3 hour hot concrete poor
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1jjpop
Well-known member
I would see him hell before I would pay him..That is totally unacceptable work. Sure glad is not a surgeon.
7th Kahuna
Well-known member
Man am I sorry to see that and sorry that you feel powerless to get it corrected but I understand the position you are in. I wish you the best with the grinding. That said, let me put in another vote for ARDEX. It has been spec'd on several remodel projects I have done over the years. I would probably talk to a rep for Ardex or any of the other similar products to get their recommendation for when and how to best install it. Another possibility, though not one you want to hear, would be to have a professional asphalt company apply a glass mat and seal over it. I'm not sure how much of a buildup that would entail however. Maybe that would be a consideration down the road if it started to crack up pretty bad. Good luck.
I do agree you aught to get the money back for the labor at least.
I do agree you aught to get the money back for the labor at least.
Im sorry but that is god awful! I do concrete for a living and i would be ashamed of that work. One way to tell this guy is bad is not wrapping the building in plastic prior to the pour keeping splashing to a minimum.
I dont think an afternoon re pour would be best, not sure why the contractor would pour first thing in the morning when its coolest and the sun is not out yet. And a 30 yard pour should have at least 3-4 guys working/finishing the concrete. You also need to either tool joint or saw cut joints immediately.
I dont see how this could be fixed, unless you dont mind a **** job. I would demand a redo, its not your fault hes broke and messed your job up.
Also since he seems to be a small company you might want to recommend doing this in 2-3 different pours to give them a better chance to finish the concrete instead of it getting away from them.
I dont think an afternoon re pour would be best, not sure why the contractor would pour first thing in the morning when its coolest and the sun is not out yet. And a 30 yard pour should have at least 3-4 guys working/finishing the concrete. You also need to either tool joint or saw cut joints immediately.
I dont see how this could be fixed, unless you dont mind a **** job. I would demand a redo, its not your fault hes broke and messed your job up.
Also since he seems to be a small company you might want to recommend doing this in 2-3 different pours to give them a better chance to finish the concrete instead of it getting away from them.
Train
Well-known member
I beg to differ with you on that. Look at the mess he's made of that pad. You don't even see that kind of a mess on those disaster DIY shows. Look at the mess he made of your building. He has no respect for you or your property. And I can't even fathom the reason you would have him back to do any other work, other than fixing the mess he's already made.
Will he use rebar/mesh this time? I wouldn't give this guy another dime ever.
Any one that can keep the damage contained to that after a 3 hour load working by himself knows what he's doing. He also did my 50 yard foundation perfectly but he had his crew there that day. Not a single crack in that after 8 months now. Yes he should have put plastic around the building which was the plan at 6:00AM when he was supposed to show up. But when he arrived there was just no time.
Knows what he's doing absolutely. Competent not.
7th Kahuna
Well-known member
Isn't that the truth.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
Ouch! What you're looking at if you keep that slab is a forever nightmare. It's cracking when new, it will be a disaster in a month - or better, after the first freeze/thaw cycle. Wait until you drive on it - woohoo! And wihtout any rebar in it, it will walk. Or creep apart like a breaking-up iceberg.
It ***** to have to redo a new job, but that's what you should do. Over the years your "cheap repair" on this thing will add up to more than pulling the old one and repouring it right.
And - a suggestion - either find someone to do the rebar work, or at least do it yourself. You don't want a monolith without anything holding it together. This is SOP and usually required by code...
Good luck!!!
It ***** to have to redo a new job, but that's what you should do. Over the years your "cheap repair" on this thing will add up to more than pulling the old one and repouring it right.
And - a suggestion - either find someone to do the rebar work, or at least do it yourself. You don't want a monolith without anything holding it together. This is SOP and usually required by code...
Good luck!!!
b-body-bob
Well-known member
I'm not sure you're using the same definition of "risky" as I do.
Sounds like he needs to be broken to go along with being broke.
Sorry, but if he knew what he was doing the first truck would have been dumped and the second cancelled. No crew, no work.
Personally, I would not want this guy working on anything else for me. At all. Don't care if he "knows what he's doing." But whatever. I realize you're gonna lose, but sometimes taking the loss and moving on is the sane route.
