Horrific new slab pour, PROPER corrective action advise needed!

[SALIV8]

Well I read the whole thing and not one question as to what the hell is this?

Joe H

Edit: where is Brownbagg in this mess? He's an Inspector in Alabama for concrete.

Thats a floor drain for his condensing boiler. He has in floor heat already set in this concrete.

 

[Notgrownup]

So any updates Zimms

 

[nmantas]

If things went south and lawyers got involved the first advice they would give would be to stop talking about it online (we have seen people say that on here many times that they couldn't talk about it anymore).......at least til it got settled which in America means 2-4 years.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Any word?

 

[Samh]

The OP hasn't posted for awhile...hope he's not in prison.

Do you need to call 811 before you dig to bury a body?

 

[F451]

What's up with this? I'm suspecting no news is not good news in this case. I hope I'm wrong.

And what a bummer. Wow.

More then once I've had to tell a contractor after they did a crappy job that I'm paying them to do a professional job, not a crappy job. If I wanted a crappy job done, I would have done it myself and saved a ton of money and aggravation.

On a smaller scale, our new house construction (a nightmare), the door framing crew could not get the rear sliding door install correct, out of square, binding, etc. It was obviously screwed up. I kept insisting they do it right.

After the 3rd failed install, the owner of the door company came out to have a look.

He was shocked by what he saw and asked me directly "Did my people do this?"

I said "Of course they did, who else would do it?"

He replied "Someone's getting fired over this." That was not my intention but I did not argue with him on that.

He came back personally and re-did the install. All good now.

Normally I would not give a crappy contractor that many chances to make it right, but we were locked in with our corporate home building company and didn't have any say in who showed up (or when for that matter, what a ball buster).

On this pour, I'm with the tear it out and start over with a new contractor crowd. Go after the contractor for what you can get out of him. Too bad it was paid for in advance.

 

[zimmpz]

What's up with this? I'm suspecting no news is not good news in this case. I hope I'm wrong.

And what a bummer. Wow.

More then once I've had to tell a contractor after they did a crappy job that I'm paying them to do a professional job, not a crappy job. If I wanted a crappy job done, I would have done it myself and saved a ton of money and aggravation.

On a smaller scale, our new house construction (a nightmare), the door framing crew could not get the rear sliding door install correct, out of square, binding, etc. It was obviously screwed up. I kept insisting they do it right.

After the 3rd failed install, the owner of the door company came out to have a look.

He was shocked by what he saw and asked me directly "Did my people do this?"

I said "Of course they did, who else would do it?"

He replied "Someone's getting fired over this." That was not my intention but I did not argue with him on that.

He came back personally and re-did the install. All good now.

Normally I would not give a crappy contractor that many chances to make it right, but we were locked in with our corporate home building company and didn't have any say in who showed up (or when for that matter, what a ball buster).

On this pour, I'm with the tear it out and start over with a new contractor crowd. Go after the contractor for what you can get out of him. Too bad it was paid for in advance.

Unfortunately no news is bad news. I cant believe the nightmare got worse but it is now much worse. I apologize for not updating this thread but it is been difficult juggling operating a business and dealing with this looser contractor at the same time. After many blown deadlines and poor follow up work I fired him and asked for a refund. I have yet to get a response...... I am now doing all the work he screwed up myself and trying to set up a great job site so when the concrete guys show up they have to do nothing but what they do best and just pour. I will try and update with pics when I find some time. As far as the contractor goes I tossed the ball in his court and he will make the decision on how I follow up. If I get a check from him he can just go away and I'm out my time and some money but If he decides to go radio silent I will be sending the sheriff to serve his *** and he will find himself in court and I will be asking for legal fees and more from him. His decision. I'm out of time and money is flying out the door so I am just going to grind hard until the shop is done and I can use it for what it is intended for. Maybe he will produce what I want but I am moving forward regardless and just hoping I'll be able to recover on the back end.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

zimmpz, So sorry this is on the tough path! Can you tell us, are you still planning to grind it down and put another layer on or are you pulling the whole slab and starting over?

 

[F451]

Unfortunately no news is bad news. I cant believe the nightmare got worse but it is now much worse. I apologize for not updating this thread but it is been difficult juggling operating a business and dealing with this looser contractor at the same time. < snips >

I'm very sorry to hear that, but I think you're taking the best approach now considering the circumstances.

And please don't apologize for not responding right away, you obviously have a lot on your plate and time is scarce.

Good air in, bad air out, deep breathes, keep your chin up, all that stuff.

Some day you will be enjoying your new shop and all of this drama will be a distant memory.

