Concrete Garage Pads in Calgary
A garage pad is the foundation your garage is built on — and on Calgary clay, a thin or under-reinforced slab cracks and heaves within a few winters. We pour engineered pads at 5–6″ with a rebar grid and a proper base, sized to what you park on them.
Most garage-pad failures trace back to the parts you never see: a thin slab, wire mesh instead of rebar, or a sub-base that was never compacted. Add Calgary’s freeze-thaw and reactive clay, and a cut-rate pad starts cracking and lifting at the door within a few seasons. We build the pad to carry the load and hold the grade.
What we pour, as standard
Pads we build
Detached garage pads
The standard 30′×30′ double, or a 16′×24′ single — laneway or yard, sized to your build and lot.
Attached garage slabs
Garage floors poured as part of a build or replacement, tied to the foundation.
RV & heavy-duty pads
Thicker 6″+ slabs for trailers, RVs, lifts and shop loads that crack a builder-minimum pad.
Replacement
Tear-out and re-pour of cracked or heaving pads that were built thin or unreinforced.
Pouring a driveway at the same time? We price it as one combined project — same crew, same day, one mobilisation.
What a garage pad costs in Calgary
A garage pad is a brushed slab poured thicker for load, priced from the site’s brushed flatwork rate. Current 2026 ranges:
| Pad | Typical size | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Single detached | 16′ × 24′ (384 sq ft) | $4,600–5,400 |
| Double detached | 30′ × 30′ (900 sq ft) | $10,800–12,600 |
| Oversized / triple | 36′ × 30′ (1,080 sq ft) | $13,000–15,100 |
Based on roughly $12–14 per square foot for a standard brushed pad, including excavation, compacted gravel base, forming, rebar, the 32 MPa air-entrained pour, finishing, control joints and cleanup. Heavy-duty 6″+ slabs for RVs and shops, soft-soil excavation, and removing an old pad ($4–6/sq ft) add to it. Every quote is written and line-itemed.
Why garage pads crack — and how we stop it
Pads fail in Calgary for predictable reasons: freeze-thaw, expansive clay that moves, a thin slab, no real reinforcement, and a sub-base that was skipped to save a day. The fix is not complicated, but it is rarely done in full.
We excavate to a stable subgrade and compact a road-crush base, set a 10M rebar grid rather than mesh, pour a 32 MPa air-entrained mix made for exterior freeze-thaw, size the slab thickness to the load, and cut control joints to manage movement. Those five things are the difference between a pad that lasts and one we get called to tear out.
How the install works
A typical pad runs 2–3 days, weather permitting.
Demo & excavate
Break out the old pad if replacing, then excavate soft soil to a stable subgrade.
Base, forms & rebar
Compacted road-crush base, formed edges, and a 10M rebar grid set on chairs.
Pour & finish
Fresh 32 MPa air-entrained mix, brushed finish, control joints cut.
Cure
Minimum 7 days before any load; keep vehicles off about 28 days for full strength.
Best pouring season is May through October, when temperatures hold above 5°C.
Recent Calgary garage pads
Completed pads across Castleridge, Glenbrook, Banff Trail, MacEwan and Harvest Hills.
Garage pad FAQ
How much does a concrete garage pad cost in Calgary?
Around $12–14 per square foot for a standard brushed pad. That puts a single detached pad (16′×24′) near $4,600–5,400, a double (30′×30′) near $10,800–12,600, and an oversized/triple near $13,000–15,100. Heavy-duty 6″+ slabs, soft-soil excavation, and removing an old pad ($4–6/sq ft) add to it. Quotes are written and line-itemed.
What size garage pad do I need for a detached garage?
The Calgary standard for a detached double is 30′×30′ (900 sq ft). A single detached is usually 16′×24′ (384 sq ft). Plan a larger pad or thicker slab if you want workshop space, a lift, or equipment storage. City setback and laneway rules affect dimensions — we help size it to your plans and lot.
Why do garage pads crack in Calgary, and how do you prevent it?
Freeze-thaw, expansive clay, thin slabs, wire mesh instead of rebar, and skipped sub-base prep. We excavate and compact a road-crush base, set a 10M rebar grid, pour an air-entrained 32 MPa mix for freeze-thaw, size the thickness to the load, and cut control joints. Those are the steps cut-rate crews skip.
Can you replace a cracked or heaving garage pad?
Yes — full replacement: demolition and haul away, excavation and grading, a new compacted base, rebar, and a fresh engineered pour. If the original was thin, unreinforced, or poorly based, patching does not last. On Calgary clay, replacement is usually the only durable fix. We assess on site for free.
How long does a garage pad take to pour?
About 2–3 days, weather permitting: demolition and excavation, then base/forming/rebar, then pour and finish. Allow a minimum 7 days before any load and about 28 days for full strength. Best pouring season is May through October above 5°C.
Do you pour for both residential and commercial?
Yes — detached and attached residential pads, plus multi-bay shop slabs, large garage foundations and industrial pads built for heavy equipment. Larger commercial jobs use engineered slab designs to meet load requirements. We serve Calgary plus Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere and Okotoks. See commercial concrete.
Serving Calgary & area
Garage pads across NW, NE and SW Calgary, plus Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere and Okotoks.
Popular for garage pads
A foundation that won’t crack out from under you
A free on-site quote, a written line-item price, and a garage pad built to the load it carries. Four generations of Calgary concrete.
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