My wife and I, using a small mixer and a wheelbarrow, poured a couple of carport pads that turned out great. Took us several days, we did a third of each port at a time. We are no experts. Twelve years on, no cracks except some very tiny ones in the joints, where they are supposed to be. I only mean that it ain't rocket science if we could do it.
You do need to cut some joints.
I'm really sorry this turned out to be such a drag. The grind-it-then-treat-it is definitely worth a try since that seems to be the only real option here in this case.
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almac
Well-known member
I guess it depends on you and how much you value your money.
ask him if he would settle for a job this bad for his own property.
I'd be pissed.
if it was me, i'd DEMAND a repour at HIS expense. if he refuses I'd sue him, even if it ends up costing you legal fees... I'd just add them onto the lawsuit.
if he is broke, break him further.
make sure you report him to a better business bureau/credit agency in your area.
with a bad job like this, its' no wonder the guy has no money.
guys like this give tradesmen a bad reputation.
ask him if he would settle for a job this bad for his own property.
I'd be pissed.
if it was me, i'd DEMAND a repour at HIS expense. if he refuses I'd sue him, even if it ends up costing you legal fees... I'd just add them onto the lawsuit.
if he is broke, break him further.
make sure you report him to a better business bureau/credit agency in your area.
with a bad job like this, its' no wonder the guy has no money.
guys like this give tradesmen a bad reputation.
jrsulo
Well-known member
No way in hell anybody should "Accept" this pile of ****......he is paid for professional work,and that's what you should be getting,,,,,,no excusses !
dreamingmuscle
Well-known member
Is he licensed to work in NC? If so you could use the recovery fund to below to get some of your money back. They'll pay you out of the bond fund and them go after him to recoup the funds. If you trust him to work for you again no funds paid till the work is done and PAY FOR THE MATERIALS YOUR SELF. That way he can't charge the materials and leave you with a lean on your property.
http://www.nclbgc.org/
HOMEOWNER'S RECOVERY FUND
The Homeowner's Recovery Fund, enacted in 1991, provides assistance to eligible North Carolina homeowners who have suffered a financial loss caused by the dishonest or incompetent conduct of a licensed general contractor.
http://www.nclbgc.org/
HOMEOWNER'S RECOVERY FUND
The Homeowner's Recovery Fund, enacted in 1991, provides assistance to eligible North Carolina homeowners who have suffered a financial loss caused by the dishonest or incompetent conduct of a licensed general contractor.
Go back and read some of what you have already posted.
He set up the delivery,yet he was late to his own pour schedule.
I would not want this guy repouring a slab. He wants an afternoon pour so the hangovers will be gone and they can be onsite. The issue with this is that went it gets dark, they'll be ready to leave the site before the project is done so they can start drinking.
You're right, he's a drunk, why would you want him doing work on your placeagain ?
If he knew what he was doing, he would have put the plastic up on the bldg. He would have been on time, along with his crew and he wouldn't be broke.
There is no way that I would let him repour my slab but it's your slab and your cash. I'm not trying to sound like a ****, but read and think about what you have already posted about your contractor. If you choose to use him again, I hope it turns out for the best and you have an awesome looking slab. I'll leave you with this last bit of advice . . ..
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me
He set up the delivery,yet he was late to his own pour schedule.
If he knew what he was doing, then things would have went alot better. That $7k job, read your next post.
Pay twice the price for a good HD contractor ? Yes, if you can't do the work or don't have any connections, you might have to pay(within reason) for quality work. You paid for the cheaper guy and look at the end result was.
Apparently, he's a drunk and hires his fellow partiers as help.
I would not want this guy repouring a slab. He wants an afternoon pour so the hangovers will be gone and they can be onsite. The issue with this is that went it gets dark, they'll be ready to leave the site before the project is done so they can start drinking.
You're right, he's a drunk, why would you want him doing work on your placeagain ?
If he knew what he was doing, he would have put the plastic up on the bldg. He would have been on time, along with his crew and he wouldn't be broke.
