Concrete slabs have become fairly common structural elements in modern buildings. Thick concrete slabs are commonly used in the construction of ceilings and floors, while leaner ones (at times called ‘mud slabs’) are used for exterior paving.
In various industrial as well as domestic buildings, thick concrete slabs, supported directly on the subsoil or on foundations are used to construct the ground flooring. Whereas in skyscrapers and high-rise buildings leaner slabs are suspended or hung between steel frames from floors and ceilings on each level. Following are a few more uses of concrete slabs based on their various sizes:
- Leaner Slabs: Pre-fabricated small or leaner slabs can be easily bought and used as a patio in the premises of your house.
- Medium Sized Slabs: Medium sized concrete slabs offer more possibilities. You can either get them constructed on-site or get pre-fabricated ones. Such slabs can be useful in making false flooring.
- Large Sized Slabs: Concrete slabs of large dimensions can be useful in the accomplishment of larger projects. The only thing to take care of while working with slabs of large sizes is that they should be level and in a good condition. You can construct a pet house and even a garage on concrete slabs that have large dimensions.
Additional Unique Uses of Concrete Slabs
Uses in Home Renovations
Home renovations can incorporate these slabs even if they weren’t used initially. When renovating rooms with timber flooring, a good option is to replace the timber with concrete slabs as they offer added thermal mass and unobtrusive noise underfoot.
While renovating homes, concrete slabs may be suspended on the original footings or subfloor walls. If the old floor is close to the ground’s surface, they can also be used as infill slabs.
Concrete Slab Pool Deck
Building a pool deck with concrete slabs is also a wise and economical option. The maintenance of concrete pool deck is far less troublesome as compared to that of other materials. Concrete also is an ‘environmentally friendly material’ as it’s made up of limestone – one of the most abundantly found minerals on Earth. You can get the slab printed, stained or textured as per your likeness to improve the appearance of the pool deck.