skip to main content

Building a Home

Cost of concrete slab foundation in Southern AZ??

16 years ago

I am a complete newbie in house building so I am trying to figure out some housebuilding cost basics. Our house with garage will be 3510 sf or 76'x 70'. 10' walls. 1 story. Can I get some cost estimates of how much laying the slab could cost per square foot, or for the projects. I will appreciate a cost breakdown to excavation, leveling..... the entire process. We are located about 30 miles east of Tucson, AZ.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

persnicketydesign
16 years ago
Welcome to the board! You came to the right place to get info, but unfortunately the questions you are asking can't be answered by anyone here. LOL

The cost of clearing and excavation will depend upon your lot. If they hit rock or have to bring in fill it could add thousands to your initial estimate. As they say, dirtwork is the wildcard in the mix. There are too many variables to try to even guess a figure. Call some folks that do clearing and excavation in your area and have them bid the job for you. Estimates shouldn't cost you a thing. :o)

Same thing for the slab. Contact the concrete places in your area and have them bid it out for you.

There are lots of places out there that have good info available. Several folks on the board have gotten fairly close results on costs by using the calculator on http://www.building-cost.net.
0
kkaty
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for answering my post! I understand what you are saying about the variation. I am going, of course, to collect bids but before that I was hoping to get a rough idea of what I should get so that in case it's way out there I can ask why... based on other people's numbers. You know, when you talk to people it's better if they think that you have a rough idea what you're talking about... So I saw somebody posted a message about cost of basement vs. slab and people posted their costs with excavation- site prep- slab laying breakdown and what their own experience was. you know, square footage and description of the site, labor, materials... And I was hoping to receive the same sort of examples but about slab specifically. The other post focused on basement costs. But I appreciate your helping hand;)
0
Related Discussions
moving a toilet on a slab foundation $?
Q
Comments (1)
If you have a simple slab (not post tensioned) it is mostly just hard work to cut the slab and install a new line. It varies a lot by area, but $300 a foot (slab cutting, plumbing, slab repair) is not excessive. It is a lot better to dry cut the slab than to just hammer it up. If you have a post tensioned slab it gets harder since the tension members must be located and avoided in cutting.
...See More
Need advice on concrete slab foundation repair
Q
Comments (7)
The post above carlos229 is not the OP. One thing I was going to point out about the difference in cost: If you divide the total cost by the proposed # of piers, you get $1600/pier for one contractor and $1700 for the other. So their rate per pier is not far off at all. I did the same thing with foam jacking my sinking driveway. Had estimates from $980 all the way to $2200. Each estimated an amount of foam plus a per-pound price if they went over. I calculated the cost if everyone used the same amount as the highest estimate, and the estimates came out within a couple hundred bucks of each other at that point. So I picked the guy I liked best. He wasn't the cheapest one but it didn't make that much difference. Question is how many piers you need, and I can't help with that. I liked the idea of hiring someone who has no stake in the game to tell you want you need.
...See More
my slab foundation crack narrow but very deep, builder says shrinkage?
Q
Comments (12)
Millworkman is correct. A large slab of concrete (regardless of exterior driveway or interior living space) needs relief cuts. These need to be planned for in advance and dealt with at the time the slab has been poured or shortly afterwards. The fact that your builder's 'slab people' didn't do such a basic thing - relief cuts - is questionable. Then to ask the same people to look at a cracked slab to determine 'fault' is working into the 'wonky' range. The last photo with the measure and the size of the crack is concerning. The other photos look rather innocent....but you never know with concrete. I suggest paying to bring in a concrete expert to examine the current condition of the slab, and the grade of the property...drainage, etc. If the builder used people who did NOT know to cut the concrete slab (to prevent unwanted cracks) then what else was missed or done poorly? At this point, I would NOT trust what the builder's people say until it is verified by a third party. As paranoid as this sounds, it is in the concrete company's (and the Builder's) best interests to say 'this is fine...don't worry about it'. It costs them less money if they homeowner believes them. And at this point, I would put the 'hardwood' flooring on hold. Because if the concrete has been cracking, it might be damaging the vapour barrier underneath...causing a WHOLE NEW set of problems with wood flooring. And besides...the slab must be FIXED before you lay wood flooring. Which means you need to bring in some concrete people to fix this anyways.
...See More
Building a slab foundation on top of a existing slab for in-law??
Q
Comments (16)
What does your municipality say? What does the structural engineer/soils engineer/geologic engineer say about the idea? Someone has to physically design your foundation based on your specific site conditions. That foundation design has to get the approval of your municipality. A slab on grade must have a foundation perimeter and load points that goes into undisturbed subsoil. A concrete contractor should understand that, even if he is not a structural engineer. Or undisturbed subsoil with approved and inspected compaction material. A concrete slab isn’t an approved and inspected compaction material. Not without core samples proving what is under it, and the compaction of the fill that’s under it, and the depth at which you reach undisturbed soil. It also will complicate the required termiticide treatment required under slabs. Doing all of the work and reports to prove that you can use it may cost you more than demolition and rebuilding. Time is money in that regard. Working around the old parts of a building is what makes remodeling cost more than new construction. The input of a concrete contractor is valuable, but he is limited to a single perspective that revolves only around his job portion. He doesn’t understand the interconnected complexity that goes into making his job “arrive and pour”. There’s a lot more engineering that happens before that happens. And the GC is the one that coordinates all of those moving parts that the concrete contractor does not see. Talk to your municipality.
...See More

Related Stories

GREEN BUILDING Considering Concrete Floors? 3 Green-Minded Questions to Ask

By Melanie Loftus

Learn what’s in your concrete and about sustainability to make a healthy choice for your home and the earth

FLOORS 5 Benefits to Concrete Floors for Everyday Living

By Natalie Myers

Get low-maintenance home flooring that creates high impact and works with home styles from traditional to modern

PATIOS Landscape Paving 101: Cast-in-Place Concrete

By Falon Mihalic

A construction standard, cast-in-place concrete can be used for a wide variety of project types

ARCHITECTURE The Truth About 'Simple' Modern Details

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

They may look less costly and easier to create, but modern reveals, slab doors and more require an exacting hand

FLOORS 6 Alternative Flooring Ideas to Kick Up Your Style

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Rubber, cork, concrete and other materials are worthy options in lieu of hardwood or tile

BASEMENTS Design Workshop: Is It Time to Let Basements Become Extinct?

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Costly and often unnecessary, basements may become obsolete — if they aren’t already. Here are responses to every reason to keep them around

GREEN BUILDING Insulation Basics: Heat, R-Value and the Building Envelope

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Learn how heat moves through a home and the materials that can stop it, to make sure your insulation is as effective as you think

MOST POPULAR Creative Ideas for Small Front Yards

By Laura Gaskill

A little imagination goes a long way in a petite landscape

ARCHITECTURE Roots of Style: See What Defines a Craftsman Home

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Charming features and intimate proportions have made Craftsman houses an American favorite. See their common details and variations

MOST POPULAR 8 Things Successful Architects and Designers Do

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Good architects tell a story and engage the senses. They understand the rules — and know when to break them

Sponsored

More Discussions

Holiday gifts for builders - help!

4

Reliable outdoor security camera for 2-story home (new build)

9

Critique Our Architecture Plans!

44

desperately need help-new toilet makes hissing noise every 15 minutes

37

Gap between shoe rail and floor on second floor

5