There is no way that I would let him repour my slab but it's your slab and your cash. I'm not trying to sound like a ****, but read and think about what you have already posted about your contractor. If you choose to use him again, I hope it turns out for the best and you have an awesome looking slab. I'll leave you with this last bit of advice . . ..
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me
A**holes Garage
Banned
I'm a licensed concrete contractor and have been around a lot of construction over the past 20 years, not so much residential. That being said, there is no way in heck that could pass inspection residential or commercial. That's one of the worst pour and finish jobs I've ever seen.
Per Post #61:
If he's a true licensed contractor, I'd insist on having him demolish it and start over. Otherwise file a complaint with your state's Registrar of Contractors. He has to resolve it or lose his license and get fined, or both.
Per Post #61:
If he's a true licensed contractor, I'd insist on having him demolish it and start over. Otherwise file a complaint with your state's Registrar of Contractors. He has to resolve it or lose his license and get fined, or both.
mobiledynamics
Well-known member
I've read this 2X and still not clear why the OP is okay with it, and just want's it grinded and then possibly resurfaced ?
I believe I read it as OP paid for mud direct, and he also paid the laborers direct ?
I believe I read it as OP paid for mud direct, and he also paid the laborers direct ?
Architorture
Well-known member
Had a similar experience with a pool patio...the guy was originally just going to do some decorative concrete for the coping and I was going to do the remainder of the patios in pavers...he indicated that he also did pavers so I told him to give me a price. He also priced it as stamped concrete. The price was fair but I stuck with pavers.
After the first couple days of prep work it was like pulling teeth...he was hardly there, his laborers were know nothings and materials were slow to arrive. After finally getting the pavers laid in 1 day with a bunch of extra unsupervised help, it looked like ****. Crooked, busted patterns, flat curves, totally wrong dimensions in places, low spot, high spots.
The next morning he shows up and tells me the concrete for the coping will be showing up. I just told him to cancel it and fix the patio before he does anything that would require a jack hammer to fix. He tried his best to talk his way out of it, but I just explained I hired a professional to do a professional job...if he can't or won't make it right then I'm sure I have a better lawyer than he does and if I have the money to blow on a pool and patio I certainly have enough to drag his *** to court.
In about 8 hours him and 1 other guy peeled up and fixed what it took 6 guys to totally **** up the day before. It still wasn't quite right, but at least it was close enough that I could adjust the trouble spots later.
I always wonder how horrible it could have been had I gone the stamped concert route....
After the first couple days of prep work it was like pulling teeth...he was hardly there, his laborers were know nothings and materials were slow to arrive. After finally getting the pavers laid in 1 day with a bunch of extra unsupervised help, it looked like ****. Crooked, busted patterns, flat curves, totally wrong dimensions in places, low spot, high spots.
The next morning he shows up and tells me the concrete for the coping will be showing up. I just told him to cancel it and fix the patio before he does anything that would require a jack hammer to fix. He tried his best to talk his way out of it, but I just explained I hired a professional to do a professional job...if he can't or won't make it right then I'm sure I have a better lawyer than he does and if I have the money to blow on a pool and patio I certainly have enough to drag his *** to court.
In about 8 hours him and 1 other guy peeled up and fixed what it took 6 guys to totally **** up the day before. It still wasn't quite right, but at least it was close enough that I could adjust the trouble spots later.
I always wonder how horrible it could have been had I gone the stamped concert route....
kazlx
Well-known member
Holy hell that is horrible. I just had my garage done, which was 450 sq ft and there were 5 guys there finishing. That pad is a disaster.
dragonballz
Well-known member
JerryB
Well-known member
Assuming the OP is still reading these replies, I too would demand the replacement of this grossly inadequate concrete slab. I wouldn't care if the contractor was rich, broke, or my brother in law! Just fix it. I really have a hard time believing that the OP actually paid for that very poor quality of work.
Further, the original post says they poured the slab over clay soil with no reinforcing steel. Once again, this is the mark of a totally clueless concrete contractor. When the clay soil moves (100% that it will), the concrete will crack. With no steel (either mesh or reinforcing rods, preferably both) the concrete will wind up being uneven. Not at all acceptable.
I don't at all understand the accepting attitude of the OP. Maybe I'm just too particular, especially when I am paying for something that is supposed to last!
