How thick should a hot tub pad be?

At least four inches of reinforced concrete on a compacted base, and many tub makers ask for more, so we check your model’s requirement. A filled tub with people in it can weigh as much as a car, all on a few square feet.

How big should an RV pad be?

At least as long as the RV plus a few feet, and 12 to 14 feet wide so you can open doors and walk around it. Six inches of reinforced concrete on a compacted base keeps the tires from rutting it.

Do I need a permit for a shed slab?

It depends on the size of the shed and the city. Many Front Range cities require a permit above a certain shed size, and HOAs often have their own rules. We check before we pour.

Can you run power to a hot tub through the pad?

We set conduit sleeves in the slab before the pour so your electrician can pull wire later without cutting concrete. Tell us where the tub’s disconnect will go and we place them to match.

Pads & Slabs in Denver and the Front Range

Pads & Slabs

Smaller project, big peace of mind.

A pad is only as good as what’s under it. A filled hot tub can weigh as much as a car, sheds and AC units need to stay level, and RVs put real weight on a small footprint. We size the base, thickness and reinforcement for whatever is going on top.

Typical price$1,000–$2,500 for a hot tub padinstalled · free written estimate

(720) 459-9091

How we build a pad or slab

What we build

Pads & Slabs, start to finish

Hot tub and spa pads
Shed and outbuilding slabs
RV, trailer and boat pads
AC, generator and equipment pads
Slabs for additions and sunrooms

Key considerations

What goes into it

01The load the slab has to carry
02Thickened edges where needed
03Level within tolerance
04Access for the truck or pump
05Sleeves for utilities and conduit

Good concrete starts long before the truck arrives. Our experienced team knows what to look for, what questions to ask, and which details can make the difference years down the road.

What's under the surface

A slab sized for what sits on it

Not to scale · sized to each job

1Point loads: a filled hot tub can weigh as much as a car, all on a few square feet.

2Compacted base sized for the load, so the slab is supported evenly from edge to edge.

3A vapor barrier under interior floors keeps ground moisture out of the room above.

4A rebar grid on chairs, with thickened edges where the load reaches the perimeter.

5Joints cut the same day, before shrinkage can pick its own crack line.

How it runs

Estimate to final walkthrough

1On-site estimate and load review
2Written scope with a clear price
3Excavation, base and forms
4Pour, finish, cure and walkthrough

Finish options

Straightforward or decorative

Broom finish

Fine ridges for traction on snow and ice. The standard for driveways and walks.

Exposed aggregate

The top layer washed back to show the stone. Grippy and good at hiding wear.

Stamped

Patterned to look like stone, slate or brick, at a fraction of the cost.

Integral color

Color mixed through the concrete, so chips and wear don’t show grey.

Smooth trowel

Dense and flat for garage floors, shops and courts.

Sealed

A penetrating sealer before the first winter to resist water and de-icer.

Where you live changes the job

A pad or slab on bentonite clay is a different job than one on river sand

The Front Range has four distinct ground conditions, and each one changes how we prepare the base, reinforce the slab and handle water. Your community page has the specifics.

Expansive clay plains

Remove the soft and organic soil, bring in compacted road base, set rebar on chairs, and plan joints and slope so water runs away from the house instead of soaking the clay beside it.

Denver Aurora Centennial Highlands Ranch

Foothills and tilted bedrock

Deeper excavation and a thicker compacted base, reinforcement sized for uneven support, and drainage that intercepts runoff above the slab, often paired with a retaining wall where the grade demands it.

Lakewood Boulder Golden Morrison

River sand and gravel

Compaction done in lifts, geotextile fabric where the native soil is soft, and a thicker section anywhere a truck, trailer or RV will park.

Longmont Commerce City Wheat Ridge Brighton

Palmer Divide uplands

Air-entrained exterior mix, proper curing, a penetrating sealer before the first winter, and a broom texture for traction on sloped driveways.

Parker Castle Rock Castle Pines Elizabeth

Questions about pads & slabs

Pads & Slabs: what people ask us

A hot tub pad usually runs $1,000–$2,500. Shed and equipment slabs run $6–$12 per square foot, and an RV pad $8–$12 per square foot, about $3,800–$5,800 for a 12 by 40 foot pad. Small pads cost more per square foot because the crew and the truck cost the same, so most carry a minimum charge.

Typical prices for every kind of project are in the Denver concrete cost guide, and general questions are on the FAQ page.

More ways to improve your property

Explore our concrete services

Concrete DrivewaysA better driveway starts from the ground up.Concrete PatiosAn outdoor room you’ll actually use.Concrete WalkwaysSafer paths, cleaner lines.Concrete FloorsGarage, shop and basement floors that hold up.Athletic CourtsA court in the backyard, built to play on.Pool DecksSafe when wet, cooler underfoot.Retaining WallsHold the grade. Give the water a way out.

Get a clear price on your pad or slab.

You'll know, without question, what your project involves, what it costs, and what to expect before work begins.