I, like many other homeowners, worry about who to call when I have a home repair or remodeling project. Most people just use the phone book or the Internet to find a contractor, but that’s like flipping a coin. You’re not going to get the best result from doing that. I have an old house, built in the 1970s, that until now didn’t need much repair. Now I realize that my house suddenly needs a lot of repairs. From plumbing, electricity and now concrete.
My driveway has developed some very large cracks that I can no longer ignore. True, the cracks were noticeable a few years ago. However, they seem to have grown more in the last year or so. It seems that my garden and flowerbed do not drain water very well. Every time the sprinklers go off, I notice a large puddle of water by my driveway. The water is eating away at the soil under the driveway, creating a soft base under the concrete that is causing it to crack. Needless to say, I need a concrete contractor to break up the old driveway, install a drain to remove the puddle of water, and pour a new driveway.
The question is, how do I find a contractor who is reliable and reasonably priced? How much should a concrete driveway cost?
The only true and bound method of answering these questions is to ask someone you know who, over the past year or so, has had a positive experience with a contractor. Even if your contractor doesn’t specialize in concrete, chances are they know a fair and good concrete guy. This, as most people know, is one of the best ways. But what if you don’t know anyone who can recommend a contractor?
Well, that’s how I did it.
Instead of finding a concrete contractor in the phone book or on the internet, I looked up concrete suppliers instead. These are the companies that sell materials and supplies to contractors. Many of these supply companies sell to the public. They also have employees who have worked in concrete or other parts of the construction industry or just selling concrete products and talking to concrete contractors, they have a great deal of knowledge about concrete.
Many people look for a contractor and then ask them to tell them what they need to fix the problem or help with design options. Sales people from supply companies will be happy to talk to you in the hope that you will buy the materials from them. They also know and have built many relationships with contractors who have accounts with them. Ask them for options for a new driveway, such as stamp designs and color options. What are the best color agents to use and which one should you stay away from? Ask them these types of questions even if you don’t want stamp or color. Tell them you are educating yourself so it will be easier once you find a good contractor.
At that point, you can ask them if they know of any good dependent contractors who have accounts with your company. If you choose a contractor recommended by sales staff, it is important that you choose a contractor who has an account with the vendor. That way, you’ll know that the provider has already checked your credit and made the payment. The guys who pay with cash or credit card are more likely to be night contractors.
Getting utility companies to help you choose any contractor is a good way to find one quickly.