Further, the original post says they poured the slab over clay soil with no reinforcing steel. Once again, this is the mark of a totally clueless concrete contractor. When the clay soil moves (100% that it will), the concrete will crack. With no steel (either mesh or reinforcing rods, preferably both) the concrete will wind up being uneven. Not at all acceptable.
I don't at all understand the accepting attitude of the OP. Maybe I'm just too particular, especially when I am paying for something that is supposed to last!
Rubber_Duc
Well-known member
I'm not sure people are reading closely, everyone says to get his money back, or have it redone at the guys expense but he has said repeatedly the guy is broke, so this is a non-issue, you can't get blood from a stone.
To original poster, sounds like you had the guys that worked on my garage lol, couldn't resist
To original poster, sounds like you had the guys that worked on my garage lol, couldn't resist
JerryB
Well-known member
If this so-called 'contractor' really is a state licensed contractor, he probably has to have a bond that guarantees that he will complete the work. This bond requirement is to prevent exactly this situation where the contractor turns out his pockets. Even if he does not have such a bond, he is still liable. Looking again at the photos, I would either get the job redone at his expense, or own everything he has.
Calling a totally clueless drunk a 'contractor' borders on the criminal. Letting him slide on something like this just helps him to rip off the next unsuspecting customer.
Just my opinion, but gee . . .
Calling a totally clueless drunk a 'contractor' borders on the criminal. Letting him slide on something like this just helps him to rip off the next unsuspecting customer.
Just my opinion, but gee . . .
Danver
Well-known member
My guess is that when you are willing to let people walk all over you-you get used to being covered with footprints.
rockwithjason
Well-known member
This wasn't a real contractor. It was some drunk loser the op hire because he felt sorry for him. The money is gone. The pad ***** and nothing will be done about it. End of story
Well one way or another this is coming out. I believe this guy was a licensed contractor but I don't think he is any more. Last year when I hired him for the slab I found him on line on a contractors network with good reviews. He doesn't show up there any more. I also noticed last year I made checks out to his company name. This year I made checks out to him. He or his company name is not to be found in the NC contractor registered sight.
I don't believe he himself is a drinker but he hires the cheapest labor he can find and this time they let him down badly.
So I do believe if he is willing to do it over it is a low risk as long as I manage him. He did show what he could do with the slab, that's perfect.
But getting money out of him, I don't think I have a hope in hell. Had he turned at least the first truck around he probably would have been fine an still would have come out with reasonable profit. It was $2500 for a 20 man hour job. He could have turned 2 truck around paid his guys and broke even.
I don't believe he himself is a drinker but he hires the cheapest labor he can find and this time they let him down badly.
So I do believe if he is willing to do it over it is a low risk as long as I manage him. He did show what he could do with the slab, that's perfect.
But getting money out of him, I don't think I have a hope in hell. Had he turned at least the first truck around he probably would have been fine an still would have come out with reasonable profit. It was $2500 for a 20 man hour job. He could have turned 2 truck around paid his guys and broke even.
G_P
Well-known member
I highly doubt this guy was licensed. Probably a fly by night guy with some magnetic signs slapped on his truck.
Sorry OP, but that slab is a disaster. Tear it up now, or tear it up later but its not going to last very long at all
Sorry OP, but that slab is a disaster. Tear it up now, or tear it up later but its not going to last very long at all
kazlx
Well-known member
Any self respecting contractor should have a crew of guys at his disposal that get his contracts completed in a timely and professional fashion. There are no two ways about this, you got rooked. String him up.
Well I didn't hire the cheapest guy I could find nor did I order the concrete but I did pay for it after the forth load was delivered. I hired this guy because he was the only guy who would do the Monolithic slab which he did a fine job on. When using this guy this year he let me down. I do believe I could have got this done a lot cheaper (and much better) if I shopped around but I was happy with the slab job.
Danver
Well-known member
It's even worse if the guy isn't a drinker/drunk. At least his crew has an excuse for not showing up on time. Maybe not a good excuse but at least an excuse. If the owner wasn't out drinking the night before what would his reason be for not showing up on time?
