I think the push for super flat floors on every job is overkill now

I finished a warehouse floor in Dallas last year that called for a Ff/Fl of 50/40, which is crazy flat. We spent three extra days with ride-on trowels and laser screeds, and the client paid nearly double. Six months later, I drove by and the whole space was full of heavy racks and pallets. You couldn't see an inch of the floor. We killed ourselves for specs that didn't matter for the actual use. I see this a lot now, specs written by an engineer who never steps on a site. For a basic shop floor or garage, a good hand finish is plenty. When did we stop asking what the slab actually needs to do? Has anyone else had to push back on specs that just add cost for no real gain?

3 comments

3 Comments

jennybailey19h ago

Yeah, but that spec is what keeps the racks from tipping. The flatness isn't for looks, it's for the rack legs. Still, they should tell you why.

the_ray18h ago

Remember my buddy's garage? He skipped that spec and his whole rack came down like a tree.

kevinallen18h ago

You said the flatness is for the rack legs, and that's true, but I mean it's also for the floor anchors. If the concrete isn't level, your anchor bolts pull at a weird angle. Over time, that constant stress from a loaded rack can crack the concrete or make the bolts work loose. It's not just about tipping right away, it's about a slow failure you won't see coming.