Whether you are considering a new concrete driveway, concrete sidewalk, concrete patio, concrete porch in ONE OF THESE FINISHES – the following article will give you insight to vital questions that need to be answered BEFORE you embark upon your concrete project.
Ready to learn more about your next concrete project? Here we go!
Roads, bridges, schools, house foundations, driveways, patios. On and on…
Do you realize how much concrete there is in the St. Louis region?
Crazy if you stop and think about it, right?
Concrete is a wonderful product if done correctly.
Careful consideration must be a part of the concrete process.
At a minimum your concrete contractor should know the answers to the following five questions.
WHO is the concrete for? Does the homeowner just want a solid surface or does aesthetics play a critical role in the project?
WHAT is the concrete to be used for? A walkway, driveway, foundation, patio, pole barn or garage floor, shed or hot tub pad?
WHEN is the concrete to be poured? In the heat of the summer, the uncertain spring weather, the cold of the winter, the falling leaves and temperature of the fall?
WHERE is the concrete to the placed? In the front of the home with easy access, around the rear of the home with zero equipment access, far removed from a road so the concrete has to be transferred long distances?
WHY is the concrete being poured? Is it form, function, necessity, new or replacement?
Once these questions are answered you should be well on your way towards a great concrete project.
The answers to these questions are important because they are what makes your project unique. The answers help determine the true costs of your project that covers all the bases.
The cost of your concrete project should be clearly stated up front and contain little to zero additional cost at the end of the project.
(If there happens to be additional costs they should not be a surprise as your contractor should have clearly stated early on that there may be some factors unforeseeable.)
You can call a handful of concrete contractors in St. Louis County and St. Charles County – if they pick up the phone or call you back – they may provide you a price right over the phone.
That may work for them but that does not work in my eyes nor should that work for you.
That type of pricing is considerd the ‘law of averages pricing’. Some of their projects will be profit home runs and some may be profit single base hits or worse yet, profit strikeouts.
Now you may have already thought, “Heck yeah, I want to be in the profit strikeout category. What do I care if he makes any money?! I’ll get my concrete done for cheap and put the rest of the money in MY pocket!”
What do you think happens when a ‘law of averages pricing contractor’ is in the middle of a slump? Worse yet, during that slump it happens to be your turn at bat?
Will there be corners cut? Will you have the proper amount of rock under your concrete? Even better, will your concrete be the proper thickness? How about respecting your property and the neighbors property?
Will encroachment onto your neighbors property from equipment or foot traffic cause an irreparable rift between you and your neighbor that you have to live with until one of you moves?
Will your home be protected from the demo and placement of the concrete?
Will your project be manned with the proper amount of people for the pour so your project will be finished well?
Will the proper amount of wire and rebar be used?
I can continue on but I imagine that you are understanding my intended point.
Nobody, in my opinion, can provide a proper concrete estimate over the phone. This is not widgets being sold or that you are buying.
While there are many similarities between concrete projects there is just as many, if not more different variables.
All of that MUST be factored to ensure that your concrete project ends up with wonderful results that you can use and enjoy for years to come.
Yes, everybody wants to the best possible price. Whether it’s a new truck, concrete or TV. At the same time how much is it going to cost you if you buy that truck, concrete or tv at a perceived ‘low price’ and it turns out that 6 months down the line they stop working and falls apart? With nobody to turn to because that provider is out of business or refusing to back up their product, at this point you are out your initial ‘low price’ plus now the real cost of the product you should have paid in the first place.
While thinking you ‘got away with one’ it actually ended up costing you 1.5 times or more the authentic cost you should have originally paid.
My intention with this article was to plant a few seeds that will hopefully be remembered and considered when it comes time for your concrete project. Do your homework when it comes to your concrete project and you and I both will be happy that you did.
Let’s Talk About Your Concrete Project and Get You Your Free Quote!
You may be interested in the following article:
Or these videos:
Design/Build:
Backyard Makeovers
Detached Garages
Detached Buildings
Room Additions
And
Replacement:
Stamped Concrete Patios
Exposed Concrete Patios
Broom Finish Concrete Patios
Whether you are considering a new concrete driveway, concrete sidewalk, concrete patio, concrete porch in ONE OF THESE FINISHES – the following article will give you insight to vital questions that need to be answered BEFORE you embark upon your concrete project.
