new member, need help with unlevel floor with grade problem

[LAD]

This is my first post and must say, this is a wonderful site that I wish I found earlier. I just had a 26 x 26 garage built with one center drain. When my car is pulled in the left bay area and wet, the water dripping from the left side of car will run toward the outside perimeter and toward the front garage door. At first the builder said the concrete finisher wanted to apply some type of compound, I think made by Mapei, to level the high spots and then put epoxy paint from Home Depot over it. I did not like that idea and wanted it ground down. The finisher came three time to try and grind it down with no good results. The builder again wants to let the finisher apply the compound around the garage and then put a professional epoxy paint job over it. The builder said it would cost too much to grind it down and because the slab is built over the block the concrete couldn't be torn out and repoured without problems. My question is will this fix work. I still owe the builder 12,000 and will not pay him until it is fix but I want it fixed right. I'm asking you experienced people what I should do and what you would do. Any and all advice and information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Lad

 

[LAD]

I really need to know if this fix will work. I am sure some one has had this problem. Thanks LAD

 

[packpride85]

Can't answer your leveling question but I definitely wouldn't Home Depot epoxy "professional."

 

[kd3pc]

the leveling agents MAY holdup over time - many don't and won't unless the prep work is 100% correct and it is guaranteed to work with the epoxy you select,

but since this is "new"...the builder should:

grind or replace the pour, it is not your problem that it may break his profits down. HE should have made sure that HIS sub-contractor did the job correctly the first time

Bandaid one and bandaid two on top of it (leveler and HD epoxy) does not equal the job being done right the first time. The finisher is zero for two so far...I would not trust him to get the leveling compound correct, or the epoxy.

Now, all that being said, a lot of this depends on what you are going to be happy with and are willing to fight for (spend), to make it right. I will tell you that seeing a flaw like that every day for the next.....years will continue to irritate you unless you can truly put it behind you.

 

[James-W]

I agree with "kd3pc" on this, in the end you will have to live with the results. If you don't like the results then you will not be a happy camper. For you to depend on the person who initially did the floor incorrectly to now try to fix the problem is not exactly the best idea around. If the guy knew what he was doing he would not have screwed it up in the first place. It sounds to me like the builder hired a sub who is not very good and now doesn't want to do whatever it takes to make it right.

 

[bczygan]

Properly grind and throw in a quality epoxy finish for the aggravation, or break out and redo. Give him the choice in writing, prepared by your attorney and backed up with a professional inspection report. You must give him the opportunity to make it right before firing him.

He will probably go away and you will be left to grind and finish as a solution. He could sue, so have your ducks in a row. Everything in writing, photos etc.

Check out the costs for this to be prepared.

 

[LAD]

Thanks for all of the replys. I felt the same way most of you do. As far as the epoxy goes they were not going to use a home depot type but have a professional come in. I still don't like the fix. I can't have the floor torn out because it is poured on top of the block and framed on top of the slab. I think grinding is the best way to go but they said it would cost 10,000. I find that hard to believe.

 

[CombatNinja]

It doesn't cost $10k to grind a floor, LOL. Short of repouring the slab, grinding is the only way. Epoxy would only be a band-aid. What the contractor is really communicating by giving you such a ridiculous price is that he doesn't want to grind it. He most likely doesn't want to grind it because he and/or his crew don't know how. In most cases, a proper grind will cost less than professional grade epoxy professionally applied. He most likely just wanted to put down a cheap product to shut you up and get paid. It seems odd that someone tried to grind it multiple times with no result. Can you wet it down and gets us some pics?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Getting water to move on it's own means 1/4" on the foot. Moving with assistance, 1/8" on the foot.

I have never heard of anyone creating this much slope using a grinder. If it was not designed this way from the beginning, this is a costly proposition using epoxy/urethane mortar and skilled labor team or demo and re-do.

 

[LAD]

Thanks for all of the replys. I spoke with the builder and told him I wanted the slab cut, torn out and repoured. The builder said he would speak with the finisher and his other partner and than get back to me. I hope if they fix it this way it won't be a bigger mess or more problems down the road. When the builder calls me back I will let you all know what is going on. Again thanks for your time and replys. Lad

 

[shaun oriold1]

Maybe look into a trowel down epoxy.