CustomConcrete.biz Blog

Beware of Concrete Contractors with low prices or discounts

Dave Johnson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:17:00 GMT

Very low Prices & Discounts = Bad experience & Below standard finished product.

To provide low prices & discounts, the concrete contractor must cut corners on your project. The reason is that they are in this business to make a profit, at whatever the quoted price may be. There is a misconception that contractors need the work so bad that they will work for nothing. The contractors that were willing to do this are out of business now or soon will be and have left behind many unhappy customers.

Below is a list of 9 things Concrete Contractors may be forced to do to provide a discounted price:

Use materials that are less expensive & lower quality.
Won't install reinforcement (rebar & wiremesh).
Won't use fibermesh to control surface cracks.
Will use unqualified labor that they don't have to pay as much.
Won't install sufficient control joints for crack control.
Won't take the time to confirm the forms are set to your design requirements because they don't have the time in their budget.
Will not have the required license or bonding, which means their employees are not covered by Labor & Industries if they are injured.
Won't have liability insurance. All companies and individuals hired to complete work at or in the home should carry both liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
Won't have sufficient crew to pour your project, which means the finish will not be what you expected.

I'm not saying there aren't any concrete contractors out there that can provide low prices and leave the customer with a nice finished product.... I just want everyone to be leery of an extra low price and always do your research before hiring a contractor that may not be licensed or that is planning on cutting corners to squeeze a profit out of a project that was under bid.

Please add any questions or comments you might have, I would love to hear from you.

Dave Johnson

Pervious Concrete Rocks!

Dave Johnson — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:24:00 GMT

Benefits of Pervious Concrete installation:

Reduce untreated runoff discharging into storm sewer systems.
Proper utilization is recognized as a BMP (Best Management Practice) by the EPA for providing first flush pollution control & stormwater management.
Directly recharges groundwater to maintain aquifer levels.
Cuts back on irrigation by channeling water to tree roots & surrounding landscape.
Mitigates pollutants that can contaminate watersheds and harm sensitive ecosystems.
Eliminates hydrocarbon pollution from asphalt pavements & sealers.
Commonly provides 20-40 years of service with little or no maintenance.
Pervious concrete pavement doesn't absorb & store heat then radiate it back into the environment like a typical asphalt surface.

Pervious Concrete Applications:

Residential driveways
Residential streets
Alleys
Sidewalks
Trails
Bike lanes
Commercial parking lots
Greenhouse floors
Tennis courts
Zoos

Contact your local Ready Mix supplier for a list of concrete contractors with employees that are certified to install pervious concrete.

Information gathered from multiple sources:Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association,Concrete Thinking for a sustainable world, NRMCA, Pervious Pavement, Concrete Network.com

Concrete driveway vs Asphalt driveway

Dave Johnson — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:13:00 GMT

Why should I choose concrete instead of asphalt?

Concrete has more choices available for creating an inviting entrance to your home.
Concrete can provide better traction on a steep hillside (see photo above).
Initially asphalt is cheaper, but a good quality driveway will last more than 30 years with minimal maintenance.
Asphalt driveways need regular periodic sealing coats to slow cracking due to aging.
Asphalt will soften in hot temperatures.
Asphalt tends to get pot holes that need to be repaired.
Concrete is more visible at night.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative for your driveway, then asphalt is definitely the way to go. If you are looking for long term durability, lower maintenance, and a wide range of finishes to choose from, then I would suggest a concrete driveway.

Avoid using deicers on your concrete within the 1st year.

Dave Johnson — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 16:52:00 GMT

Deicers shouldn’t be used to completely rid an area of ice or snow, they’re meant to break the bond between ice and the pavement, making shoveling easier. They work best when there is only a thin layer of snow or ice that must be melted. Deicers are chemical compounds that break up snow and ice by dissolving it through a chemical reaction. Typically, the five chemicals commonly used as deicers are urea or various chloride salts: calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium. For locations where chemical deicers aren't appropriate, sand or cat litter can provide some traction but will not melt snow and ice.

Salt is very corrosive to concrete and will eventually, if not immediately, cause damage to many types of concrete. Salt can cause surface spalling of poor concrete or scaling of non-air-entrained concrete.

Concrete's biggest enemy is freeze and thaw cycles. Concrete spalling is actually a result of the pressure created by the repeated freezing and expansion of water or brine over a period of time. Be aware that how the concrete was installed can make a difference in whether or not there would be damage to your concrete. You should avoid using deicers on your concrete within the 1st year of installation.

Products containing ammonium nitrates and ammonium sulphates are especially harmful because they will actually attack the concrete chemically. Using deicers on your concrete driveway in the winter can cause surface damage, primarily scaling and spalling, by forcing the thawing and refreezing of moisture. High quality concrete, that has been created with best practices in mind, is much more resistant to spalling, and this is a good start.

Information gathered from multiple resources: Concretenetwork.com, Innovative Concrete Inc., All Things Concrete, Concretesealerandblanket.org, Crackman.ca