Choosing A
Concrete
Contractor
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Choose The Right Concrete Contractor For You
There are many repairs, upgrades and maintenance requirements to a home that can and should be considered. Concrete work is one of the areas that can help improve a home aesthetic, functionality and value of the home itself. Choosing the right concrete contractor is crucial for ensuring the quality, durability and aesthetic appeal of your concrete project, whether it’s a driveway, patio, foundation, sidewalk or other concrete project. There are several concrete contractors available in most areas, and choosing the right one is important.
1. Decide What Concrete Work You Want Done
Before contacting any concrete contractor, be sure to decide what you want done. For example, do you want a new concrete driveway, a new concrete patio, do you want an existing concrete project to be repaired?
Try to be as clear as you can about what you want done. This will help you establish a budget, timeline and what work the concrete contractor should do. This will also help the communication between you and the concrete contractor.
2. Establish A Budget
Once you have decided the work that you want done, you can begin to establish your budget for the concrete project that you want done. Establishing a budget will vary according to every individual person’s situation.
Establishing your budget will largely depend on what you want done, and the timeline in which you want it done. The cost will vary in part depending on whether you want a concrete driveway, concrete patio, concrete foundation, concrete sidewalk or some other concrete project done. Each project is different.
The size and scope of each project will also factor into the cost of the project what you will need your budget to be.
When establishing a budget, remember that the concrete contractor that you hire also has his costs that he needs to consider before taking on any job. He should communicate what his material and labor costs are, and what he plans to charge you for doing the job.
3. Establish The Size And Scope Of The Project
The size and scope of the concrete project will include the dimensions, the thickness of the concrete, the finish, any reinforcement and special features that will be included.
An example of the dimensions of a project like a concrete driveway will have something like 20 feet x 50 feet. Each driveway is different and the dimensions will be different for each project.
The finish of a concrete project should also be considered. Some different varieties of finishes are broom finishes, stamped finishes, exposed aggregates, etc.
The reinforcement of the concrete project can be rebar, wire mesh or none.
You should also consider any special features such as drainage slopes, decorative borders or colored concrete.
There are other considerations such as local permits and insurance that are required, the materials and equipment required and any constraints such as weather and the availability of materials.
4. Establish A Timeline
Decide what the timeline is to ensure that the concrete contractor that you choose can meet your schedule.
You should communicate your preferred timeline with any concrete contractor that you talk with, and he should communicate with you his available timeline that he has to be able to get the job done. This can help clearly set any expectations on what work is to be done, and when.
5. Meet With Concrete Contractors
Once you have decided what you want done, established a budget, decided on the dimensions and scope of the project and set a timeline, you can begin to make a shortlist of contractors to reach out to or to have them reach out to you.
Probably the best way to decide on some concrete contractors to reach out to is ask your friends or family that have had concrete projects done for them. Friends and family can more often give you their honest experience with the concrete contractors that have done for work them, including the price, the work done, the quality of the work, their professionalism, their timeliness, etc.
You can also use a search engine such as Google to find local concrete contractors in your area. One great thing about Google, is their Google Reviews. These reviews can give you a good idea of the experiences of others with each concrete contractor. You do have to take any online review with a grain of salt, however, they can give you a good idea of what to expect when doing business with them.
6. Request And Compare Bids
After you have met with a few concrete contractors and feel comfortable with a few of them, it’s time to request bids for the work that you want done.
When you request bids, be sure to provide clear specifications. Provide them with the work that you want done and the dimensions and scope of the concrete project that you want done.
Ask for itemized bids. They should include a breakdown of costs for labor, including site preparation, reinforcement, finishing and cleanup.
At this point, you can compare bids for the concrete project that you want done. Be sure to take everything into account. Also, be careful to not go for bids so low that they force the concrete contractor to cut corners to get the job done.
7. Verify Credentials And Experience
Once you have a shortlist of concrete contractors that you would be comfortable working with, you should verify their credentials and experience.
Licensing: A license indicates compliance with local regulations. Ensure that the contractor holds a valid license to operate as a concrete contractor in the area that you want the work to be done. Each state or municipality has different requirements, which any contractor that makes a bid should be knowledgeable of.
Insurance: Be sure to confirm that they have liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage to protect you from lawsuits or damages.
Certifications: Look for or ask for certifications from organizations the ACI (American Concrete Institute) or National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA).
Experience: Look for contractors that have years of experience as a concrete contractor with projects similar to what you want done. This will increase the likelihood that they are able to handle any issues or problems that may pop up.
BBB: Check with the Better Business Bureau or local licensing boards to see if there are any complaints filed against them.
8. Understand The Contract
Once you have selected the concrete contractor to do your concrete project, be sure to get a written contract. The contract should include:
A detailed description of the work that is to be done, including materials, techniques and finishes.
A payment schedule tied to project milestones, for example, 30% upfront, 30% after pouring and 40% upon completion.
A timeline with start and completion dates.
Warranty information for the work, for example, does it cover cracks or defects without you having to pay anything money.
Provision for permits and compliance with local building codes.
Review the contract carefully and ask any questions that you may have before signing it. Avoid any contractor that tries to pressure you or refuses to provide a written, formal contract.
9. Avoid Red Flags
You should always be cautious when doing business with somebody, including when getting concrete work on your home. These are some red flags to watch out for when choosing and hiring a concrete contractor.
They demand a large upfront payment or cash only deals. Typically, when concrete work is done, payments are paid on agree upon installments, and paying in cash leaves you almost no legal recourse if anything goes wrong.
They lack a physical address or verifiable contact information. Contractors that do not have a physical address and / or do not have verifiable contact information are more likely to be a fly-by-night contractor, leaving you high and dry when something goes wrong.
They are not willing to provide references or proof of licensing and / or insurance.
They try to use high-pressure tactics or vague estimates.
Conclusion
Choosing the right concrete contractor for you requires deciding what you want done, establishing a budget, establishing the dimensions and scope of the work that is to be done, and going through the selection process of choosing right concrete contractor to get the concrete project done. In the end, you should end up with an addition to your home that improves its aesthetics and functionality and that stands the test of time.