What You Need to Know about Hiring a Concrete Contractor?
Pouring the concrete is the first step in building your garage and whether it’s done properly can play a big part in how the building looks and functions when complete. Read this section to find out how to go about finding a qualified concrete contractor for your project and what paperwork they may need.
While I wanted to build my own garage, I’m wise enough (although my wife might not agree) to know that some areas require a professional’s expertise. Plumbing, electricity, and concrete are three fields where I would quickly be in over my head and while the first two fields didn’t figure into my project (at least yet – I still envision some lights and outlets in the future), there was definitely some concrete pouring and finishing that would be taking place.
There are various methods that can be used to install the concrete for your structure and which is best can depend on the size of your building and the site grading at the jobsite. This is where the expertise of a construction professional comes into play – not only can they save you time and money, they can keep you from making a big mistake that might affect the durability and function of your garage. While you might be able to convince your children that the garage floor is supposed to have a severe tilt to it for drainage purposes, your friends and neighbors probably aren’t going to buy it. So take my advice and use a concrete contractor for the foundation and flooring work.
So where do you find a qualified concrete contractor? I discovered that just about every handyman or small contractor considers themselves an expert on pouring and finishing concrete. Unfortunately, in most cases their experience consisted of pouring a little concrete while building a backyard privacy fence or securing a mailbox post. While I wasn’t building a shopping center, I still wanted a contractor who had a background that included my type of project. Here are three resources for finding a reputable concrete contractor for your building:
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Building sites – homebuilders use concrete contractors on just about every house for footings, foundation walls, slabs, and flatwork and those who don’t produce high quality work generally don’t last too long – especially in this work environment. Stop by a jobsite or call the homebuilder’s office – they will probably be more than happy to give you the names of a few reputable concrete contractors.
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Concrete companies – all of those big concrete trucks you see on the road come from somewhere – check in your phonebook or online for local concrete companies as they’re the people who actually make the cement that your contractor will be installing. They more than likely know the names of every concrete contractor in the area and should be able to provide the names of several good finishers.
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Friends and neighbors – don’t hesitate to ask around your neighborhood to find out if anyone has had a good experience with a concrete contractor. However, a word to the wise – not everyone knows what good concrete work looks like so you might want to check out the recommended contractor’s handiwork with your own eyes.
Licensing and insurance requirements can vary by locality so check with your city or county building department to find out what (if anything) they require a concrete contractor to have before working in their jurisdiction. Even if you get a price break, don’t allow a contractor without proper credentials to do any work on your project. It can lead to problems with building inspections and may even cause an issue with your homeowner’s insurance carrier. Even with a small project like a garage foundation and floor, it’s a good idea to have a signed contract that spells out exactly what the contractor is expected to do, when it is to be completed, and what the total payment will be.
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