Are you looking for concrete slab ideas for your new farm shed? This is the article for you!
Concrete slabs are a must-have inclusion for many farm sheds such as slabs for grain sheds and fertiliser sheds or a bunded slab for a compliant chemical shed.
In other cases, concrete slabs are a great way to increase the versatility and functionality of your farm shed and improve operational efficiency. For example, a concrete slab could create a workshop area in your machinery shed.
Read on if you are looking for ways to get the most value out of your farm shed concrete slab!
In this article, we discuss concrete slab ideas that will provide good value for money and help make your job easier. And provide some handy price guides
5 Concrete Slab Ideas For Your Farm Shed
First up, let’s look at one of the most popular farm shed slab options – concreting bays in a storage shed.
1
A Concrete Bay (Or Two)
One of the reasons having several concrete bays in a shed is such a popular option is that it is a great way to create a versatile, multi-use asset.
It is also relatively cost-effective and may mean that you only need to build one new shed rather than having the expense of several projects.
Often it is relatively straightforward to concrete bays in existing shed infrastructure too.
A classic example of how this can work is concreting a bay in your open-front machinery shed to create a maintenance area. In this scenario, installing sliding doors to enclose the area is often a good idea.
Similarly, you could install a concrete slab and concrete panels in several bays for fertiliser storage – or use it for commodities such as almond hulls. As a result, this concrete slab idea is popular with both cropping enterprises and dairies.
One of the best ways to get ideas for concreting a bay in your shed is to check out what others have done.
So, we have collated some recent project examples with concrete bays to inspire you!
You can browse these in the gallery below.
Concrete Bay Inspiration Gallery
And watch the video below to learn about John Bennett’s versatile hay shed design.
The project uses a concrete slab and panels to create a fertiliser storage area that can also be used for short-term grain storage at harvest.
How Much Does It Cost To Concrete A Bay?
We understand pricing is always an important consideration for farm shed projects, and while a concrete bay can provide good value for money – does it fit in your budget? How do the numbers stack up?
So, we have provided a price guide below and several examples.
Please note that these are guides and general examples only. The cost to concrete a bay in your farm shed will depend on several factors including the project location.
The cost to concrete a bay in your farm shed will be between $120m² and $190m² including GST – depending on the thickness and overall size of the area to be concreted.
For an idea of how pricing can vary from project to project, check out the examples below:
- A concrete bay in a 40m (L) x 18m (W) open-front machinery shed costs approx. $22,500 including GST (excluding any concrete wall panels)
- A concrete bay in a 48m (L) x 24m (W) open front hay shed costs approx. $$30,000 including GST (once again, this excludes any concrete walls)
So, that’s a wrap on the first of five concrete slab ideas!
2
Install An Infill Slab
Are you weighing up whether to install the slab before or after your shed is built?
We usually recommend an ‘infill’ slab where the slab is poured after the shed is completed.
For example, an infill slab is a good option for grain sheds and fertiliser sheds. This is because an infill slab allows the concrete to form around the wall cladding at ground level and helps to seal off the shed.
The advantages include reducing wastage and preventing contamination by providing a barrier against dust, dirt and mice.
Plus, there is also a potential cost saving by installing an infill slab. This is simply because the infill slab method requires less boxing up making it easier and quicker for the concreter.
Next up, we look at how you can use a concrete slab with a canopy.
3
A Concrete Apron Under A Canopy
We love a shed design with a canopy for smart storage – and a concrete apron can make it even smarter!
There are several reasons why a canopy can be a great addition to a farm shed.
Firstly, it is a cost-effective way to increase the overall size of your shed and gain more storage space. This makes a canopy a perfect fit for a hay shed.
Secondly, a canopy can help avoid inconvenient column placement. This can be very beneficial for projects such as covered cattle yards and sheep yards.
With columns out of the way, a canopy provides quickly and easily accessible shelter for machinery. For example, in wet weather, you can pull your truck up under the canopy without needing to reverse or unhook trailers.
Thirdly, there is the benefit of covered access for loading and unloading and even for working on machinery,
A canopy can work very well in combination with a concrete apron and helps you maximise these benefits.
Some examples of where this works include:
- A concreted undercover area for equipment checks, maintenance and repairs outside your machinery shed
- Multi-use sheds such as machinery sheds with fertiliser storage bays. These could be repurposed into a workshop area in the future.
- A sprayer fill-up and washdown space for your chemical shed
- Undercover feed alleys on calving sheds to keep the shed accessible in wet weather and reduce feed wastage.
Of course, a canopy isn’t always the right choice for your project, and a concrete apron can work well without one.
