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  • Slabs & foundations
  • 25–30 MPa

Concrete Floors: Surface Beds and Floor Slabs, Free Quotes

Need a concrete floor, surface bed or garage slab? One request and independent South African contractors and suppliers will quote free. No fee, no obligation.

  • Quotes fromconcrete floor contractors
  • Areaall nine provinces
  • Cost to youfree

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Workers screeding and floating a fresh concrete floor inside the brick walls of a new house under a roof of trusses
Workers screeding and floating a fresh concrete floor inside the brick walls of a new house under a roof of trusses

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Tell us what you need and where. A contractor or supplier who works in your area quotes you directly. Free, no obligation.

Pour docketPD 753102

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Length and width in metres, thickness in millimetres. Add a row for each slab, footing or path. The totals go into your request.

#Length mWidth mThick mmQty
1×××
2×××
3×××
0m² area
0m³ concrete
06 m³ trucks

Order about 5–10% more than the net volume to allow for waste and uneven ground.

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A concrete floor is the base of most South African homes, garages and workshops. A ground-bearing floor, often called a surface bed, sits on compacted fill and a damp-proof membrane. ConcreteSlab.co.za is a free quote service. You fill in one form and we pass your request to independent concrete contractors and ready-mix suppliers in your area, who quote you directly. We do not pour, sell or deliver concrete ourselves. There is no fee and no obligation, and you can compare more than one quote.

How a ground floor slab is built

A concrete slab on ground is built in layers. Under it lies compacted fill, then a damp-proof membrane, then mesh, then the concrete. Each layer has a job, and skipping one is how floors fail.

  • Fill: clean, well-compacted material, placed in layers.
  • Membrane: 250 micron polyethylene to SANS 952, with taped or lapped joints, keeps rising damp out.
  • Reinforcement: light mesh such as Ref 193 to SANS 1024 helps control cracking.
  • Concrete: usually 25 MPa, ready-mixed to SANS 878.
  • Insulation: boards under or on the slab can cut heat loss, and suit cold Highveld homes with underfloor heating.

Curing time matters. Keep the slab damp for about seven days. It reaches design strength at 28 days, and light foot traffic is possible after a day or two.

Thickness, joints and floor types

Concrete floor thickness is usually 100 mm for a house floor and 125 to 150 mm for a garage or a floor that takes vehicles. SANS 10400-J sets the rules for floors in buildings. Heavier loads need an engineer.

All slabs crack at some point. Saw-cut or formed joints decide where. Joints are normally placed every few metres, or so that panels stay roughly square.

Floor finishes vary. A steel-floated or power-floated surface suits garages and workshops. Smooth floors can be polished, ground or coated later. A sand-cement screed on top is common where tiles go down.

Local conditions

Expansive clay under a house floor can heave and crack the slab. An engineer may call for a deeper fill layer or a stiffer slab. On dolomite and collapsible sands, ground preparation matters even more.

Pour on a cool day if you can. In hot, windy weather, fresh concrete dries too fast and cracks, so cover and cure it. On the Highveld, frost can damage a young slab left exposed overnight. Trucks need to reach the site, and a long wheelbarrow run adds labour. If a pump is needed, say so when you ask for quotes.

What affects your quote

We never give prices here. The cost of a concrete floor comes down to size and site. Contractors and suppliers will look at:

  • The floor area in m² and the thickness in mm.
  • The concrete volume in m³ and the strength class.
  • Fill, compaction, membrane and mesh.
  • The finish: float, steel trowel, power float or screed.
  • Joint cutting.
  • Part-load charges for small pours, and the delivery distance.

A short sketch with dimensions gives contractors what they need.

Comparing quotes for concrete floors

The lowest figure is not always the best deal. When your quotes arrive, check:

  • Specification: the thickness, the concrete strength in MPa, the steel and the membrane, so every quote is for the same work.
  • Preparation: excavation, sub-base compaction, shuttering and who removes spoil and rubble.
  • Concrete and access: ready-mix or site-mixed, whether a pump is included and any part-load or waiting charges.
  • Finish, curing and guarantee: the surface finish, how long it will be cured, where joints are cut and what guarantee covers the work.

What to include in your request

  • Give the floor area in m² and thickness in mm.
  • Say what the floor is for: house, garage or workshop.
  • State the finish you want.
  • Note whether fill, membrane and mesh are included.
  • Describe truck access and any steps or levels.

Frequently asked questions

Does ConcreteSlab.co.za pour concrete floors?
No. ConcreteSlab.co.za is a free quote service. You send one request and we pass it to independent concrete contractors, ready-mix suppliers and builders' merchants near you. They quote you directly. We do not pour, sell, deliver or install anything, and there is no obligation.
How thick should a concrete floor be?
A house floor is usually 100 mm. A garage or a floor with vehicles is usually 125 to 150 mm. Heavy machinery or racking needs an engineer. The thickness also depends on the ground beneath it, so poor soil can call for a thicker or stiffer slab.
Do I need a membrane under a concrete floor?
Yes, for floors inside a building. A 250 micron polyethylene membrane to SANS 952 stops moisture rising from the ground. It should be lapped and taped at joints. Without it, damp can appear in the floor finishes and cause tiles and carpets to fail.
Why does my concrete floor crack?
Concrete shrinks as it dries, and cracks if it dries too fast, lacks joints, or sits on poorly compacted fill. Good curing, saw-cut joints and proper preparation reduce cracking. Some fine cracks are normal. A contractor can advise on any wide or growing cracks.

Concrete Floors by province

Concrete Floors by city and town

SurfaceFloors & finishes
SlabSlabs & foundations
Steel & membraneReinforcing & site supplies
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