WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CONCRETE CONTRACTOR

What to look for in a Concrete Contractor

​Have you been looking forward to a home renovation for quite some time now but have no idea how to hire a trustworthy and efficient concrete contractor who will get the job done in the best possible manner? Changing the interior or exterior of your house or office is a big step which is exactly why people face so much stress and difficulty over it and their mind is in shambles as to how they can best tackle the renovation or getting something built from scratch. Today, I will give you some good advice and tricks which will ease the whole process of hiring a concrete contractor for you and by the end you will know what to look for in a contractor and how to hire them.

Essential Steps:

• • The first most essential step is navigating the market. If you’re completely new to this then even finding options will be hard. For this you have to search every means of advertisements whether in newspapers or the internet. After getting a few reliable options, select the person who looks most promising but not before some background check on them.


• • Afterwards it’s a good idea to ask for or make a contract and get them to sign. This is an important step for identifying how the contractor responds to the idea and also how they tend to behave in work environments. Are they late or early? What do they look like? Are they willing to share work information with you and what their response is to the contract. Basically their behavior and openness is a crucial thing to look for.


• • You should then google them. Try to find their previous works whether its concrete repair, stamped concrete, or patios and whether they are licensed or not.


• • It will still be essential for you to look at multiple concrete contractors and get multiple bidding rates to see how the market is. You can then choose the contractor with a biding amount most suitable to you.


• • Afterwards you have to make sure that the contractor provides you a complete list of materials and how they are sourcing them. This is a key thing to look for as most fake contractors will get cheap and non-resilient materials.


• • The contractor also has to be quick in preparing for things and only start the remodel once everything is prepared. You can ensure all these steps by hiring the contractor for some small jobs before the actual big renovation to understand their mode of work.

Now, with the basics out of the way, we will further get into some details regarding the contractors and their work. Internet has made everything so much easier for us and if we are dedicated enough we should put in the time to get as much as information about them as possible. Furthermore, we will also talk about why we need some of the things I mentioned earlier. Renovations and design are things that require a lot of planning beforehand if you want everything done right and on time. And getting the right concrete contractor is the only way you will be able to oversee it all.

Getting the knowledge:

​With the technology we have now, there shouldn’t be any problem for us to contact the previous customers of the contractor and ask them about their work ethic. Once you have made that phone call, you can go a step ahead and ask them for a visit at the place they’ve had work done in. Some people may find this going a little overboard but if the work is as solid as building a retaining structure and building a foundation on it or getting repairing done to different parts of the house. Once you visit the places you can then see for yourself how the building or repairs are withstanding temperature, weather and other climate changes. You can also ask the contractor himself for references and see if he willingly provides you with them.

Signing the Contract

A contract should include a number of things including:

• • Detailed time frames
• • List of specialty materials
• • Total Cost
• • Payment method
• • Project description, what you want and who else is involved
• • Contact numbers for various people
• • How to handle additional costs

Bidding Amounts

This is another step you can take for reassurance. As I have already mentioned that try to contact a number of contractors and get their rates. Obviously people with low budget will not provide you with the best materials but that’s your choice to make. With concrete work it is better to invest in the good materials then to have to re-do the whole thing again or suffer a malfunction.

Variety of Designs

A good concrete contractor will themselves provide you with a lot of options and designs and will also give you a walkthrough of how they will reach the other end. On the other hand he should also be able to bring your own vision to life and also enhance it in a way.t.

Related Questions

Is there a time estimate for how quick the job should be done?
Usually big projects like walls or counters or a commercial walkway take around two weeks to finish. However, small projects like a driveway or small repairs around the house take only 2-3 days.

Will I have to make a contract on my own or will the contractor provide one?
A professional concrete contractor will provide you with a contract themselves with all their rights and duties with a column for all you want to add to it.

How much down payment is required? 
Depending on the contractor, 10% down payment is usually needed in the start while the rest can be given at the end or halfway when you are satisfied with the work.
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Is there any reinforcement required?
Yes. A material known as rebar which are steel rods are used to reinforce. You can ask the contractor whether he will be putting rebar in to strengthen the concrete. They will then justify the need for it or not. ​