A gravel floor is looking better and better:laughing:
Actually, I was figuring on between $2.5-3K...one benefit is the soil is very stable and the chance of frost heave is really low.
Dave, for a rank amateur, how difficult would you say the prep work is; ie. forms, digging footer, etc. I'm not a complete novice and can be pretty mechanical when necessary, but I'm a history teacher, not a rocket scientist like some folks...
thanks in advance for the tips/advice!
There is nothing about the prep work you can not do yourself. Your profile doesn't mention owning a tractor, which would be a great help, but is not 100% necessary.
Before you do anything on a slab you need the design of the building that will go on it. I can't emphasize this enough.
If you are putting a shed/shop on top of the slab, you really need to think through how you are going to build the structure. You are going to need foundation bolts at code-specified intervals along the edge of the slab, where walls go, and you may need shear panel tie-downs in some places. Foundation bolts are usually every 48" and one no more than 12" from the end of each mudsill.
If you need tie downs, they are different than the foundation bolts, and the two are entirely separate. You can not use a tie down both as a tie down, and as a foundation bolt -- you need a separate bolt.
You will need designed footers, not by gosh and by golly. You need to plan out where the doors go, and you need to know about electric power.
Do you need a ground rod? The best way is a Eufer rod, which is nothing more than a 20' long piece of 1/2" rebar in the concrete, with about 6" protruding above the slab. It should protrude directly under the electrical panel.
Get your shop/shed plans ready before you even think about pouring a slab. Even if you are going to wait years to build the structure. If you don't, you will inevitably find that the slab is not good enough for the structure, and you will need very costly upgrades to fix this problem.
Look on Craigslist or in a local paper for concrete finishers. Have a few come out to see the job, interview them and get bids. During the interview process ask them about site prep and what they think is necessary -- they know your local conditions, which I don't. I would go above and beyond what a finisher recommends, but they will put you in the right ballpark.
The only things that require real skill are getting the slab square, and getting it either level or sloped the way you want it. You would be amazed at how often this gets screwed up.
Enough for now. Ask more advice when you have the building planned out.
Dave