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Concrete Slab

Concrete Slabs

The concrete slab in your place of business is something you probably don’t think about very often. However, it’s actually one of the single most important components of your entire structure. It’s responsible for the overall stability of the building, and any major defects can cause serious problems.  

In the fast-paced, high-tech world in which we live, many industrial facilities use automated guided vehicles, highly sophisticated forklifts, and other advanced material-handling equipment. That is one of the reasons concrete slabs are such an integral part of the building’s construction. Concrete slabs must withstand tough conditions such as impact and abrasion from heavy, moving traffic and static loads, and ideally, the floor must be flat, in proper alignment and in good shape. Unfortunately, because of initial construction techniques, or uses and loads that differ from the original design, slab-on-grade floors can develop problems that often result in costly delays or downtime. However, with a basic understanding of common problems, as well as tips on troubleshooting, your maintenance manager can maximize productivity and reduce downtime. 

A concrete floor should have firm contact with the supporting subgrade so that moving and static loads can be distributed through the slab. This intimate contact can fail, however, when a void forms between the slab and subgrade exerting stress in the concrete. The void becomes apparent when the floor cracks and settles at a lower level than the adjacent areas or the slab rocks when wheeled loads roll across a joint. Curling at joints, joint failure and heaving are other indications that the desired contact between the slab and subgrade has been compromised. 

 “It is to the credit of concrete that so few complaints are received on the vast amount of construction put in place,” the Portland Cement Association writes. However, issues do occur in certain situations and should be dealt with as soon as they’re identified.  

A common problem with concrete floor slabs in an industrial environment is curling.  On some occasions, this is caused by geotechnical conditions. Though, most typically, curling occurs when the conditions under which the concrete cures are different in the top and bottom portions of the freshly poured slab. Often times, the surface dries and cools more quickly than the moister, warmer, bottom of the pour. This causes the slab to shrink and shorten at the top.  

With curling, the slab’s corners and edges begin to rise. As the edges curl upward, the load on the subgrade at the center of the slab increases, and the slab begins to sink into the subgrade. Your slab cannot withstand the resulting high tensile stresses. That is when cracking begins along the perimeter of your floor.  This is often observed in cast-in-place concrete floor slabs and can most often be traced back to careless installation, or faulty field practices during the original construction of your building. 

Another potential issue with a concrete slab is the area around the joints can also be vulnerable to damage. The floor can begin to deflect at the joints if there is a void between the subgrade and the slab. This phenomenon begins to happen when any type of heavy equipment – forklifts for example – are carrying heavy loads and they approach the slab joint. Because of the diminished load-bearing capacity, the load deflects the slab downward into the void, most typically in undetected measurements, which exposes the edge of the adjacent joint shoulder to the full impact of the load. Even though concrete slabs are strong and durable, it’s no match for this type of repetitive tensile stress. If the problem isn’t remedied, the condition will worsen, become more dangerous for vehicular traffic, and can potentially increase the cost of repairs. 

Should you notice any type of damage to your floor, we recommend having it inspected and make any repairs in a timely fashion. If you are beginning a new build, our experts are available to come out and give you an estimate to have your concrete slab professionally poured. We will work with your team leader to understand the amount of load you’ll be putting to your flooring, and ensure that it meets the specifications necessary for your industry. 

13 thoughts on “Concrete Slabs”

  1. Your article does a great job of explaining how to properly install concrete slabs. My son and I are looking to build a basketball court in our backyard using slabs of concrete but we are considering hiring professionals to do the work. I like that you gave a warning about the concrete not having firm contact with the supports and how to fix it.

  2. I appreciate the information given in this article about the importance of concrete slab in the construction of any structure including a tennis court or basketball court. Besides, the condition of such concrete slab should be subjected to inspection before making further construction as damages done to the base could bring down the entire constructed project. For more assistance from experienced professionals, readers may like to contact https://ace-surfaces.com/contact-us/

  3. It makes sense that curling could happen because the environmental issues under and above the slabs are different. My sister is trying to get some building supplies for a local project this fall. She needs to find a local supplier that can provide all those materials for her.

  4. You made a good point when you shared that concrete slabs are an essential part of a building’s construction. That is why they need to withstand extreme conditions such as collision and abrasion. I would like to think if a company is planning to construct a building, it should consider hiring a reliable service that can build concrete slabs that has excellent strength.

  5. It’s good to learn that you should have direct contact with the supporting subgrade when pouring concrete flooring. My wife and I are wanting to renovate the garage floor. I’ll be sure that the new concrete flooring should be touching the supporting subgrade.

  6. It’s fantastic to learn that concrete slabs have to withstand tough weather conditions. My wife and I are wanting to repave our backyard patio and we were wondering what we should know about concrete slabs. I’ll be sure to tell her that we should get concrete slabs that can withstand any weather conditions.

  7. It’s amazing that in today’s world, a lot of the machines are computer-guided or operated. My cousin is trying to get some concrete work done on her property this month. She needs to find a contractor in the area that can get this project done before spring rolls around.

  8. It makes sense that the parts around the joints will be much more vulnerable. My cousin wants to get in touch with a contractor that can help with concrete issues. She needs to make sure it’s worked on properly so that the concrete doesn’t crack or have other issues.

  9. You make a great point about how concrete floor slabs are related to curling. I need to get a new floor for our garage. The current floor needs a new epoxy coat.

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