Good luck with everything. -Ed

 

[zimmpz]

zimmpz, So sorry this is on the tough path! Can you tell us, are you still planning to grind it down and put another layer on or are you pulling the whole slab and starting over?

The path has just gotten rougher. I thought I had hit rock bottom but I guess it is never wise to think it couldn't get worse. They ground the slab and I spent my weekend cleaning the hell out of it, laying rebar and erecting forms and cutting new foam. At the final end I was wondering why on earth my forms needed to be modified as I was just placing them in lightly with foam so I could square and level later. Turns out it is 15.5" short on one side. I have measured multiple times as I still can not believe it. Ray Charles could have done a better job with a string and a spatula on this monument to the stupidity of man I have in my yard. The engineers are working between a fix and a tear out option right now. I will keep you all posted. I also have released the legal hounds on his *** so I will keep you posted on what comes of that as well. Good thing my material costs just went up over 140% and there are 2 hurricanes about to blast the coast......Truly unbelievable....

 

[jd_1138]

What a pile of s--t this contractor is. I'd plaster bad reviews of his co. all over -- Google reviews, BBB, etc.. Might save some other people from hiring his pathetic ****.

 

[PCustoms]

The path has just gotten rougher. I thought I had hit rock bottom but I guess it is never wise to think it couldn't get worse. They ground the slab and I spent my weekend cleaning the hell out of it, laying rebar and erecting forms and cutting new foam. At the final end I was wondering why on earth my forms needed to be modified as I was just placing them in lightly with foam so I could square and level later. Turns out it is 15.5" short on one side. I have measured multiple times as I still can not believe it. Ray Charles could have done a better job with a string and a spatula on this monument to the stupidity of man I have in my yard. The engineers are working between a fix and a tear out option right now. I will keep you all posted. I also have released the legal hounds on his *** so I will keep you posted on what comes of that as well. Good thing my material costs just went up over 140% and there are 2 hurricanes about to blast the coast......Truly unbelievable....

Who set the forms the 1st time?

 

[zimmpz]

Yes I will be making sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. The contractor did all previous work on the slab.

 

[wake74]

I would speak to your lawyer before trashing them online (not saying they don’t deserve it}. Your lawyer may say you have a better shot at getting a settlement if he or she can use the threat of public disclosure against them. Your settlement may very well contain a non-disparagement clause in exchange for payment. You cant unring the bell once you have done the online review path. Good luck.

 

[zimmpz]

What a pile of s--t this contractor is. I'd plaster bad reviews of his co. all over -- Google reviews, BBB, etc.. Might save some other people from hiring his pathetic ****.

Who set the forms the 1st time?

I would speak to your lawyer before trashing them online (not saying they don’t deserve it}. Your lawyer may say you have a better shot at getting a settlement if he or she can use the threat of public disclosure against them. Your settlement may very well contain a non-disparagement clause in exchange for payment. You cant unring the bell once you have done the online review path. Good luck.

I am holding my cards close for now. I will wait for the process to be over or when I am in the clear to do so. Thank you.

 

[Farmall450]

Best of luck OP, it's good you went the route you did. Material costs really ****...can you wait out once the slab is poured?

 

[zimmpz]

Best of luck OP, it's good you went the route you did. Material costs really ****...can you wait out once the slab is poured?

thank you. My materials I have and sanity probably will not make it through another shopless northern minnesota winter. I'm just planning on going full steam ahead until I am bankrupt or I have a shop. Hope the legal system can help me on the back end but until then I am on my own and very determined.

 

[ConCretin]

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse..... Just unbelievable incompetence! I applaud your determination and perseverance. Keep fighting brother, you'll have your shop and this will all be a distant memory.

 

[gtsgarage]

This is when I just hate paying people to do work. Just no pride in this work at all.

Good luck OP!

 

[tonyciambrone]

Jesus Mary and Joseph... sorry you are dealing with this, gotta be a real headache.

At least you got GJ to commiserate/ support

 

[manwithtools]

Wow, just unbelievable. I'm so sorry you have to go through this.

 

[abt12]

The incorrectly sized slab might be a blessing in disguise - workmanship can be a hard thing to prove, but a slab poured completely the wrong size vs contract or drawings is VERY easy to prove. Assuming it was the concrete guys who made the form in the first place, of course. If not, it's one more place to go after to get your money back and your issues corrected.

 

[Corndoggeh]

Now the question is... How can it get any worse?

 

[Vintage Veloce]

The incorrectly sized slab might be a blessing in disguise - workmanship can be a hard thing to prove, but a slab poured completely the wrong size vs contract or drawings is VERY easy to prove. Assuming it was the concrete guys who made the form in the first place, of course. If not, it's one more place to go after to get your money back and your issues corrected.

