5 Different Ways to Get the Best Value from your Concrete Contractor
Whether you’re looking for concrete poured for a parking area, patio, or other project, you want to be sure that you’re getting the best value. How? Look for experienced professionals who will respect your time and financial budget while still bringing their expert opinion. This may sound like a tall order, but you can pull it off in five straightforward ways:
1: Do Your Homework
Research contractors in the area to help you narrow down a potentially large field of experienced businesses. See if you can find online reviews or talk to references.
Once you move on to getting a quote from the top contenders, do a little more digging. Do they have experience with the specific job you have in mind? More importantly, do their qualifications check out?
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous companies exaggerate or invent qualifications that they haven’t earned. This could mean:
- poor results that don’t hold up to the elements
- features not up to code
- an expensive headache as another contractor tries to fix the mess
2: Get On the Same Page
Once you’ve decided on a concrete contractor, make sure that the two of you are on the same page about the project. Explain clearly what you want and listen to the contractor’s expert recommendations. Discuss any concerns you may have, for instance with zoning laws or requirements for home insurance. Finally, read through the written contract itself. If there are any areas that you don’t understand, bring them up before you put your signature down.
3: Beware of Cutting Corners
The price tag for this job matters, but it’s not the only important factor. Watch out for contractors who trim costs by using low grade materials or rushing through steps in the pouring process. It’s also not a good idea to cut corners time-wise. Over the long term, rushed jobs tend to have poor results.
On a related note, be careful with concrete curing times. Don’t continue your project until that surface is completely cured. You could cause a lot of damage to the concrete itself.
4: Be Prepared to Compromise…
On your schedule, that is. Experienced, in-demand concrete contractors may have their workdays planned for weeks in advance. If they aren’t available for the day you were counting on, see if there’s another date that could work for you. It may be worthwhile to shuffle your renovation schedule around a bit.
You may also want to compromise on small details of your project. If your concrete contractor strongly advises that you adjust something, there’s probably a good reason. Remember that you hired them in part for their expertise. Most contractors genuinely want you to get the best possible result and enjoy your concrete features for years to come. They are your partners in this stage of the project, so hear them out and make your best judgment call.
5: … But Know When to Stick to Your Guns
Ultimately, you know what you’re looking for and what your budget looks like. Your contractor may suggest a variety of upsells. These could include stamping patterns into the concrete surface or some fancy new sealant. Extra features aren’t necessarily a bad idea. In fact, they could potentially raise the value of the property and increase the longevity of the concrete. However, if your budget or vision for the property doesn’t include them, put your foot down. Ultimately you have the last word.