Have you ever paid someone a lot of money to do a job and ended up screwed.

[2515R Dude]

Since I moved to W KY, it happened every time, now I decided if I can't do it myself lot it rote....
And there is catch 22, the ones who are good or even average, not avaliable till the next century, but if someone is available right away or the next week means they are real bad ones.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

sorry you had a bad apple.

 

[newbury]

I bought some floor leveler which cost more than the regular concrete

Yes, the floor leveler I had used is about $35/50lb bag, compared to concrete about $5 for 60lbs.

 

[rgr33]

I’ve been happy with the 2 projects we’ve done over the last couple of years, a sizable addition, and new kitchen, but it dang near bankrupt me, or at least it felt that way. Prices were a shock to the system.

No bids accepted from anybody without license, bonding and references. Also, nobody with Just some tools and a truck and a bunch of promises.

also, I have used that floor leveling concrete in my old barn, and I was happy with the results. Was pretty easy to work with.

 

[mx842]

I’ve been happy with the 2 projects we’ve done over the last couple of years, a sizable addition, and new kitchen, but it dang near bankrupt me, or at least it felt that way. Prices were a shock to the system.

No bids accepted from anybody without license, bonding and references. Also, nobody with Just some tools and a truck and a bunch of promises.

also, I have used that floor leveling concrete in my old barn, and I was happy with the results. Was pretty easy to work with.

I've thought about that. It would be possible to move a couple machines and a line of shelving, but I put metal siding on the inside walls and there is also the metal siding on the outside walls also. I really don't want to pour leveling concrete right up against those walls. I could maybe tape the siding and pour to that but if I ever had to remove a panel for some reason it would be a pain.
I think I'm going to concentrate on the outside and try to keep the water from falling to the center. I know what they did, they used a vibrator on the footing areas and didn't add more mud as it settled. I may also be able to rent a concrete grinding machine and grind down the edges about a 1/2" with hopes of letting the water run out rather than inward. Right now, it's dammed up so it can't do anything but puddle. I don't know what it will end up looking like but at least hopefully the water can get out.

 

[mx842]

Since I moved to W KY, it happened every time, now I decided if I can't do it myself lot it rote....
And there is catch 22, the ones who are good or even average, not avaliable till the next century, but if someone is available right away or the next week means they are real bad ones.

I know what you mean, a few years ago I would have hired a few guys and done the job myself. But at 76 I'm a little too young for that.
I'm not as worried about the low areas as I am about all the cracking that's going on, I think I can fix the low spots. I'm afraid that once winter gets here water will seep into the cracks then freeze and no telling what will happen then. Another thing they did was leave out the aprons at the outside doors and a lot of water enters there also. He was supposed to do that at some later time but I'm not banking on that. Since the fire I have lost almost 60 lbs. worrying about this mess and this floor has added a lot to the stress level.

 

[mx842]

It's getting harder and harder to find business that keeps there word.

Good friend hire out lot bulldozing to be done and contractor said he could have job finish in 2 weeks,month an half later job little over half done contactor was slowly pulling equipment from the job left with mess,he took contractor to court won very little,judge said you should have had contact.

The sign of the times.

 

[mx842]

I feel your pain...almost done building a house and once you get so far you end up having to dance with the girl that brung ya...

Maybe there is some way to fix at least parts of your problem. It really bites to put in money, effort and time and not get what you paid for.

Amen on that one...... Hopefully I'll be able to make some of this a little better but it's going to take some work and more money. This girl is going to be hard to dance with; she's a big girl and she keeps stepping on my feet.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I know a nurse who became disabled due to rheumatoid arthritis and sold her house. Moved to her brother's farm and was going to use $20k which was about all she had left from the sale of her house to build a tiny home on his farm. Some supposed contractor got her to pay him the money and did about an afternoon's work never to be seen again.

Been a few years since that happened. Back then, $20k might have actually built something.

I'm guessing he did just enough work to avoid prosecution for theft.

It is good to always have a contract, even if it is hand written and then duplicated so both can have a copy.
Part of the contract should have a paragraph on "Progress Payments". You only pay for what has been completed, once per month.
The reason for once per month is that a licensed contractor will only get invoiced once per month from thier suppliers. If they don't agree to the "Progress Payments" and the once per month payment to them, I would reccomend not have any further contact with them.
A 30 day net payment clause is also a good idea, as the 30 day billing cycle is common to licensed contractors doing bid work.

 

[MattB4]

What the OP describes sounds to me to be a case of bad concrete batch and not necessarily the installer. The concrete company can screw you rather quickly by shorting the amount of Portland cement used or by not using a correct sand aggregate mix. Too much water or not enough is also a cause for cracking and unusual settling during cure.

Commercial work always requires slump tests and lab analysis for strength during a large pour.

Your problem might have been the contractor but it might also be the concrete itself.