Concrete garage floor

[kyle4501]

I just had a concrete floor installed in my bus garage.
I had seen some nice work he has done, so I let my guard down.  
I would like to share some important things I learned -
- - Make sure the contractor is bonded & insured & registered/ licensed
- - Ask for references from jobs where he made a mistake he had to fix (Also verify they actually did the work claimed)
- - Specify max depth of puddles you will accept in the contract
- - GET IT ALL IN WRITING


I asked for a flat floor with no pitch & was assured it was no problem. What I got was 1 inch in 10 feet slope to the center of the building. Contractor agrees that while it is excessive, he insists it is normal & acceptable acceptable.
He dug his heels in super deep & kept making excuses & threats.
After all this, I determined the contractor who was so easy to work with & gave plenty of assurances he was the best for the job -- is all hat & no horse. I sure can pick 'em.  


The deal is closed & I hope the drama is done.
I hope someone can benefit from my mistakes.

[lostagain]

I know what you're talking about. I've had a couple of basement floors in houses where the drain was the highest point... You really do have to know who to hire.

JC

[Zephod]

The cowboys either come with the best prices or the best faked credentials.


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[luvrbus]

Most concrete guys will add a pitch to a floor because a flat floor will puddle water then the owners are unhappy thinking a flat floor shouldn't have puddles.1 inch in 10 ft shouldn't be that noticeable.You ask for a flat floor he should have poured it flat even if he didn't want to and explained to you that it was going to puddle   

[kyle4501]

Most concrete guys will add a pitch to a floor because a flat floor will puddle water then the owners are unhappy thinking a flat floor shouldn't have puddles.1 inch in 10 ft shouldn't be that noticeable.You ask for a flat floor he should have poured it flat even if he didn't want to and explained to you that it was going to puddle   

I agree with all that. And that is what he said he would do - a little high in the middle. 

I installed a perimeter drain, so is it reasonable to slope the floor to the center, away from the drain?

I wouldn't have fussed about the slope if it had been towards the edge.

He claimed to have his own crew, but the guys that showed up to help with the pour had never worked together. And, they didn't put in any grade stakes until after about 4 yards had been poured - then they were in a rush. I believe they set the grade stakes too low. no good way to check when a cement truck is in the way . . . . .

[bobofthenorth]

I have dealt with a lot of concrete contractors over the years and my general impression is that they're all haywire.  Even the good ones will f*** up if you don't watch them like a hawk.  And concrete finishers are a completely whacko subset of the general haywire group.  Too much gas fumes off wore out power trowels is my theory.

The problem with concrete is once its done its done.  If a stick builder screws up it may be a horrendous task but it can usually be fixed.  Hell even when I put a 16 foot hole and bought an 18 foot door I was able to fix it so nobody has ever noticed until I point it out.  But concrete is another matter.  When I did my current shop I wanted it in one continuous pour but let myself be talked into 3 separate lifts plus the apron.  Now when it rains I get water running in off the apron about 6 feet and when I wash there's two ridges plus the doorway to wash past.  I'd be happy if I only had one puddle.

[dtcerrato]

If your slab in depressed in the center, If it were mine (& it wouldn't be because I do my own concrete work just like all my own bus work) I would core a hole at the lowest point in the depression so that standing water can drain into the ground there. Too bad for your misfortune., there are just too many people out there that don't give t a flying flip. In this world we live in ASSUME NOTHING!

[Oonrahnjay]

... I hope someone can benefit from my mistakes.

      Sorry for all that mess in your plans, Kyle.  I kinda lucked out -- a guy that I went to high school with at home worked in his dads concrete (back then his dad had big concrete mixing tower and his own redi-mix trucks) and earthmoving business.  When I got ready to do my garage floor, he was just in the process of moving and passing the business on to his sons.  Esp. one son was on a summer break from college where he was studying civil engineering.  My friend said "if you'll give us some slack in the timing" (and hey I was in no hurry) "and let me get Jody involved in this, we'll do it right for you at a good price".  I do believe that i got it for very little over his cost, it was done well because he was checking Jody like a hawk, and it didn't hurt me at all to have it done in four weeks versus two.
       Just lucky ... (for a change).

