New slab, white spots.

[Quantrill]

I'am having a detached 2 car garage built. The concrete sub for our contractor just poured the slab last week and sealed it. Looking at the slab the next day I noticed boot prints in the middle, about 4 or 5. You could see them and feel them. That was the first thing that bothered me. There was also another spot a couple of feet from the side that had dirt smeared into the sealer..about 10inches or so long. After a couple of days I noticed several areas of white spots all over the slab. Well when I asked the contractor to take a look at it. His response was "its a garage floor, its gonna be driven on, walked on..its a garage floor. He said the white spots are normal. I asked if he thought that the boot prints in the sealer were normal and he said "yes, its a garage floor". I know its just a "garage floor" buts its a brand new garage floor and Iam spending $30k on this garage so his care free attitude towards the garage floor made me a bit angry.
I was wondering what you guys thought. Are these white spots in a new slab normal? Should I just forget about the white spots and the boot prints in the sealer because its just a garage floor and get on with it? grrrrrrrr.
thanks.

 

[vfr-rider]

Typical attitude nowadays. People don't care.

White spots are normal, boot prints probably could have been ground down? I had structural issues that nobody cared about for three months. Finally got that fixed but swirl marks, foot prints, discoloration, and sunken areas in the concrete will never be taken care of in my floor.

Sorry for your issues.


Sent from my HTC EVO View using Tapatalk 2.

 

[Quantrill]

ya the guy made me feel like I was a whiney little *****. Started asking me "what do you expect out of this job? now we have customers that expect perfection every step of the way, and when that happens we will bid it accordingly". I'am building you a good garage for a good price". I told him I expect to be able to ask him, the contractor a question if I have a concern about something. Also didn't expect boot prints in what is considered a finish coating. Trying to forget about it..

 

[soob]

The white spots might be effin..effer...something. Happens to all new concrete. Poor finish is bad, but, you know, it doesn't sound that bad. And he's right--it is a garage floor.

His attitude is something else, though. *******.

 

[Quantrill]

thanks, maybe now I can get over it

 

[pattenp]

I feel your pain. I went through the same thing with my floor pour and I got about the same response from my contractor. It's hell being a perfectionist and having someone else do work for you. Somethings they did during the build I made them do over and some other stuff I just sucked it up because I felt I was maybe being too picky.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Screw that "it's a garage floor" nonsense! What ever happened to pride in workmanship? Maybe your garage is going to be a showroom? Not his call to make!

Jim

 

[ydna]

Taking pride in your work seems to be a thing of the past, in lots of different disciplines, not just concrete.

I too just had a slab poured, this time for a shed. Its not even square. I had them build the forms twice and the second time it was only out by about 3/4" so I left it. The first time it was miles out. Felt as though I was being too picky to complain the second time. I'll build my shed square and that will be that.

What I never got about the forms, was how you could screw it up so bad. If I'd built the forms it would have been perfect, and easy to do too. I'm not sure why it's so difficult.

In my line of work I encounter poor concrete on a daily basis. Sometimes it's inches out.

 

[ydna]

Concrete aside, if the same contractor is building the whole garage, perhaps you want to settle up with him and get someone else in? He obviously has different expectations than you do. It could be a disappointment at every stage?

 

[JimVonBaden]

Concrete aside, if the same contractor is building the whole garage, perhaps you want to settle up with him and get someone else in? He obviously has different expectations than you do. It could be a disappointment at every stage?

I know it would be a hassle, but this might very well be the best idea!

Jim

 

[Falcon67]

Sealed already? That seems a little quick. Boss is building a new house and even the concrete stain guy is waiting for the floor to even out in color and moisture content.

At 30K, you need to IMPRESS on your contractor that IT MEANS A LOT TO YOU and you don't care what he thinks about "it's a garage" - FIX IT or don't get paid. Don't wimp out, make your point. You're paying for it. If all that was not real clear to him up front, then you might want to remain flexible about meeting him halfway on any fixes. Otherwise, hold on to your wallet and stand your ground.

 

[dwp99]

I would tell the contractor "that it might be just a garage but if there are going to be foot prints in the sealer they're going to be mine not yours". Have him show you on the blue prints where it calls for foot prints.

I agree that the concrete might have been sealed to soon and that the moisture in the concrete might have caused the white spots.

I had a roof installed on my house and the idiots forgot to put one of the lead boots over the stack. When I showed it to the foreman at final inspection he said oh well I'll get someone out hear to fix it.

