Say No to DIY: 5 Reasons to Hire a Professional If You Need a Concrete Slab

Posted on: 13 November 2017

A concrete slab can make a delightful patio, a durable driveway or the foundation for certain types of homes. If you're thinking about putting in a concrete slab, you need to decide if you want to do it yourself or hire a professional. Here are five reasons to hire a professional.

1. Don't Have to Buy Supplies

Generally, most people don't have the supplies they need for pouring a concrete slab. If you don't have a concrete mixer, you are going to need to hire or buy one. For small projects or repair jobs, mixing the concrete in a bucket can work, but for a large concrete slab, that usually doesn't create enough concrete.

2. Don't Have to Worry About Permits

Depending on the building codes in your area, you may need a building permit for your concrete slab. This also varies based on the project. For instance, you're more likely to need a permit if you're pouring a foundation than you are if you're just putting in a path or a patio.

When you hire a professional, they can take care of that for you. They are generally aware of the building codes in your area. Additionally, they can handle the paperwork for you so you don't have to worry.

3. Better Final Result

Putting in a concrete slab sounds easy in theory. You simply mix up the concrete, pour it where you want it and smooth it down. However, the process is actually a lot more complicated than that.

To get the concrete right, you should lay a base, put in a frame and potentially use surveying equipment to ensure everything is level. Then, you need to carefully mix the concrete, taking into account the humidity and temperature of that day.

Finally, you need to carefully pour everything and tamp down the concrete. Tackling all of these steps on your own can be challenging, and if you make a small mistake, your concrete is more likely to crack. A professional can ensure that all of this is handled perfectly.

4. Effective Use of Rebar

Rebar refers to long sticks of metal that are used to reinforce concrete. Depending on the depth of the concrete and the amount of weight you want it to hold, you may need to put in rebar. This can be confusing. When you choose a professional, they are experienced enough to know exactly where to place the rebar and how much to use.

5. Possible Warranty

Finally, when you hire a professional, you can ask them to warranty the work. You simply don't have that assurance when you do your own work. With a warranty, if something goes wrong with the slab, you can just call the professionals to address the issue.

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Improving Your Home One Step at a Time

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