[luvrbus]

With the laser technology of today there is no excuse for screwing concrete up.I hate to say it when a concrete contractor drives up in a $60,000.00 pickup with $1500.00 sunglasses named John Doe and starts his BS with me in Scottsdale 
I start looking for Jose, Javier or Jesus with 10 family members in a pickup they get done. They never complain that I won't let them use a jitter bug to push the rocks down to make it a easy finish and price is about the same with less BS. I told them rip a handicap ramp out and redo it no problem they just done it   
Friggn concrete is getting expensive since Mexico,England,Germany and Ireland control all the cement plants and most redi mix plants here, then the EPA wants fly ash gone by doing away with coal fired power plants   

[Dave5Cs]

As a Retired Building Contractor in California I had many Concrete jobs done for me as well as doing a bunch myself its all in the screeding. Some of the problems in any job is the first words out of peoples mouth is," So what is it going to cost me to do this job" even before the job is presented other than I need a bid. Or they don't get it in writing. The contractor doesn't present a build sheet. ( sheet with every sub named, license number etc. and all the materials to be used on that sheet.
Most just want to save or expect you will give them a deal. I used to tell them I am in business to make a living not to give handouts. I did give discounts if i reasonably felt it was needed and often over priced it by my mistake and took it off at the end as I told them I would.

If that job was in writing the way you wanted it and you had their license number, bond number and at least 3 jobs done and able to go look at it and talk to the people with proof that it was really their job Then at that point if they screwed up I would have told them they have "X" amount of days to tear out that concrete and re-pour it to your satisfaction at their cost and give them reasonable time to do so.
If that doesn't happen then you have the right to go to the Contractors state License board if your state has one and file a complaint or an action against said contractor.
Yep also hired Jose" and his family and never had the problem and always gave them a tip.

If you can prove it in California that they do not have a contractors License in California or Arizona and they are stating they are one then the CCLB will arrest that person for acting in the capacity of a Contractor without a license.

HTH Dave

[kyle4501]

FYI

[kyle4501]

It is noticeable to me.
Hopefully, I'll be able to resolve the drainage issue & manage a way to have the coach sit evenly when aired down

[muldoonman]

With the laser technology of today there is no excuse for screwing concrete up.I hate to say it when a concrete contractor drives up in a $60,000.00 pickup with $1500.00 sunglasses named John Doe and starts his BS with me in Scottsdale 
I start looking for Jose, Javier or Jesus with 10 family members in a pickup they get done. They never complain that I won't let them use a jitter bug to push the rocks down to make it a easy finish and price is about the same with less BS. I told them rip a handicap ramp out and redo it no problem they just done it   
Friggn concrete is getting expensive since Mexico,England,Germany and Ireland control all the cement plants and most redi mix plants here, then the EPA wants fly ash gone by doing away with coal fired power plants   

This! Just had a 50' x 60' bus barn poured.  Perfect. Used lasers to set board foundation for pour. Paid $6. 50 per foot for 3500psi concrete and 6" deep. Spend a little money and hire a lawyer and sue the turd! Take his truck and sunglasses.

[muldoonman]

FYI

Did he pour that in stages?? Should have been your first clue.

[oltrunt]

Sorry about your concrete woes.  Many years ago I hired a contractor to remove and replace my drive and entry cement with colored stamped concrete.  The finishing guys were fine but the truck driver got lost and went to a South address rather than my North address.  Colored mud kicks off faster than non colored and the result of the delivery error was that by the time the mud was on the ground it was too hard to work with the stamps.  I immediately set the crew to work with pics and shovels while the mud was fresh and had the whole mess removed.  I lived with a dirt drive and entry for a month while I fought the concrete company.  They finally capitulated and replaced the bad batch of mud--I did eat the labor for the first delivery though.  Thirty odd years later I am still pleased with the look of my drive and I know that had I just let it go I would still be kicking myself.  Kyle, if you really are stuck with the work I think the suggestion of drilling a drain hole in the low spot makes sense.  Jack