A friend of mine was having a house built and he got kicked off of the job site for complaining about the poor workmanship with a trespass warning.

good luck

 

[ed_v]

There is a saying, "the customer is always right!".

While I don't always agree with that approach, I think you have a right to be concerned. $30K is nothing to sneeze at. Chris (falcon67) gave you some good advice as have others. Make him fix it to your liking or don't pay the man.... or find someone else. People should take pride in their work and you shoouldn't have to put up with the attitude.

Ed

 

[premierplayer]

How far along is this project? Maybe it's a good time to make clear your expectations.

Very unprofesional reply on his part.

 

[zporta]

The sealer shouldn't affect the color changes. I use a water based cure and sealer and apply it the same day as the pour. The concrete still bleaches out uniformly. The white spots I think they call efflorescence. Do you have any pictures? How recent was the pour? Some times they take some time to bleach out

 

[Quantrill]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12101226@N00/7737157886/in/set-72157630963762770/lightbox/

the boot print has dirt in it now, making it more visible. You can feel it in the finish though.
the spots can be seen in that same set of photos.

 

[Quantrill]

Click the right arrow key to cycle through the photos and see the white spots. I had trouble posting the pics so I just put a link.
Also in the first photo, above the boot print you can see the little circle like drops where it looks like the sealer was applied with a sprinkler, that is all over the finish too. That probably is being a little picky but perhaps they could have used a low nap roller to back roll the sealer after flooding it with their hand held pump sprayer.
I think they put a thick layer on then walked on it to apply the second coat. At least the boot prints aren't all over, just a couple really visible.

 

[Herb]

Does your contractor have a hot wife? Bang her

 

[willymakeit]

I deal with issues like this a lot. The customer has the resonable expectation of a industry standard. I know it is a garage ,doesnt matter. Ask them to grind it down, but be aware you may then have exposed aggreate.
There are specs galore on concrete which mention these along with flatness standards ect. You wont see them mentioned as much in the residental market.
You had a contract or scope of work right. This helps alot when negoiating these types of issues.

 

[my58]

I call BS on the it's only a Garage statement. My garage is very important to me and I want mine perfect.

Make sure you get the word out about this idiot. People work hard for their money and should get a perfect job regardless of the location of the work. Since it is only a garage is it ok if the roof leaks or what's the big deal if the walls are a bit out of square, it's only a garage. Hell I owe you 30 grand I am going to pay you 28 grand, what, its only a few bucks what's the big deal. I hate guys like your contractor. He should have apologized and attempted to solve the problem.

Remember word of mouth and posting of your experience on sites that others can see in your area can help others avoid your frustration. Unfortunately it is too late to help you but your experience can help others.

 

[Quantrill]

thanks for the comments guys. I'am trying to get over it, my nerves were shot for a couple of days from thinking about it. The contractor was REAL friendly since the "its just a garage floor" conversation. The work is going ok since then too. I do intend to bring it up again when the job is finished.
Heres the pics again in case anyones interested in seeing what I'am talking about http://www.flickr.com/photos/12101226@N00/7737157886/in/set-72157630963762770/lightbox/
Click the right arrow to cycle through the photos
I will post pics of the rest of the build (hopefully problem free!)
Thanks again guys!!

 

[zporta]

Did you spay the slab with water a few times a day for a few days to help the curing process? It almost looks like concrete we pour in the winter with calcium added.

You could always tell the contractor you aren't happy and want the slab epoxied at the completion of the project at no cost.

Just a thought

 

[pain]

Hold the 10% retention on the job until all thing are addressed. Granted he is giving you a decent price but that has nothing to do with craftsmenship. No contractor likes to have his retention held. This is only the begining of the build so there may be other problems that rise durring construction. Keep in mind that this is your garage not his and you have the power to say what is right or wrong. I was a Construction Superintendent for 15 years in AZ and yes some jobs are bid up front knowing that they are not the money maker that they should be. Keep in mind that he knows how much he bid the job for and how much profit he has in it. That should be even more of a reason for him to not make the mistakes that will cost him money. His attitude is his defense on getting you to back off. Sure everything is smooth now because he "Jedi Mind Tricked You". There are so many different ways to get out of losing money. Don't let him take advantage of you. This floor may not be a very big issue and can be fixed without a doubt but what other things that you don't see, will he be getting by with. JMO