Concrete Slab & Foundation Work

Slab-on-grade foundations are the most common type in South Florida and what most homes in our area are built on. These foundations consist of a single thick concrete slab poured directly on prepared ground. The slab serves as both the foundation and the floor of the structure. We excavate to the proper depth, install a gravel base for drainage, place reinforcement steel, and pour a concrete slab thick enough to support your building. This type of foundation works well in our climate and costs less than other foundation types while providing excellent performance.

Thickened edge slabs, also called monolithic slabs, combine the foundation and footing in one continuous pour. The edges of the slab are thicker and extend deeper into the ground to provide extra support for the walls. This design is common for residential construction and provides a strong, cost-effective foundation. We carefully calculate the proper thickness and reinforcement based on your building plans and soil conditions to ensure the foundation can handle the load.

Stem wall foundations use a concrete footing below ground that supports concrete or block walls, with the slab poured inside. This traditional foundation type works well for buildings that need crawl space access or in areas where the finished floor needs to be elevated. The stem walls can be formed from concrete or concrete blocks depending on your preference and budget. We handle all aspects including excavating footings, forming and pouring walls, and installing the interior slab.

Equipment pads and structural slabs support heavy loads from HVAC units, generators, pool equipment, storage buildings, and other structures. These specialized slabs require precise thickness calculations, proper reinforcement, and sometimes special compressive strength concrete. We design and build pads that meet manufacturer specifications and local code requirements. Whether you need a simple generator pad or a reinforced slab for heavy equipment, we ensure it is built to handle the load safely.

Every foundation project starts with careful planning and site evaluation. We review your building plans or work with you to develop specifications for your project. Site evaluation includes examining soil conditions, checking the water table level, identifying drainage patterns, and locating underground utilities. This information helps us design a foundation that performs well on your specific property. For larger projects, we may recommend a geotechnical survey to fully understand soil bearing capacity and any special requirements.

Key steps in our foundation process:

• Site clearing and excavation to proper depth and dimensions
• Installation of drainage systems and vapor barriers as needed
• Compacted gravel base for stability and moisture control
• Precise forming to create level, square foundations
• Steel reinforcement placed according to engineering specifications
• Quality concrete pour with proper finishing and curing

Excavation and grading set the stage for a quality foundation. We dig to the depth specified in your plans, creating a level base and trenches for footings. The soil gets compacted thoroughly because loose soil leads to settling later. In areas with poor soil, we may need to over-excavate and replace unsuitable material with compacted fill. Proper grading ensures water drains away from the foundation rather than pooling around it. Getting these basics right prevents most foundation problems down the road.

The concrete pour itself requires coordination and speed. Foundation concrete needs to be placed, spread, and finished before it begins to set. Our experienced crew works efficiently to ensure uniform thickness, proper consolidation around reinforcement, and appropriate finishing. We pay special attention to embed points for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems that need to penetrate the slab. After finishing, we apply curing compounds and protect the concrete while it gains strength over the following days and weeks.

South Florida presents unique challenges for foundation work that we deal with regularly. The high water table means water sits close to the surface, especially during rainy season. This requires careful attention to drainage and sometimes dewatering during construction. We install proper drainage systems, use vapor barriers to prevent moisture migration through the slab, and grade the site to move water away from the foundation. These steps prevent moisture problems that can affect your building for years.

The sandy and limestone soils common in our area have different bearing capacities and behaviors than soils in other parts of the country. Some areas have excellent bearing capacity while others require special preparation or deeper footings. Our experience working throughout Miami, Westchester, and surrounding communities helps us anticipate soil conditions and design foundations appropriately. We also understand local building codes and permitting requirements, ensuring your foundation meets all regulations.

Hurricane resistance is another important consideration for foundation work from Westchester Concrete Company. Proper foundation design and construction help anchor your building against high winds. We install hurricane straps, anchor bolts, and other connection systems according to Florida Building Code requirements. The foundation must also resist potential flooding by being elevated appropriately and using materials that can withstand water exposure. Building these protections into your foundation from the start provides peace of mind during storm season.

Foundation work often connects with other concrete services we provide. Once your foundation is complete, you may need sidewalks and walkways to connect the new structure to existing paths. If you are building a garage or storage building, you might want an extended concrete driveway or parking pad leading to it. We can coordinate these additional concrete elements as part of your overall project, ensuring everything is designed and installed cohesively.

For buildings that need interior floors, we pour and finish concrete floors to your specifications. This includes residential garage floors, workshop floors, storage building floors, and commercial spaces. We can provide basic smooth trowel finishes for areas that will be covered with other flooring, or we can create polished or sealed finishes for concrete that will remain exposed. The interior floor work happens after the walls are up and the building is dried in, protecting the concrete from weather during curing.

We also handle foundation repair for existing structures showing signs of problems. Foundation cracks, settling, or moisture issues sometimes develop in older homes or buildings. We evaluate the situation, identify the cause, and recommend appropriate repairs. This might involve underpinning to stabilize a settling foundation, sealing cracks to prevent water intrusion, or installing drainage improvements to address moisture problems. Early intervention often prevents minor issues from becoming major structural problems.