Thanks Mulligan, that answer my question. I knew the codes here were different than S Fla. due to different conditions, but that explains concrete to my satisfaction.

I worked in construction during the Summers when I was still in school. I remember that someone always sampled the concrete coming out of the truck when we poured a slab or any concrete structure. There are different grades of concrete (rated in pounds of pressure (PSI)) that are used according to the architects specifications. I believe it may have been the architectual firm that was sampling the concrete.

Do you know if The Villages builders are using either one of these reinforcement methods or none ? Also I noticed that builders pour the slab and immediately begin building on it. Does the concrete need time to cure and dry? If so for how long?

I just took a close look and did see re-bar in the footer.

Rubicon,

Concrete setting times:

http://powerblanket.com/2008/01/31/t...-setting-time/

and you can add accellerators to speed up the set time:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructu...p/acclerat.htm