Discolored Concrete Driveway

[556APLHA]

Hello,
I am in the process of having a home built and this is the current condition of the driveway. I have not spoken to the builder as I want to see if there are any experts that can offer their opinion. The two pours closest to the garage are far different than the furthest pours. There are actually foot prints visible in the finish. Even the two pads further away from the garage have a good deal of imperfections but not nearly the amount as the two closest to the garage. The builder has several homes in the development and none are like this. Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,... How long ago was it poured,..??

 

[556APLHA]

Driveway was poured approximately 3 weeks ago. The neighbors house was poured about 6 weeks ago and never looked this way. Thanks.

 

[ZRX61]

How the hell did they manage that???

 

[AndrewDouglasBird]

Are you sure it isn't just muddy footprints and stuff? Might just pressure wash away.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Looking at this picture, it appears the actual tread of the show is depressed into the concrete, is this the case? IE: If you run your hand on the foot print, do you feel the tread or is it completely flush?

-Nigel

 

[T_R]

Doesn't look fully cured yet. With some nice warm sunny summer days it should lighten up.

 

[joes169]

The concrete had a lot of calcium chloride (old school accellerant) mixed into it, which makes it much darker. It was probably covered with plastic over night to prevent freezing, and the footprints are where they walked on the plastic. Covering fresh conrete w/o leaving some marks is complicated.

Unfortunately, that isn't going to lighten a whole lot too quickly, it can take years for something that distinct to blend in to your satisfaction........

 

[556APLHA]

The concrete had a lot of calcium chloride (old school accellerant) mixed into it, which makes it much darker. It was probably covered with plastic over night to prevent freezing, and the footprints are where they walked on the plastic. Covering fresh conrete w/o leaving some marks is complicated.

Unfortunately, that isn't going to lighten a whole lot too quickly, it can take years for something that distinct to blend in to your satisfaction........

This was exactly my guess as well and now I am forced to either accept the driveway or request it be re-poured if it cannot be corrected.

This is the only driveway in the development that has this appearance and it really detracts from he curb appeal. It is not a muddy print, it is embedded in the finish and looks horrible. I do not feel like I should accept it and "hope" it gets better. I am not going to close escrow with the promise of a fix later.

Any opinions on what I should do next? Thanks

 

[Brad Beam]

Short of being not very asthetically appealing I would say it is fine. Let it cure for the rest of the winter then acid wash and seal.

 

[NitroSun]

Yea, why should a brand new house be aesthetically appealing? Make sure you bring an extra couple bucks to the closing so you can leave a tip.

 

[Git]

Brand new house - no way would I accept that.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Short of being not very asthetically appealing I would say it is fine. Let it cure for the rest of the winter then acid wash and seal.

You should contact the builder to see what he says. You mentioned that he has built other homes in this community, and you should give him a chance to fix it, as I am sure he would not want to lose any future business there.

He might not know about this yet, and he may want to make it right by you. But contact him before you make any attempts to fix it yourself.

If you try to do something yourself, like acid washing it, he may say that you caused the issue, and you are stuck with it the way it is.

Give him a chance to make it right!

Jim

 

[rslaback]

Um, wouldn't your actual contractor be the first expert to ask before a bunch of keyboard contractors like us?

 

[556APLHA]

Um, wouldn't your actual contractor be the first expert to ask before a bunch of keyboard contractors like us?

I have contacted the builder and I am awaiting a response. Relax. I am just trying to gain any additional information as to possible causes from anyone who has seen this before. You are assuming that the builder is going to be honest and not just give me some half truth to make it to closing. I have been lied to on more than one occasion concerning issues that were simple fixes, this is a much larger issue. The super on the job is an idiot and I have lost any confidence in his decision making, the subs have no respect for him.

 

[kbs2244]

"The subs have no respect for him."
And this show it.
It is a rear out and re-pour that he must of signed off on.

 

[rslaback]

I have contacted the builder and I am awaiting a response. Relax. I am just trying to gain any additional information as to possible causes from anyone who has seen this before. You are assuming that the builder is going to be honest and not just give me some half truth to make it to closing. I have been lied to on more than one occasion concerning issues that were simple fixes, this is a much larger issue. The super on the job is an idiot and I have lost any confidence in his decision making, the subs have no respect for him.

You probably shouldn't post stuff like this in your original post then...

I have not spoken to the builder as I want to see if there are any experts that can offer their opinion.

 

[fury9]

Don't see why it couldn't be poured all at the same time, I've seen over 500 yds poured at one time, a driveway is nothing compared to that. I wouldn't accept that.

 

[Tejay]

I'm quite certain that will dry to an even colour. Of bigger concern to me would be what appears to be wood dividers between each pour. Is there rebar joining all the pours together to prevent movement? What happens when the divider boards deteriorate/rot away. 1 1/2 space between each slab.

 

[ChevyEFI]

What part of Canada is that?

And what two motorcycles will fit the door width?

 

[Brad Beam]

I'm quite certain that will dry to an even colour. Of bigger concern to me would be what appears to be wood dividers between each pour. Is there rebar joining all the pours together to prevent movement? What happens when the divider boards deteriorate/rot away. 1 1/2 space between each slab.

This

 

[556APLHA]

You probably shouldn't post stuff like this in your original post then...

To clarify, I have not spoken to the builder, I emailed him and have not received a response. I wanted to see if anyone else has had this same occurrence and how they resolved it to have some insight. Hopefully that explains where I am currently at in this process. Thanks for any input.

