You need a solid surface under a new shed, a hot tub, an AC condenser, or an addition. It sounds straightforward. But a pad poured without proper base prep, adequate thickness, or the right reinforcement will crack or sink within a few seasons. Illinois winters are hard on concrete, and a poorly built pad fails faster than most people expect.
We pour slabs and pads across the Metro East every season. Every pad we pour gets sized for its load, reinforced where it needs to be, and set on a properly compacted base so it stays level and stays in one piece.
Our Approach to Concrete Slab Installation
A concrete slab or pad is only as good as what sits underneath it. Poor drainage and a soft, uncompacted base are the reasons most small pads crack and settle. We address that before we ever pour.
We start by grading and compacting the base, making sure water drains away from the slab instead of sitting underneath it. We set the right thickness for what the pad will carry. A pad holding a riding mower in a small shed is a different job than one supporting a hot tub or a room addition. We use the appropriate reinforcement, whether that is wire mesh or rebar, based on the load and the soil conditions.
We run our own trucks and equipment, so there is no waiting on outside crews for excavation or material delivery. One crew handles the prep and the pour, which keeps the job on schedule and keeps communication simple. You deal with one point of contact from the estimate through the finished slab.
We have been doing this work in the Metro East for 20 years. We know the soil conditions and freeze-thaw patterns in this area, and we build pads with that in mind.
When You Need a Concrete Slab or Pad
Adding a shed or outbuilding. A shed set on a bare gravel patch or old wood skids will shift and settle. A properly poured concrete floor gives you a level surface that lasts and keeps the structure stable.
Hot tub or swim spa installation. Hot tubs are heavy, often over 5,000 pounds when filled. The pad needs to be thick enough and reinforced correctly. A standard 4-inch residential pad is not adequate for most hot tub installations.
AC condenser or mechanical equipment. Ground-level equipment pads protect your unit from settling and frost heave. They also make maintenance access cleaner and keep equipment at the right angle for drainage.
Outdoor kitchen, grill station, or fire pit area. A small concrete pad under an outdoor cooking setup gives you a stable, fire-safe surface that does not shift or wash out over time.
Foundation for an addition or accessory structure. Garage additions, sunrooms, and small accessory buildings often need a new slab poured as part of the project. We can handle that slab work as part of the broader project or as a standalone pour.
Our Process
Site visit and estimate. We come out and look at the site. We measure the area, talk through what the pad will support, and give you a clear price before any work begins. Estimates are free.
Base prep. We excavate to the right depth and compact the base material. If drainage is a concern, we address that in this step. A properly drained base is what separates a long-lasting slab from one that cracks in three years.
Forming. We set the forms to the correct dimensions and confirm the grade and slope before we pour anything.
Reinforcement. We place wire mesh or rebar based on what the pad needs to hold. Thicker pads for heavier loads get rebar. Lighter-duty pads for sheds or grill stations typically use wire mesh.
Pour and finish. We pour the concrete and finish the surface to your specs. Standard broom finish works for most utility pads. We can also tie in a decorative finish if the pad is in a visible area.
Cure time. We will tell you exactly when the pad is ready to load. Most light-use pads can be walked on within a day or two, but we recommend waiting before placing heavy equipment or a filled hot tub.
What to Expect on Cost
Concrete pad pricing depends on a few things: the size of the slab, the thickness and reinforcement required, whether excavation is needed, and whether we are hauling away existing material.
A basic utility pad for a small shed will cost less than a reinforced hot tub pad or a slab for an addition. Larger slabs with more base prep and rebar cost more than simple ground-level pads in good soil.
We do not give prices without looking at the job. Too many variables affect the final number, and we would rather give you an accurate price than a low number that changes when we show up. Call us or request a free estimate, and we will come out, measure the site, and give you a written price before anything starts.
If you have an older pad that needs to come out first, we handle that too. We break out the old concrete, haul it away with our own trucks, and prep the base for the new pour. You do not have to find a separate demolition company. See our Concrete Removal & Replacement page for more on that process.
Where We Work
We pour slabs and pads throughout St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe County. That includes O'Fallon, Belleville, Shiloh, Swansea, Fairview Heights, Mascoutah, Millstadt, and New Baden in St. Clair County. In Madison County, we work in Edwardsville, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, Troy, Maryville, Highland, and the surrounding areas. In Monroe County, we cover Waterloo, Columbia, and nearby communities.
If you are not sure whether we come to your area, just call. We are based in Freeburg and we work across the three-county region regularly.
Related Services
Looking at more than just a pad? Here are a few services that often go hand in hand with slab work.
Garage & Shop Floor Concrete — Full garage and shop floors poured at the right thickness for vehicles and equipment. If you are building or rebuilding a garage, this is the page to start with.
Stamped & Decorative Concrete — If your pad is in a visible spot, a decorative finish can make it look like part of the outdoor space rather than a utility slab. Stamped concrete works well for outdoor kitchen and patio areas.
Commercial Concrete Flatwork — Business owners needing equipment pads, loading areas, or mechanical pads can find details here. We schedule commercial work to limit disruption.
Concrete Removal & Replacement — Have an old slab that needs to come out before we pour the new one? We handle full tear-out and haul-away with our own trucks so you do not have to coordinate two separate contractors.