Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 9/11/2009

Question
WE HAVE A Q-HUT TYPE BUILDING 30X40 WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT A CONCRETE PAD INSIDE 25X25 WHAT WOULD BE A ROUGH ESTIMATE FOR LABOR AND MATERIALS 30 MILES FROM DOWN TOWN DENVER CO.

Answer
Hi DANNY, your slab of 625 square feet can be figured a couple of ways.  One is dollars per square foot.  This could run anywhere from 3.50 to 5 dollars a square foot or 2200 to 3000 dollars for a 4" thick slab on visqueen with wire mesh reinforcement and a slick finish.
Another way to figure it is by materials and labor.  You are talking roughly eight cubic yards of concrete at 125 dollars a yard or 1000 dollars for concrete.  Add another 200 dollars for wire mesh and visqueen.  Then you need to figure a pump into the equation because it is inside the building and most contractors don't want to wheelbarrow 8 yards of concrete so a pump will cost around 300 dollars.  If there is any excavation work or other ground prep needed you may have to figure that cost in as well.  So materials and pump for this project will cost somewhere around 1500 to 1800 dollars depending on equipment costs.  A standard form and pour of a simple uncomplicated slab will usually run a dollar to a dollar twenty-five a square foot for labor or 625- 750 dollars..So based on the two forms of estimation you will probably be looking at 2400-2500 dollars for a completed project depending on availability of concrete and competition among concrete contractors. Also you can deduct pump charges if the slab is able to be poured out of the truck.  If you get estimates I would like to hear back from you to see the actual costs in your area for my data base.  Sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com