Off Topic: Concrete contractors

[jperickson23]

After the long hard winter, our front steps are falling apart and we are in need of some reconstruction. We have called 3-4 different concrete contractors and I am amazed at how unprofessional these guys are. Most have said they were coming out to give an estimate and never showed up or called to say why. They haven't returned phone calls. Some have said they would email an estimate and never did. We finally told one guy out of Carlisle that we would give him the business and he said he couldn't do it for 3-4 weeks. Then he calls back to say that he could "most likely" do it at the end of last week. We called Thursday to see what was up and he has not yet returned our call. You get the general idea.

Does anyone know of a reputable contractor that will actually show up, return calls, and do a good job on reconstructing our front steps/porch? Any help would be appreciated.

[Cyclonepride]

Originally Posted by jperickson23

After the long hard winter, our front steps are falling apart and we are in need of some reconstruction. We have called 3-4 different concrete contractors and I am amazed at how unprofessional these guys are. Most have said they were coming out to give an estimate and never showed up or called to say why. They haven't returned phone calls. Some have said they would email an estimate and never did. We finally told one guy out of Carlisle that we would give him the business and he said he couldn't do it for 3-4 weeks. Then he calls back to say that he could "most likely" do it at the end of last week. We called Thursday to see what was up and he has not yet returned our call. You get the general idea.

Does anyone know of a reputable contractor that will actually show up, return calls, and do a good job on reconstructing our front steps/porch? Any help would be appreciated.

Sorry, I don't know any, but I just had a similar experience with plumbers/ sewer cleaning. Turns out 24 hrs, 7 days a week emergency service means that technically they will pick up the phone, and then proceed to try to scare you off by mentioning their high weekend rates. If that doesn't work, they will put you "on the list" since they have a limited staff and lots of work. I got one estimate where the guy was supposed to call, showed up out of the blue, then never called me back with a price. Best of luck!

[Sousaclone]

Just have to get lucky I guess. A couple of things to remember is that a) I'd bet that most concrete guys are pretty busy right now (start of spring plus any backlog they generated over the winter) and b) your front porch steps don't mean squat to a lot of them. It's a TINY project (unless you've got some enormous steps). Most concrete guys are paired up with general contractors whom they get most of their work from and you probably don't amount to much revenue for them.

I know Omaha has MOBA (Metro Omaha Builders Association). Des Moines may have something similar. You might be able to get some reccomendations from there.

[cytech]

Originally Posted by Sousaclone

Just have to get lucky I guess. A couple of things to remember is that a) I'd bet that most concrete guys are pretty busy right now (start of spring plus any backlog they generated over the winter) and b) your front porch steps don't mean squat to a lot of them. It's a TINY project (unless you've got some enormous steps). Most concrete guys are paired up with general contractors whom they get most of their work from and you probably don't amount to much revenue for them.

I know Omaha has MOBA (Metro Omaha Builders Association). Des Moines may have something similar. You might be able to get some reccomendations from there.

you have it exactly right the job is to small for most contractors to care about. You don't want a concrete contractor you need a handy man that will mix the cement in a bucket. and patch it up most likely. I know it sucks, but not much you can do about it.

[jperickson23]

Originally Posted by cytech

you have it exactly right the job is to small for most contractors to care about. You don't want a concrete contractor you need a handy man that will mix the cement in a bucket. and patch it up most likely. I know it sucks, but not much you can do about it.

I kind of figured it was a small job for them but why not be up front about it and say that? Don't promise to give estimates, show up, or call back if you don't mean it. It is beyond a "patch up" job. It would take demolishing what is left and building everything again from scratch. I guess the original guy that did it didn't dig deep enough below the frost line which is what caused this problem. It is very frustrating as the front entry way is not usable and at the very least dangerous.

[cytech]

well you do have that right that they should of been up front with you. I know when I have someone that wants a small job bid I just tell them straight up on the phone that it will not be cost efficient for them to hire us.

I would skip calling people in the phone book, I would look on craigs list, and in the service directory in the classifieds of your newspaper whatever that may be.

Basically what you will most likely end up finding is someone that does concrete work full time that is looking for some side work to buy beer with. They likely won't be licensed or insured, but it is what you will be stuck with for a small job like that most likely.

[kgreeny]

Alot of times, guys who do jobs like that are real good at there trade and real bad at business. They know how to do the work and do it well. They just can't run a company (much like you're explained). Best of luck!

[CycloneTony]

Whats wrong with the stairs are they crumbling or pulling away from the foundation or other?