Questions to ask a concrete contractor

Before anything else

Ask what they think is causing the problem, and what they looked at to decide. This is the single most informative question you can ask, and the range of answers is wide.

Then ask what would make them recommend a different approach. A contractor with a clear answer is thinking about your concrete. One who says there is no such situation is selling.

• What do you think caused this?
• What did you look at to reach that conclusion?
• What would make you recommend a different approach?
• Is there anything here that is not a concrete problem?

About the work itself

The specifics vary by what is being proposed, and the detailed lists live on the relevant service pages. The common thread is asking what is happening below what you will be able to see afterwards.

• For replacement: excavation depth, base material and compacted depth, slab thickness, reinforcement, joint layout and timing, curing.
• For lifting: method and why, expected material volume, what happens if it takes more, hole patching, how the lift is controlled.
• For resurfacing or coating: preparation method, moisture testing, crack treatment, system and thickness.

About water

Where water goes is behind most concrete failures, and it is the item most often left out of a quote entirely.

• Where does water come from that affects this concrete?
• Which way will water run when the work is finished?
• Is any drainage or grading work included, or is that a separate scope?
• If we do not change the drainage, what is the realistic expectation?

About the business

Licensing requirements for concrete work vary considerably by jurisdiction — in some places a licence is required, in others it is not, and the categories differ. Ask what applies locally and ask to see what they hold.

Insurance is a more universal question. Ask for a certificate of liability insurance, and where the contractor has employees, ask about workers' compensation coverage. Ask whether the crew doing the work is theirs or subcontracted.

• What licensing applies to this work here, and what do you hold?
• Can I see a current certificate of liability insurance?
• Is the crew yours or subcontracted?
• Can you show me comparable work you have completed nearby?
• What is the payment schedule, and what triggers each payment?
• How are change orders handled and priced?
• What exactly does the warranty cover, and what does it exclude?

What a weak answer sounds like

Deflection about the cause. Reluctance to put a specification in writing. A warranty described by its length but never its scope. Pressure to sign at the visit, or a price that is only available today. An unwillingness to discuss any option other than the one being sold.

None of these are proof of anything on their own. Several together are a pattern.

Common questions