Reinforced concrete is by far the most commonly used flooring in modern buildings, primarily because it is considered relatively simple and inexpensive by builders. However, there are hidden costs and considerations that accompany this technology that impact everyone involved.

While the simplest concrete floor costs around $15 for each square foot poured (roughly double that in metropolitan cities) the true cost of concrete on a building project is more subtle and pervasive.

Hidden Costs

As soon as concrete is introduced to a job site everything changes. It is estimated that an additional $5/sq ft or more of an average tall building can be accounted for in the intrinsic costs of concrete on a construction site.

Risks go up due to heavy equipment and caustic chemicals. Trucks, mixers and concrete pumps monopolize the site, creating noise and traffic problems and leaving a mess for you to clean up that extents well beyond the foundation.

Consider for a moment the impact of removing concrete from your projects. Simply by eliminating it from the floors above the foundation not only cuts costs dramatically it improves workplace safety, reduces dust and mess, and minimizes heavy traffic to and from the site. And in cold weather, the need for concrete pumps and cranes means that exterior cladding must wait for all floors to be poured, extending project time and requiring workers to endure harsh conditions, all costing you money.

Impact on the Structure

Finally, the great weight of concrete floors (as much as 60 lbs/sq ft) means that the entire building must be stronger just to bear the dead load of the floor slabs themselves. This means more steel, more engineering, and even more concrete to handle the demand.