Concrete bids. Questions i should ask.

[Daddydavesr86]

I got my first bid today on concrete.
$8500
I attached lay out from building supplier.
The concrete contractor did bid over phone
I told him about grade. 18" of fall for 30'.
1 min later he replied with 8500.
Then i ask him how thick.
He said 4 inches with fiber.
He told me it was a cheap price ask when i wanted concrete done.
I ask him if he could breakdown the cost so i could understand where my money was going.
I called the local concrete supply.
$137 yard min 4 yards.
I did not ask about different grades or mixes. Just told them it was a garage floor.

In your alls opinion and experence what do i need as far as concrete?
What should i ask the contractor?
Thank you.

 

[MrSurly]

First, the "18 inches of fall" has nothing to do with the concrete order. You need to arrange site prep with a dirt work contractor. The concrete seller is simply quoting a price per yard delivered. I'm not sure but I think that price is NOT including the site prep, pad building.
You need to ask about site prep, fill material to be used, rebar and anchor bolts planned. I think there are many questions to address.
If you are in a city or other jurisdiction that requires it, you'll need to get engineered foundation drawings done. Those drawings will provide detail on rebar, anchor bolts, precise amount and sizes of footings.

 

[bigman68]

#3 Rebar 18" O.C. fiber has its place but when it cracks ( and it will all concrete does) the rebar will help more than fiber. Vapor barrier, curing process, I suggest early entry sawing (same day).

 

[MrSurly]

I wouldn't put any stock in a bid for this type of work that doesn't include a site visit or even a mention of site prep.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Has he seen the layout from the building supplier that you attached ?

 

[Daddydavesr86]

I ask if he would dig down the high side and fill with rock.
He said dig down and use fill dirt.
I assumed the concrete guy would do site prep.
But i can call around for site prep contractors. Just worried pay one guy and then concrete guy say he has to do more prep for concrete.

 

[Daddydavesr86]

Should i have site prepped. And sit for few months after prep and compacted. To prevent settling.

 

[T VETTE]

I just finished a 6 1/2 truck pour using a guy who works for a major local company but does it on the side weekends with a few of his crew. Had to have a a dirt guy come out to do the grade and excavation, he did great. My cement guy came out at least 2-3 times to inspect and measure before the bid was locked in with him. We used a little rebar and all fiber mixed in each load. My total cost was 16.5 k
Came out good, a little rougher broom finish the first day but near perfect on day 2 pour.

 

[Daddydavesr86]

First, the "18 inches of fall" has nothing to do with the concrete order. You need to arrange site prep with a dirt work contractor. The concrete seller is simply quoting a price per yard delivered. I'm not sure but I think that price is NOT including the site prep, pad building.
You need to ask about site prep, fill material to be used, rebar and anchor bolts planned. I think there are many questions to address.
If you are in a city or other jurisdiction that requires it, you'll need to get engineered foundation drawings done. Those drawings will provide detail on rebar, anchor bolts, precise amount and sizes of footings.

The dirt work contractor. Would i just tell him the specs of building? Shpuld i include the holes for pilars?
What type of dirt should be used for fill?
Do i or should i have site compacted tested? If so who would i call about testing?
Should i request to use re bar and ask for drawings of re bar layout.
Ill have to ask building supplier for more specfic drawings.
Ill need all the drawings for the site plan for my planing and zoning permit.

 

[T VETTE]

A small area had to have a few inches of fill by the shop but it sat a few months, a little rain and I ran over it with the tractor a fair amount.

 

[T VETTE]

When we did the shop I used a contractor and design engineer, the plans were greek to me, it listed everything to be used from foundation to roof.

 

[T VETTE]

Pad photos. Rebar in footings and fiber in all cement.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Concrete of any size will crack.

 

[casmurbax]

May I suggest that you read over this thread:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=382626

it may help you get a better understanding on what you should be asking and expecting in regards to getting your slab poured.

 

[nitroracer20]

Is he doing the excavation, compaction, formwork/rebar?

If he is just doing a 4” slab at 30’ x 24’ (10 yards - $1500 max in concrete) - for $8500 thats crazy.

 

[slackdaddy1]

I have concrete I placed and finished (placed not poured) 20+ years ago,, no cracking.
Trouble free concrete requires proper site prep, proper reinforcement, Proper concrete mix, proper placement and finishing, and lastly proper curing.

99.999% of residential concrete is lacking of one or more (most) aspects of the project.

IMHO, Concrete of any size will crack.

 

[Samh]

As a comparison.

My slab was 32x60 with 12" wide grade beams every 15' running the 32' length. 6" thick. Contractor dug footers, formed, mesh, plastic, poured, and finished for $13,500. Took 55 yards of concrete.

Site was already prepped.

 

[VtecGSR95]

For reference, my concrete guy is quoting me $10,500 for a 40x64 pole shed floor, thats concrete and labor. Fill is $20/ton delivered and spread. He's the cheapest I've found so far and came highly recommended.

 

[matt_i]

Can you zoom that plan? I can't, does it have a bunch of thickened pads?

Best way to save imo is to do all the prep work and I mean all of it, so that its a 1 day cash job for the crew.

Make sure you understand your position on: saw cutting, curing, and vapor barrier in your prep work.

 

[readhead]

Let's back up a minute. Is there a building department involved? What you have is a bolt placement drawing which has nothing to do with the foundation design. Do you have a foundation design? Does it require an engineers stamp?

You will need a foundation design to get quotes for excavation and concrete. Your building department, if there is one, may require footings, stemwall and slab. it may be okay with a mono pour. Two very different designs.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Is he doing the excavation, compaction, formwork/rebar?

If he is just doing a 4” slab at 30’ x 24’ (10 yards - $1500 max in concrete) - for $8500 thats crazy.

I agree, my math tells me 30' x 24' x .333' = 8.88 yards so even rounding up to 10 would be $1370, add ~$300 for vapor barrier, rebar, chairs & ties and you're still under $1700. Figure $1000 for his time for the day with a helper and a power trowel and he's being paid well for the day.

If he's doing site prep add ~$1500 for gravel and 4-5 hours with a skid steer carrying a competent operator. If he's doing form work, add another $400 - $500.

Dave, it sounds to me like he quoted you paying him pretty good and paying for a big chunk of his new boat also.

 

[Daddydavesr86]

Follow up.
I have gotten few more bids. From concrete and excavation companys.
The 8500 bid was by far the highest.
I started asking contractors to bid for steel building and seperate bid for pole barn.
The 8500 guy said price was the same reguardless of building type.
The info i got from this forum and other research i was able to determine which contractors are full of it.
Using common sense and not getting in a rush. I found a contractor that i like. He did a couple jobs for co workers. Recent jobs in my local area i could go look at.
For the pole barn, concrete work, grade work, turn key 18k.
Concrete portion was 3500.
24x32x12 building. Includes man door. Frame out how ever many windows and garage door. But not include garafe doors or windows.

 

[casmurbax]

Good to hear that you were able to find someone to do the job for you, reasonably price as well, to you that is. I have no idea what the costs should be around.

 

[ddurrett896]

I paid $300/yard all in for a finished garage floor. Around $150/yard and $150/labor.

24x30 is 10 yards max so around $3,000. No way I'd pay anywhere close to $8,500.

 

[Tommy5725]

A little luck doesn't hurt either. We poured a boat ramp connected to a staircase into the lake and a sidewalk in the seawall about 20 years ago out at my parents camp, and that hasn't cracked either. I don't know if we missed any of the components but if we didn't it was luck. Not that we didn't do our best. But none of us were cement guys. Lots of moisture out at the lake. Probably helps to cure slow.