What is the Price of a Garage Pad in Calgary?
The price of getting a concrete pad for you to build a garage on top of varies quite a bit based on design, size and features. However, if we begin to generalize things we can get down to a basic range.
If you are looking for a new garage pad please let us know. Concrete garage pads are one of our specialties. Fill in the form below and we will be in touch.
Price Guidelines
Depending on what is included in the concrete service you receive you can expect to pay anywhere from 4-10$ per square foot of concrete for 4″ garage pads.
The lower end of this will likely be for just pouring the actual concrete. The higher-end will generally include all of the extra things like excavation, gravel and finishings.
Things to consider when looking for new concrete garage pads are
- The excavation and preparation of the space where the pad will go. Some companies include this in their square footage costs and some have it as an added cost.
- Gravel. Again some companies include this in the overall cost and for some, it is an add-on.
- Extras like utilities, insulation and compaction. All of these things will add to the cost of building the forms or pouring the concrete.
Concrete Cracks
Sometimes cracks are unavoidable and that is generally why you can’t get guarantees on concrete. However, there are contractors that are good at what they do and some that are not so good. The most common sources of cracking are the rebar, the sub-base, and the conditions when pouring. In Alberta, it is often recommended that you go with a 5″ garage pad slab instead of a 4″ slab to help reduce cracking and also increase the insulative value of the floor.
This will also increase the cost however usually 1-2$ per square foot.
You need to think about the garage pads overall value though and remember cracking and restoration costs in the future will be less with a thicker garage pad.
Average Garage Sizes
When you are looking for the pricing on a garage pad we are typically dealing with detached garages. If you are looking for an attached garage the price will be a little different because it will need to be tied into your house. The construction will also be a little different as well.
For detached garages, there is a single-car, double-car and a triple car. Each of these has a basic measurement.
- Single-car garages are usually 14 feet by 20 feet
- Small double-car garages are usually 20 feet by 20 feet
- Mose common double-car garages are 22 feet by 22 feet (Usually the size of attached garages)
- A large double-car garage is 24 feet by 24 feet and is the most common upgrade for a detached garage
- A triple-car garage is 30 feet by 24 feet
Do I need a permit from the City?
Yes, you will definitely need a permit from the city, in fact, depending on what you are doing you may need more than one permit. Bedrock Construction is a full-service garage builder and will help walk you through this process. We have done a number of these projects and can help you with everything you need.
Benefits of Getting a Permit.
Many people are often frustrated by the permit process or even the idea that they need to get a permit. There are, however, a number of benefits to getting the permit
- When you get a permit, certified safety codes officers will give you expert advice, review your plans to find any potential problems, inspect your project, and make sure your project meets the Alberta Building Code.
- Having everything in order beforehand saves you from having to go back and re-do things later
- The permit will also be used during the sale process of your home. Some buyers will not buy without a permit.
Building a Detached Garage
I have a detached garage and if I didn’t have one it would definitely be on the list of things that I would add to the house where we live. Even though it is only a single-car garage it is a lifesaver in the winter here in Calgary. Our concrete pad is smaller but still has high durability.
If you are thinking about building a garage and are wondering about the yard and if it will fit, we would love to come out and have a consultation with you to figure it out. You can jump over to our contact us page and fill in the form or just give us a call and mention that you saw this post and you have some questions.
If you are looking for some tips regarding garage maintenance click here for our spring maintenance blog post.
You can also check out our Garage Heaters article to see about getting some heat into your garage.
Concrete Garage Pad Cost Calgary FAQ
What is a Concrete Slab?
A concrete slab is another name for a concrete pad. Just like a reinforced concrete pad, concrete slabs are flat square or rectangular-shaped concrete pads. Usually, they are between 4 and 8 inches thick and can range in size (square foot) and shape.
What is the best base for a Concrete Garage Floor?
The best base for a concrete garage floor (or garage slabs) depends on various factors, such as soil conditions, local climate, and the intended use of the garage. In Alberta, it is recommended that you remove the topsoil and use a compacted subgrade, compacted gravel with crushed rock, stone and stone dust.
A well-prepared base typically consists of the following layers:
- Compacted subgrade: This is the native soil, which should be well-compacted to provide a stable and level foundation for the other layers. Ideally, the subgrade should be free from organic materials and should have adequate drainage to prevent any water-related issues.
- Geotextile fabric (optional): This layer is not always necessary but can be helpful in certain situations. A geotextile fabric can be placed over the subgrade to improve stability and reduce the potential for soil movement, especially in areas with expansive or soft soils.
- Gravel or crushed stone base: A layer of well-graded gravel or crushed stone, typically 4 to 6 inches thick, is spread over the subgrade or geotextile fabric. This layer provides additional stability, promotes drainage, and helps to evenly distribute the weight of the slab and any loads placed upon it.
- Vapor barrier (optional): A vapor barrier, typically a sheet of polyethylene plastic, is installed over the gravel layer to prevent moisture from migrating up through the slab. This is particularly important in areas with high water tables or where moisture-related issues like efflorescence and concrete degradation are common.
- Concrete slab: The final layer is the concrete garage pads concrete pad, which should be designed to handle the expected loads and meet local building codes. It’s important to use the appropriate mix design, reinforcement (if necessary), and control joints to ensure the slab’s durability and longevity.
Properly preparing and constructing the base for a concrete garage floor will not only ensure a long-lasting and durable surface but also minimize the risk of the concrete pad cracking and other issues that may arise from poor foundation conditions.
How Thick Should Concrete Garage Pads Be?
A concrete pad, or a garage pad, or a concrete driveway should be at least 4 inches thick, however, as mentioned above we often recommend 5 inches for durability and stability. This will be especially true if you have heavy vehicles or equipment on the garage pad. Building codes offer requirements for the concrete mix, which vary by region. The standards are expressed in terms of “compressive strength,” which boils down to the amount of water used in the mix.
What Other Materials or Tools are Used in Concrete Pads?
Concrete is a relatively simple process it is just water and rocks. However with garage pads, or any new slab there are a number of other things to consider. Good concrete teams will have to manage things like rebar reflecting, site excavation, thickened edges, and local regulations. Here is. alist of other things they will manage.
- Slab thickness – as mentioned above the thickness of your slab will have to be thought out
- Ground Preparation – All concrete needs to have a good ground preparation
- Rebar – rebar also called reinforcement bar, is used inside the concrete to give it strength and durability. The rebar reflecting helps to minimize cracking and breaking
- Expansion joints – Expansion joints are full-depth gaps between individual poured-concrete slabs and are sometimes called isolation joints. The gaps allow the slabs to move with normal expansion, contraction or settling that occurs due to temperature changes or moisture conditions.
- Site Excavation – Often the concrete team will need to excavate the site in order to prep the ground and build the forms.
- Heavy Vibrating Plate Tamper – A heavy vibrating plate tamper is a piece of equipment used to handle gravel and dirt surfaces that are rough or uneven. Plate tampers vibrate or press flat plates against the ground repeatedly. The average weight of a reversible plate tamper is between 425 pounds and 725 pounds.
- Curing Compound – curing compound for the concrete
- Reinforcement bar – rebar as mentioned above
- Engineered drawing – an engineered drawing is not always needed, but for bigger projects they are helpful and necessary