Concerned about new concrete driveway

[alex71]

Hey guys,
i bought a house in Florida with a big shop late last year, and since I lived in Chicago at the time, I used a GC to do a major remodel, including pouring a new driveway for the shop (it was originally a horse barn, and had no driveway).

I am concerned about this staining. It wasn't here about 3 weeks ago. It is not wet.. Cosmetic issues aside, i don't want this to start flaking off in a year. This is fiber reinforced concrete.

Thoughts on what to do with this?

Thanks.

 

[c39er]

Pictures?

 

[driftpin]

Pictures?

 

[alex71]

im trying, they are coming in all blown out, and won't attach. let me try to size it down.

 

[alex71]

pic

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Wait. It will even out over time.

 

[carcruse]

Looks like it was a little thin on curing compound in some areas. As Leaflessshadetree said, it will probably even out over time.

 

[ALinCarolina]

APB for Concretin

 

[ConCretin]

To be honest, I'm not sure what we're looking at but it's very difficult to tell from a wide angle pic. It doesn't appear to me to be the normal color variation you'd see in drying concrete, which I'd expect to be resolved by now anyway.

I suspect something occurred during the placing and finishing operations. Is there any difference in the surface finish other than color? Are there any obvious defects such as flaking or spalling in either area. If you were present during the placement, did they get behind and apply water?

 

[alex71]

I wasn't there for the pour. I first saw the work about 3 weeks ago, and it did not look like this.

I will have a closer look tomorrow and see if I can provide more details. Thanks.

 

[BillK]

If nothing else I would ask the concrete contractor to meet you there and take a look and see what he says ? At least that way you have a record of letting him know about it. When was the concrete poured ?

 

[alex71]

Here are some more pics. Even though the dark areas look smoother, the texture feels the same to the hand. Note that it rained heavily last night, so things look a bit different, but the dark areas are still there.

 

[alex71]

Pic

 

[Shiftless]

One of my neighbor’s driveway looks like that. His was installed almost a year ago.

 

[ConCretin]

All I can tell you is that it doesn't appear to be normal concrete coloration and I wouldn't expect it to go away anytime soon. Something unusual occurred to cause it. A poorly done repair perhaps? You could try scraping a small area in one of the dark sections and see if the surface is integral with the concrete below.

 

[dcg9381]

I don't think that's normal either.
Nor do I think it's a "structural" issue.

Similar problems I've had are due to the (non-concrete guy terms) lack of the the "float" on the creme that usually on the upper surface of the concrete when it's allowed to cure at the appropriate rate and when poured to appropriate consistency.

It is (for me) a cosmetic issue.

What does your concrete guy say? Someone who knows concrete is going to know exactly what this is.

 

[Rusted Nut]

Looks like a patch done with high strength cementitious grout, which is usually darker. Just guess though.

 

[ConCretin]

What does your concrete guy say? Someone who knows concrete is going to know exactly what this is.

So the guy that put that crappy slab down and then slathered on some kind of half assed patch "knows concrete"?1.

For those who believe it's not a structural issue and is just a cosmetic are understating the problem. If that's a patch and it inevitably starts coming up, it's still a major issue.

 

[dcg9381]

So the guy that put that crappy slab down and then slathered on some kind of half assed patch "knows concrete"?1.

No, but my concrete guy has bungled at least one or two things and owns up to it.... Part of why I keep using him.
I don't think the cosmetics there are getting fixed easily, but I'm not a concrete guy.

 

[Sherk]

The big boot print would bother me more than the discoloration...

 

[ConCretin]

No, but my concrete guy has bungled at least one or two things and owns up to it.... Part of why I keep using him.
I don't think the cosmetics there are getting fixed easily, but I'm not a concrete guy.

I might respectively suggest that you need to find a new concrete guy. The thing with concrete is that you get one shot. Any deficiencies in prep, placement and finish are very difficult if not impossible to correct after the fact.

 

[ConCretin]

The big boot print would bother me more than the discoloration...

Me too. The finish overall leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[alex71]

Thanks all for your input. I will get the gc and his concrete contractor in site, for starters.

 

[Codyboy]

The big boot print would bother me more than the discoloration...

Lol. Is that white shrimpin boots print? Lol

OP if it ain't structural I'd have them put down some nice overlay of the style of your choice . Brick pattern, stone pattern, whatever and then have it stained and sealed.

 

[dcg9381]

I might respectively suggest that you need to find a new concrete guy. The thing with concrete is that you get one shot. Any deficiencies in prep, placement and finish are very difficult if not impossible to correct after the fact.

I've had two. One had a beautiful Range Rover and a wife that looked like a supermodel. He did 2400 sqft for me. It had finish issues. Did he fix it? Nah. I'm a small fish. Structurally, it's fine. He had a crew of 10+ and finished the slab slightly too hot without water. I could sue, but at the end of the day, you've got a concrete patch.

I'll take the local guy who calls me when someone runs over the drive and he calls me immediately to let me know he'll "fix it" but the finish will be different.

I F stuff up too. We're all human and I'd prefer to work with the one that lets me know even if he can't eat the cost of the full pour.