 

[556APLHA]

What part of Canada is that?

And what two motorcycles will fit the door width?

I have to admit that I am at a loss with that? What are you referring to?

 

[556APLHA]

Don't see why it couldn't be poured all at the same time, I've seen over 500 yds poured at one time, a driveway is nothing compared to that. I wouldn't accept that.

The strange thing is that it was all poured in the same day. The entire development has the same shade of concrete along a mile or so of sidewalk that is poured as a house is built in different stages. My sidewalk is gray compared to the others. I do not think the homeowners association is going to care for it either.

Or do you mean that all 4 large pads be poured together? Thanks.

 

[AMCguy]

That pour may have been done the same day, but it sure looks looks like it arrived on two different trucks. This time of year when accelerator is used, it is very easy to get a mottled finish or have the shade be off.

I realize this is your new home and I don't want to sound mean, but I think the forming and finishing is very second rate as well. I personally think they scrimped on concrete by not forming to the outside wall of the garage and a little closer to the front entrance. That leaves you with a narrow driveway for parking two cars side by side. I also know this is a matter of taste, but I don't like all the divider boards. It looks cheap. There are way nicer ways to place and finish concrete.

If you're up for a fight, this may be a good time to try to have it re done and a little wider, or hold back some money and have another contractor redo it when the weather is more favourable.

 

[AndrewDouglasBird]

Um, wouldn't your actual contractor be the first expert to ask before a bunch of keyboard contractors like us?

Nothing wrong with asking to better educate yourself so you can go into a conversation knowing what you are talking about. Then you don't get taken by a shady contractor saying it is fine.

 

[556APLHA]

That pour may have been done the same day, but it sure looks looks like it arrived on two different trucks. This time of year when accelerator is used, it is very easy to get a mottled finish or have the shade be off.

I realize this is your new home and I don't want to sound mean, but I think the forming and finishing is very second rate as well. I personally think they scrimped on concrete by not forming to the outside wall of the garage and a little closer to the front entrance. That leaves you with a narrow driveway for parking two cars side by side. I also know this is a matter of taste, but I don't like all the divider boards. It looks cheap. There are way nicer ways to place and finish concrete.

If you're up for a fight, this may be a good time to try to have it re done and a little wider, or hold back some money and have another contractor redo it when the weather is more favourable.

I am not a fan of the thick boards for expansion joints. I will address that when I am able to have a voice conversation as to why it has been done that way. There are about 70 homes in the subdivision and they all use this spacing between slabs. The driveway is extended another 6 feet on the left side. The boards on the pallet are actually resting on the extended part. The concrete is not poured on the left side of the home because that provides a sidewalk that goes to the rear of the home. There is also electrical and gas lines in that area where the shrubs are. The concrete stops before the porch for asthetics, there is a break and landscaping to separate the front sidewalk to the house, otherwise it would be a huge concrete front yard.


I appreciate all the input. Thank you.

 

[jhelrey]

Regarding the garage door motorcycle comment. I am assuming that he means that is a very narrow looking garage door. It would be hard to park two vehicles in the garage... Unless it is an illusion issue.

How much would it end up costing you to walk away?

 

[556APLHA]

It must be the picture angle, there is plenty of room for two cars. If the builder agrees to release the contract it should not cost anything. Otherwise if he chooses to dispute it I will lose 2500$ and take me to court.

 

[CNGsaves]

What part of Canada is that?

And what two motorcycles will fit the door width?

+1 . . . . . call Mike Holmes to come to rescue !!

Let me guess, that's driveway for $600,000 to $800,000 Canadian house ??
The wood at the gaps is tell tale sign that concrete pour job is ****. I'd never accept that. Tear it all out and Do It Right !! At least Mike Holmes knows right is right !!

UPDATE GJ Profile with a location so GJer's know what climate is involved.

 

[joes169]

Um, wouldn't your actual contractor be the first expert to ask before a bunch of keyboard contractors like us?

Speak for yourself, I've been a concrete & masonry contractor for 17 years, I can tell what's going on from the pictures from experience. I wouldn't put much faith in a GC anyways, they're likely to just want to wash their hands of this. I will, however, agree that there certainly does seem to be no shortage of "keyboard contractors", as you put it, here on the GJ........

 

[Firebird 1]

I know its tough to look at because its a new driveway/house, but in a years time it will be fine. My concrete drive is close to 15 yrs old now and it hasn't resembled concrete in colour for some years now. Then again I live in the woods. Sure beats driving in mud though!

 

[rslaback]

Speak for yourself, I've been a concrete & masonry contractor for 17 years, I can tell what's going on from the pictures from experience. I wouldn't put much faith in a GC anyways, they're likely to just want to wash their hands of this. I will, however, agree that there certainly does seem to be no shortage of "keyboard contractors", as you put it, here on the GJ........

Congratulations, you are likely one of the few who can accurately diagnose it from a few photographs. On the other hand, his contractor or the contractors employees ordered the concrete, set the job and poured the concrete. They know how much time it took, the temperature of the day and a myriad of other small details that you would have to guess at.

As a former contractor (residential construction, not concrete), I maintain that customers discuss things with their contractor first rather than posting on a forum where the general vibe is that all contractors **** and your guy is going to lie to you. Perhaps you've never been burned because of some misplaced advice given to your customer by an armchair contractor but I have and it *****.