Water, the Universal Solvent. Water is called the universal solvent because it is capable of dissolving more substances than any other liquid. This is important to every living thing on earth. It means that wherever water goes, either through the air, the ground, or through our bodies, it takes along valuable chemicals, minerals, and nutrients. It is water's chemical composition and physical attributes that make it such an excellent solvent.
Cost breakdown. 1  Materials: Poured slab concrete typically costs $3-$5 per square foot. Footings 1 can add an additional $1-$2 per square foot. 2  Labor: labor costs from contractors or concrete specialists typically adds another $2-$3 per square foot, for a total of $2000-$3000 for this project.
The bulk of the work for a new slab is in the excavation and form building. If you have to level a sloped site or bring in a lot of fill, hire an excavator for a day to help prepare the site. Then figure on spending a day building the forms and another pouring the slab.