Price of slab pour

Regular rate here is $2.00 a square foot, that includes everything (compaction, rebar, concrete, forms etc.) smooth level shop floor finish.

If I supply all materials and have a smooth, level compacted site with forms and rebar installed, 60 cents a foot.

I figured out the concrete ($75.00 yd), rebar, forms and pre-pour labor and its actually cheaper to pay the $2.00 a square foot.

Heck of a lot easier on my back, too.

My nickels worth,

Scott

$65.00 per yard for concrete if you pour/finish
$65.00 per yard to pour/finish if you buy the concrete

Like a lot of businesses, the people in the concrete pouring business typically get a break on their cost but they have to mark up what they sell to stay in business.

I have found alot of variance in finished product and usually try to go with recommendations from trustworthy source(s). If possible go check out some of his finish work at other sites. Best of luck. Still chuggin' in the weeds . . .

No point in working any cheaper than you have to eh? There's a world of difference in the quality that different finishers offer. How flat is flat enough? You're trying to hire one skill guy and helper(s). The skill guy can easily spend a whole day working on the floor (including waiting for it to set up) if you want REALLY smooth.

I too have been appalled at prices quoted here, especially when some weren't any better than what I've done, and that's less than great. My solution for my slabs was to buy a vibratory screed so I didn't overwork my not-great back and consider myself the skill guy. Already had the bull float and I rent a trowel. Won't be bragging on how great I am anytime soon, but I can live with the product. And afford it.

Is there a reason you don't want to give it a try? The necessary tools are rentable. Every DIY book talks about how to lay a slab. Your narrow width makes it pretty simple and it's pretty hard to have a catastrophe.

Sounds like you have a plan. If you do decide to do it yourself, 3 are good, 4 are better. If you manually screed, you need 2 on the screed and one with a rake making sure you aren't killing yourself moving excess mud with the screed. Then there're the wheelbarrow drivers. Vibratory screed eliminates one guy. After all that you can finish by yourself.

To put your wife at ease, the concrete only allows you so much time. There's no way you can spend twice as much time, or material, on the job. Time for set is dependent on mix and air temp. Ask your salesman. An accelerator will speed it up. Just watch what you put in there that won't eat steel if you're using some.

In our area, when you're doing a slab you get the first trucks. When I'm wall-pouring (normal for me) I settle for later trucks. I understand and don't complain.

Good luck.