A concrete slab is a horizontal plate poured on site, used as a floor, a base or a storey floor. It is found in a garage, a cellar, a terrace, a garden shed, an extension or an entire upper floor.
Its quality depends on what can no longer be seen once the concrete is poured: ground preparation, formwork, reinforcement, workmanship. This page presents common works, points of reference specific to Western Switzerland and how to prepare a quote request.
What a concrete slab covers, from garage to upper floor
The term covers quite different structures, which call for neither the same skills nor the same precautions.
- The ground-bearing slab: it rests on prepared ground and serves as the floor of a garage, a utility room, a laundry room or a basement.
- The terrace or access slab: exposed to rain, frost and de-icing salt, it needs careful surface treatment and water management.
- The load-bearing slab: it is carried by walls, posts or beams, and forms a floor between two levels or a flat roof.
- The foundation slab of a small building: shelter, annexe, storage room.
- The renovation of an existing slab: crack repair, resurfacing, screed, levelling, or partial demolition before rebuilding.
Around the concrete itself, several stages go together: earthworks, hardcore base, formwork, placing the reinforcement, pouring, floating or smoothing, then curing the concrete.
When to call a mason for your slab
A small base for a compost bin can sometimes be done yourself. Once the slab carries a load or takes a vehicle, or is connected to a building, it is better to entrust the work to a masonry firm.
Call a professional in particular in the following cases:
- the slab serves as a floor, a roof or the support of a structure;
- it takes a vehicle, a tank or heavy machinery;
- the ground is sloping, damp, backfilled or of uncertain nature;
- the slab connects to existing walls, a cellar or a foundation;
- a crack, a subsidence or a leak has appeared on an older slab;
- the area is large or access is difficult for the concrete mixer or the pump.
A slab defect is hard to correct afterwards: it often means breaking it out. That is why preparation matters as much as pouring.
Concrete slabs and the Swiss framework: training, standards, warranties
In Switzerland, masonry work is carried out by professionals from vocational training, generally holding a CFC (federal certificate of proficiency) as a mason. You can ask which firm will work on your site and who will carry out the pouring. The site checks neither the qualifications nor the insurance of firms: verification is up to you, at the quote stage.
As for warranties, the Code of Obligations (CO) sets useful reference points:
- for an immovable work, the warranty for defects is 5 years under art. 371 CO;
- for a movable work, it is 2 years.
A slab poured in a building or on a plot of land is in principle an immovable work. The time limit does not remove the need to examine the work on handover and to report defects as soon as they are noticed. If the contract refers to the SIA 118 standard (the Swiss society of engineers and architects’ general conditions for construction works), it then applies to the contract. Read the conditions attached to the quote carefully before signing.
Permits, energy and heritage: what changes from one canton to another
The rule depends on the canton, the municipality and the nature of the structure. An isolated slab inside an existing building is not treated like an outdoor terrace or an extension. In every case, check with the municipality or the relevant cantonal office before starting.
Geneva. Building permits are issued by the canton, through the Office des autorisations de construire. On energy, the cantonal energy law (LEn) and the cantonal energy office (OCEN) frame the subsidies of the Buildings Programme. Many rental buildings are run by managing agents: a tenant must go through them. The old town and some protected districts add constraints. See the page on the canton of Geneva.
Vaud. The building permit is issued by the municipality. The file goes through the cantonal permits centre (CAMAC) when cantonal services must give an opinion. Energy falls under the Vaud energy law and the cantonal energy directorate, with a cantonal subsidy programme. Old towns and the Lavaux vineyard, a World Heritage site, call for particular care. See the page on the canton of Vaud.
Valais. The building permit is issued by the municipality within the building zone, and by a cantonal commission outside it. Energy depends on the cantonal energy and hydropower service, with a cantonal subsidy programme. Chalets and second homes, subject to the federal law on second homes in the municipalities concerned, call for early enquiries. See the page on the canton of Valais.
Fribourg. Building permit applications are filed on the cantonal platform FRIAC. The permit is issued by the prefecture or by the municipality depending on the type of work. The cantonal energy service runs a subsidy programme. The canton is bilingual and its old towns are protected. See the page on the canton of Fribourg.
Neuchâtel. Applications go through the cantonal one-stop shop SATAC, with the decision taken by the municipality. Energy falls under the cantonal energy and environment service, with a subsidy programme. The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, listed by UNESCO, can weigh on visible works. See the page on the canton of Neuchâtel.
Jura. The permit is issued by the municipality or by the canton depending on the scale of the project. The cantonal energy section runs a subsidy programme. The old towns of Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne deserve a check beforehand. See the page on the canton of Jura.
Biel/Bienne and the canton of Bern. The permit is issued by the municipality or by the prefecture depending on the project. Energy falls under the cantonal office for the environment and energy, with a subsidy programme. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual: French and German may both be used in your dealings with the administration. See the page on the canton of Bern.
Preparing your slab request to get a usable quote
The more precise the request, the more seriously firms can respond, without coming back with several questions. Gather:
- the intended use: garage, terrace, floor, shelter, utility room;
- the approximate dimensions and access to the site;
- the condition of the ground: flat or sloping, damp, backfilled, already excavated or not;
- photos of the location, and plans if you have them;
- any existing slab to be demolished or repaired;
- the type of finish wanted: rough, smooth, brushed, or intended to receive a floor covering;
- your status: owner, co-owner, tenant with the landlord’s agreement, or company;
- your scheduling constraints, without expecting a specific lead time before you have received the offers.
For a co-ownership property, state whether a decision of the owners’ meeting is needed. For a rental, attach the written agreement of the landlord or the managing agent.
What a concrete slab quote should detail, and what makes the cost vary
A serious quote breaks down the items rather than showing an opaque total. Check that it distinguishes:
- earthworks and removal of materials;
- the hardcore base or foundation layer;
- formwork and reinforcement;
- the type of concrete and how it is delivered (delivery, pump if needed);
- insulation, waterproofing or drainage if planned;
- the surface finish;
- protection of the concrete while it sets;
- what is not included, for example permits or reinstating the surroundings.
The cost depends on several factors: area and thickness, the nature of the ground, site accessibility, the need for a pump, the density of reinforcement, the quality of finish and the season. Prior demolition, a steep slope or unstable ground can also change the offer. Only a quote based on your situation tells you what your slab will cost.
Compare at least two offers on the same basis. An offer clearly lower than the others often hides a forgotten item or a reduced service.
Getting a quote for your concrete slab
The site is a neutral matching service: it has no craftspeople of its own and no named partner. You describe your work online, and your request is passed to craftspeople and firms in the region, who contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote. The choice of firm, the reading of the quote and the signing of the contract remain up to you.
To start your request, request a quote.
Concrete slab near you: the pages by canton
No city page is available yet for this trade. The pages below present the context of each canton:
Updated 29 October 2026