Set in concrete

Good foundations
The bulk of the work for a new slab is in the excavation and formwork. To level a sloped site or bring in a lot of fill, hire an excavator or a skid steer loader for a day. Count on taking a day to build the formwork and one to pour the slab. Concrete shrinks as it ages, so it’s vital to include control joints. Slabs larger than 3m2 need steel mesh reinforcement, and the maximum permissible distance between joints is 6m.

Up to standard
To make sure the slab is all above board check with the council and the BCA Housing Provisions for concrete construction, make sure termite treatment meets Australian Standard 3660, fully compact fill under the slab and have the compaction certified, and be sure the design meets soil classification for your area. Divert surface and seepage water away from the slab, ensure waterproof membrane has a minimum thickness of 0.2mm and have the membrane and reinforcement inspected before pouring the concrete. Also check with the council on the distance from ground level to the top of the slab height.

Safety First
Wet concrete on skin can cause a reaction – from mild redness to third-degree chemical burns. Make sure you wear eye protection, long pants and sleeves, rubber gloves, and tall rubber boots if wading in wet concrete. If clothes become saturated with wet cement, remove, rinse off skin, and change into clean clothes