^THIS is an excellent point.
Best wishes to zimmpz! You will get through this!

 

[Thirdyfivepickup]

man.... all I can add is prayers that this gets resolved in a speedy and satisfactory way

 

[PCustoms]

The incorrectly sized slab might be a blessing in disguise - workmanship can be a hard thing to prove, but a slab poured completely the wrong size vs contract or drawings is VERY easy to prove. Assuming it was the concrete guys who made the form in the first place, of course. If not, it's one more place to go after to get your money back and your issues corrected.

My money is that the OP set his forms, and expected the contractor to square it up.

I could probably surmise a few other things about how this all went down. Remember there's 2 sides to every story.

 

[Git]

My money is that the OP set his forms, and expected the contractor to square it up.

I could probably surmise a few other things about how this all went down. Remember there's 2 sides to every story.

Wow- really? Your basically calling the OP a liar even after you saw what kind of job the contractor did with the concrete, or you gonna say the OP also poured the slab also?

 

[MileHighRover]

My money is that the OP set his forms, and expected the contractor to square it up...

Umm, you've already asked the OP that question and he answered it. Reading is hard.

Who set the forms the 1st time?

...The contractor did all previous work on the slab.

 

[like2wheel]

Who set the forms the 1st time?

. The contractor did all previous work on the slab.

My money is that the OP set his forms, and expected the contractor to square it up.

I could probably surmise a few other things about how this all went down. Remember there's 2 sides to every story.

I'm on the op's side on this one


.

 

[sweetk30]

i was just going to post the same quotes .

 

[PCustoms]

Read what you all quoted.

 

[PCustoms]

From post #210

The path has just gotten rougher. I thought I had hit rock bottom but I guess it is never wise to think it couldn't get worse. They ground the slab and I spent my weekend cleaning the hell out of it, laying rebar and erecting forms and cutting new foam. At the final end I was wondering why on earth my forms needed to be modified as I was just placing them in lightly with foam so I could square and level later.

In post #212 I asked the question.

Yes I will be making sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. The contractor did all previous work on the slab.

Then from post #215, in which (among others) the OP quoted me and responded:

I am holding my cards close for now. I will wait for the process to be over or when I am in the clear to do so. Thank you.

 

[MileHighRover]

PCustoms, according to what the OP has posted, the original contractor built the forms and poured a **** slab. Then the slab was ground smooth.

The OP is now building his own forms to pour another slab on top of the original. When building the new forms he noticed the original forms were wrong.

He made it clear the contractor did all previous work on the slab, which would include building the original forms.

 

[PugetDude]

From post #210




In post #212 I asked the question.




Then from post #215, in which (among others) the OP quoted me and responded:

You don't happen to be a concrete contractor from Duluth, do you?

 

[like2wheel]

You don't happen to be a concrete contractor from Duluth, do you?

 

[MileHighRover]

You don't happen to be a concrete contractor from Duluth, do you?

 

[zimmpz]

I'm not sure what on earth is going on here but to clarify I paid the contractor to do ALL the work. The only thing I have done on the slab started last Saturday which included laying down the rest of the rebar, cleaning the surface and placing new forms on top of his old forms that where garbage and that is when I noticed something wasn't right with the last side of the forms I placed on top his so I measured the slab and that is when I discovered it was 1 whole 16 inch stud bay off which blew my mind and still is. I had nothing to do with it previously and now I have everything to do with it. I appreciate the love from the community here. I'm not much of a social media guy but this has been a good experience on garage journal and I truly appreciate it. Updates from the engineer are next.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Keep your chin up zimmpz! Many of us have suffered through contractor problems, and you will get through this one.

 

[LB-1911]

My money is that the OP set his forms, and expected the contractor to square it up.

I could probably surmise a few other things about how this all went down. Remember there's 2 sides to every story.

It appears you would be a few dollars short.

I'm not sure what on earth is going on here but to clarify

I paid the contractor to do ALL the work.

The only thing I have done on the slab started last Saturday which included laying down the rest of the rebar, cleaning the surface and placing new forms on top of his old forms that where garbage and that is when I noticed something wasn't right with the last side of the forms I placed on top his so I measured the slab and that is when I discovered it was 1 whole 16 inch stud bay off which blew my mind and still is.

I had nothing to do with it previously and now I have everything to do with it.

I appreciate the love from the community here. I'm not much of a social media guy but this has been a good experience on garage journal and I truly appreciate it. Updates from the engineer are next.

Hang In There!

 

[ford33]

OP thanks for posting your experience on Garage Journal. I feel for you due to the unexpected effort, money and time lost from this experience. You have provided valuable information and we have all learned from the many replies to your original post.

I wish you well and keep us posted on your build.