Ready to learn more about your next concrete project? Here we go!
Roads, bridges, schools, house foundations, driveways, patios. On and on…
Do you realize how much concrete there is in the St. Louis region?
Crazy if you stop and think about it, right?
Concrete is a wonderful product if done correctly.
Careful consideration must be a part of the concrete process.
At a minimum your concrete contractor should know the answers to the following five questions.
WHO is the concrete for? Does the homeowner just want a solid surface or does aesthetics play a critical role in the project?
WHAT is the concrete to be used for? A walkway, driveway, foundation, patio, pole barn or garage floor, shed or hot tub pad?
WHEN is the concrete to be poured? In the heat of the summer, the uncertain spring weather, the cold of the winter, the falling leaves and temperature of the fall?
WHERE is the concrete to the placed? In the front of the home with easy access, around the rear of the home with zero equipment access, far removed from a road so the concrete has to be transferred long distances?
WHY is the concrete being poured? Is it form, function, necessity, new or replacement?
Once these questions are answered you should be well on your way towards a great concrete project.
The answers to these questions are important because they are what makes your project unique. The answers help determine the true costs of your project that covers all the bases.
The cost of your concrete project should be clearly stated up front and contain little to zero additional cost at the end of the project.
(If there happens to be additional costs they should not be a surprise as your contractor should have clearly stated early on that there may be some factors unforeseeable.)
You can call a handful of concrete contractors in St. Louis County and St. Charles County – if they pick up the phone or call you back – they may provide you a price right over the phone.
That may work for them but that does not work in my eyes nor should that work for you.
That type of pricing is considerd the ‘law of averages pricing’. Some of their projects will be profit home runs and some may be profit single base hits or worse yet, profit strikeouts.
Now you may have already thought, “Heck yeah, I want to be in the profit strikeout category. What do I care if he makes any money?! I’ll get my concrete done for cheap and put the rest of the money in MY pocket!”
What do you think happens when a ‘law of averages pricing contractor’ is in the middle of a slump? Worse yet, during that slump it happens to be your turn at bat?
Will there be corners cut? Will you have the proper amount of rock under your concrete? Even better, will your concrete be the proper thickness? How about respecting your property and the neighbors property?
Will encroachment onto your neighbors property from equipment or foot traffic cause an irreparable rift between you and your neighbor that you have to live with until one of you moves?
Will your home be protected from the demo and placement of the concrete?
Will your project be manned with the proper amount of people for the pour so your project will be finished well?
Will the proper amount of wire and rebar be used?
I can continue on but I imagine that you are understanding my intended point.
Nobody, in my opinion, can provide a proper concrete estimate over the phone. This is not widgets being sold or that you are buying.
While there are many similarities between concrete projects there is just as many, if not more different variables.
All of that MUST be factored to ensure that your concrete project ends up with wonderful results that you can use and enjoy for years to come.
Yes, everybody wants to the best possible price. Whether it’s a new truck, concrete or TV. At the same time how much is it going to cost you if you buy that truck, concrete or tv at a perceived ‘low price’ and it turns out that 6 months down the line they stop working and falls apart? With nobody to turn to because that provider is out of business or refusing to back up their product, at this point you are out your initial ‘low price’ plus now the real cost of the product you should have paid in the first place.
While thinking you ‘got away with one’ it actually ended up costing you 1.5 times or more the authentic cost you should have originally paid.
My intention with this article was to plant a few seeds that will hopefully be remembered and considered when it comes time for your concrete project. Do your homework when it comes to your concrete project and you and I both will be happy that you did.
Let’s Talk About Your Concrete Project and Get You Your Free Quote!
You may be interested in the following article:
Or these videos:
Design/Build:
Backyard Makeovers
Detached Garages
Detached Buildings
Room Additions
And
Replacement:
Stamped Concrete Patios
Exposed Concrete Patios
Broom Finish Concrete Patios