message
Couple of questions about concrete slabs.
Posted on 2/18/14 at 9:04 am
Posted on 2/18/14 at 9:04 am
So recently bought some property and it has two slabs on it. One large slab (~20'X34') that used to have an above ground sewage treatment tank and one small (~5'X8')
1) can I assume that the big slab would be sufficient to hold a workshop with a guest house above because it held that tank (which I'm assuming it was filled with liquid) Would a foundation contractor be able to evaluate by measuring thickness? Something I can do with a shovel?
2) is it cost prohibitive to break up and get rid of the small slab rather than do something with it? Won't really need a small shed with a workshop and 4 garage bays. What are some other options for the small slab? Break up the concrete and use it for something?
3) and there's no issue with adding to an existing slab for building as this is done for additions all the time, right?
Thanks OBers
1) can I assume that the big slab would be sufficient to hold a workshop with a guest house above because it held that tank (which I'm assuming it was filled with liquid) Would a foundation contractor be able to evaluate by measuring thickness? Something I can do with a shovel?
2) is it cost prohibitive to break up and get rid of the small slab rather than do something with it? Won't really need a small shed with a workshop and 4 garage bays. What are some other options for the small slab? Break up the concrete and use it for something?
3) and there's no issue with adding to an existing slab for building as this is done for additions all the time, right?
Thanks OBers
6
Posted on 2/18/14 at 9:09 am to VanRIch
Have a core drilled and eliminate any guessing.
Posted on 2/18/14 at 9:13 am to H.M. Murdock
You can dig around it with a shovel and can determine if it has a chain wall built around. It should be able to hold a storage building without issue.
Posted on 2/18/14 at 9:18 am to VanRIch
Keep your lawn equipment in the small shed
Posted on 2/18/14 at 9:22 am to Hammertime
You cant fit much on a slab the size of a sheet of plywood
Posted on 2/18/14 at 9:23 am to ToulatownTiger
You could put a bunch of plywood 
Posted on 2/18/14 at 9:25 am to CHEDBALLZ
quote:This. If you've got an 18" footer all the way around and at least 4" on the interior, you should be good to go.
You can dig around it with a shovel and can determine if it has a chain wall built around. It should be able to hold a storage building without issue.
Posted on 2/18/14 at 9:40 am to DonChowder
just drill a hole in it and see how thick it is
Posted on 2/18/14 at 9:59 am to ToulatownTiger
If the big slab has footings"usually about 18" deep ". Probably work ok if only 10" deep. Your slab should be 3 1/2 inches deep. Preferably with #10 wire which is common . You need the footings to support the shop and upper room. All the building weight is distributed to the footings, from roof to joists to studs to bottom plate etc. Take a shovel dig around the slab and you can see if there is a footing. Over 3 1/2 " you have a footing. You may see the tips of the wire sticking out the edge of the slab.. If the small slab has wire in it you need a maul and a grinder to cut the wire as you break it. Better rent the Jack hammer at HD. Works on 120v outlet .still is a lot of work. If no wire and 31/2" it should break up easy with just a maul. If no footing on the big slab drill into the the middle 3 1/2" of the slab insert 5/8 rebar about 6" into existing slab and leave 6" into a new footing that you have to dig around the perimeter of the existing slab about 8" wide and 18" deep preferably. Rebar should be at 9" spacing around the entire slab. Pour the new footing with sack quickcrete or call a concrete co. Your treated bottom plate goes on the new footing.. Have a fun day.
Posted on 2/18/14 at 10:04 am to VanRIch
Rent a core saw from Home Depot and check the slab. You will be surprised at what you find sometimes.
Posted on 2/18/14 at 10:16 am to VanRIch
quote:
1) can I assume that the big slab would be sufficient to hold a workshop with a guest house above because it held that tank (which I'm assuming it was filled with liquid) Would a foundation contractor be able to evaluate by measuring thickness? Something I can do with a shovel?
No. Never assume with your foundation. You can change electrical, plumbing, etc., but when you construct your building over a bad foundation, the fix is really expensive or you have to rebuild
quote:
is it cost prohibitive to break up and get rid of the small slab rather than do something with it? Won't really need a small shed with a workshop and 4 garage bays. What are some other options for the small slab? Break up the concrete and use it for something?
Can the small slab be used for a utility shed? Maybe for a small still?
quote:
and there's no issue with adding to an existing slab for building as this is done for additions all the time, right?
Slabs should have control joints anyway, so no problem there. You will have to tie into the existing foundation if you are going to connect the two structures.
Posted on 2/18/14 at 10:24 am to VanRIch
Seems to me you're assuming the ground was properly prepped prior to the pour.
Willa building inspector let you put up a structure over a mystery slab?
Willa building inspector let you put up a structure over a mystery slab?
Posted on 2/18/14 at 10:55 am to Tigah in the ATL
That's a very good question. But wouldn't there have been an inspection in this slab initially that is recorded somewhere?
Posted on 2/18/14 at 1:52 pm to VanRIch
If you have enough money to buy land, then you have enough money to do this the right way. Assume it isn't sufficient enough to support the new load until you prove different. Drill cores and drill some additional holes with long drill bit to investigate the slab depth/reinforcing. Dig around the perimeter and see what you find. Lastly, bring a structural engineer from the area to investigate. Whomever supplied the sewer treatment tank probably designed the slab...if you know who did that work you may be able to get all the information directly from them if isn't 30yrs old. Its likely going to be cost prohibitive to do concrete demo for reuse of the small slab. You would need something to break it with and crushing equipment...only real use would be rip rap or to use like stone for a driveway. 5x8 just isn't big enough to provide enough material for even a driveway.
Posted on 2/18/14 at 2:46 pm to DonChowder
quote:
This. If you've got an 18" footer all the way around and at least 4" on the interior, you should be good to go.
This
Posted on 2/18/14 at 3:03 pm to LSULANE
quote:i laugh at you calling that a footing.
If the big slab has footings"usually about 18" deep
Posted on 2/18/14 at 3:08 pm to CarRamrod
pretty typical usage in building construction
Posted on 2/18/14 at 3:09 pm to CarRamrod
quote:
i laugh at you calling that a footing.
I was corrected on this recently by an architect from Texas. He said us backwards arse Loosianians confuse footings and perimeter walls.
Apparently footings are the bottom piece of a two piece retention wall. What we call footings, the exterior thicker portion of concrete foundations, are really exterior barrier walls. If the deeper part runs through the the middle of the slab, its an interior barrier wall.
I told him to take his Aggie-arse back to College Station.
Posted on 2/18/14 at 3:13 pm to SetTheMood
quote:
Loosianians confuse footings and perimeter walls.
i'd call them "grade beams" more than anything else, but footing seems pretty common
quote:
Apparently footings are the bottom piece of a two piece retention wall.
not the best explanation, but i guess one example of a true footing
Posted on 2/18/14 at 3:17 pm to Croacka
This is what I always thought of as a footing...
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