Garage Foundation & Slab

Garage foundations and concrete slabs in New Brunswick must contend with frost depths reaching 1.2 to 1.5 metres, high water tables across much of the province's river valley and coastal terrain, and the relentless freeze-thaw cycling that heaves, cracks, and displaces foundations not built to NB specifications. Frost wall foundations extending below the local frost line are mandatory for permanent garage structures under the NB Building Code — monolithic slab-on-grade designs without frost protection will heave and crack within the first few winters, a failure pattern common in garages built without proper permits throughout the province. Proper drainage is equally critical in New Brunswick, where spring snowmelt and heavy rainfall can saturate clay-heavy soils and create hydrostatic pressure against foundation walls. A professionally engineered garage foundation includes compacted granular base, perimeter drainage tile connected to daylight or sump, reinforced concrete slab with control joints to manage cracking, and below-slab vapour barrier to prevent moisture wicking through the concrete — protecting vehicles, tools, and stored belongings from the persistent dampness that characterizes NB's Maritime climate.

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