What's the "right" level for the surface of a concrete pad? At, above or below grade?

Question

Lots of information about how to lay a concrete pad, but nobody seems to address this overtly.

We're building a wheelchair ramp, the bottom is to be a concrete landing slab. We are in the northeast US, so we get snow & ice (though the ramp likely would not be in use during the dead of winter - This is for a childrens summer camp).

I was going to build the wooden form such that the top of the slab rests around 1/2 - 1" above the surrounding grade. The thinking being to basically keep water, mud, etc off it - "Self cleaning" of sorts

But I presented this to my partner, his thought was that it should be BELOW grade 1/2" or thereabouts. This would protect it from being hammered by a potential snowplow incident (very valid concern) and he some other reasons which I'm unfortunately blanking on....

What say ye?

Thx in advance!

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 15 '21 at 23:03

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IMO, the most important feature of this slab is the transition to the ground level, which makes the slab fully wheelchair accessible. To avoid hitting by the snowplow, you can add a warning barrier, or make a strip of flower bed alongside the slab.

Place an adequate layer of coarse gravel, which shall be compacted to offer good bearing capacity, and deep enough to avoid damage by frost heave.

answered Sep 15 '21 at 23:03

r13

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Neither above nor below because it's a ramp; dead on with the grade, +1. Having used an edging tool will keep it safe enough from a snowblower. Hit it with a plow; that's your fault. - That being said, for a *pad*, if it's not above grade and there's no sewer, then it's a pool.... – Mazura Sep 16 '21 at 14:37

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 15 '21 at 21:16

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Above and with a slight slope so that it doesn't collect water.

answered Sep 15 '21 at 21:16

manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact

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Solar Mike · Answer 3 · 2021-09-16T05:53:58.830

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Or 1/2" below, with a slope and a drainage channel with gravel or similar.

edited Sep 16 '21 at 05:53

answered Sep 15 '21 at 21:22

Solar Mike

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This does not provide an answer to the question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post. - [From Review](/review/low-quality-posts/135921) – FreeMan Sep 15 '21 at 23:43
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@FreeMan shame you did not make the same comment to the other answer - only difference is theat one said above. – Solar Mike Sep 16 '21 at 05:02
@FreeMan This answer and my answer are equally valid in terms of SE rules - both answer the question, just happens to be both are one-liners. – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact Sep 17 '21 at 01:14
Sorry, this answer was in the "Low Quality" review queue. @manassehkatz-Moving2Codidact's answer was not. – FreeMan Sep 17 '21 at 14:51
Could you explain why this is a correct answer? Beef it up a bit. – Chris Cudmore Sep 20 '21 at 14:40
@ChrisCudmore has more words than another answer, why have you not picked on that one? – Solar Mike Sep 20 '21 at 15:07
@SolarMike Yours ended up in the review queue. – Chris Cudmore Sep 20 '21 at 15:43
@ChrisCudmore then you should have spotted the earlier comments... – Solar Mike Sep 20 '21 at 15:50

What's the "right" level for the surface of a concrete pad? At, above or below grade?

3 Answers3