A classic example is a concrete apron on a fertiliser shed. This is a popular choice for fertiliser sheds as it improves access to the shed, makes loading and unloading fertiliser easier and helps reduce wastage.
A concrete apron is also a good addition to a grain shed for the same reasons.
For more concrete slab ideas and examples, browse the gallery of projects with concrete aprons below.
Concrete Apron Inspiration Gallery
How Much Does A Concrete Apron On A Farm Shed Cost?
To give you an idea of how much you could expect to pay for a concrete apron, prices typically range from $120m² to $190m² including GST – depending on the thickness & overall size of the area to be concreted.
Below are some examples to give you an idea of how concrete apron prices can vary from project to project. Please note that these are guides and general examples only.
- A 6m concrete apron on the gable end of an 18m span shed would cost approx. $17,000 including GST.
- A 12m concrete apron on the gable end of a 24m span shed would cost approx. $45,000 including GST.
- A 3m concrete apron to one 8m bay would cost approx. $4,000 including GST.
- An 8m concrete apron the full length of a 40m long shed would cost approx. $50,000 including GST.
So, the cost of a concrete apron for your project will be influenced by the size of the concrete area and other factors such as your location. For example, the cost of concrete and installation is often higher in remote areas.
4
Prepare Your Shed Pad
The best way to get the most out of your farm shed slab is to pay attention to the preparation stage.
Your farm shed slab will only ever be as good as its foundation.
This is true regardless of how thick your slab is or how big your slab is.
And that is not the only benefit of a well-prepared shed site. For example, a level shed pad with effective drainage will help keep the shed accessible in wet weather. This is important during the installation stage and year-round when you are using the shed.
So, it is essential to start with a well-prepared site – and you can learn how in the video below.
Next up we discuss whether increasing the thickness of your concrete slab can be a smart idea.
5
Increase The Thickness Of Your Slab
We often look for cost savings on farm shed projects, particularly if you are working to a budget or are currently restricted by cash flow. However, sometimes spending more in the short term can be a smart decision in the long term.
Increasing the thickness of your farm shed slab is a prime example of this.
Firstly, increasing the thickness of your farm shed slab is cost-effective as it doesn’t add a considerable amount to the cost of the slab.
For example, increasing a 100m² concrete slab from 125mm to 150mm only requires an additional 2.5m³ of concrete. This will likely only add $500 – $1000 to the overall slab cost.
Increasing the thickness of your concrete slab may even save you money.
For example, reducing the thickness of a workshop slab under workbenches and storage areas may seem like a cost saving. However, this requires more preparation and the additional labour costs will likely negate any cost savings from reducing the slab thickness.
On top of that, repairing concrete slabs is quite difficult and can be costly. So, skimping on your slab could increase your maintenance costs going forward.
Finally, increasing slab thickness is a great way to future-proof your shed.
For example, the most common thickness for a farm shed slab is usually 150mm (6 inches), with one layer of reinforcing mesh. This is adequate for smaller to medium-sized farm machinery such as tractors.
While you may only require a 150mm thick slab now, if you intend to drive fully loaded semis or B-doubles in the shed in the future you will need to increase the slab thickness to 180mm – 200mm. This increases the functionality of your shed and saves you further expenses in the future.
So, increasing the slab thickness can be good value for money and help you get the most out of your shed.
Check out the gallery below for ideas – and scroll on for a handy price guide.
Concrete Slab Ideas Gallery
How Much Does A Concrete Slab Cost?
A 150mm concrete slab will usually cost between $115m² and $140m² depending on the slab size and project location.
An 180mm concrete slab obviously requires more concrete, and can often require more preparation, labour and additional reinforcing mesh so it will usually cost between $130m² and $160m² depending on the size and location.
We have provided some examples below. Please note that these are guides and general examples only.
- A 150mm concrete slab in a 40m (L) x 18m (W) shed costs approx. $92,000 including GST
- A 180mm concrete slab in a 68m (L) x 24m (W) shed costs approx. $237,00 including GST
So, that’s our discussion around smart concrete slab ideas done!
Looking for more information? Check out the list of articles and resources below.
Useful Resources
- Standard Fertiliser Shed Brochure (PDF Download)
- Can I Retrofit My Shed For Storing Grain?
- How To Create A Cost-Effective Shearing Shed Design
- Is This The Best Calving Shed Design?
Ready to get your project under way? Our building consultants can provide advice, pricing and more concrete slab ideas – and our projects team can arrange the concrete slab for your project. Call us on 1800 687 888 for a free project consultation and proposal.
