Need Verifacation On Work Done By A Sub

Patrick

I had a concrete sub that we use pour a new front porch slab at a house for us and also 3 steps. The top surface is a nice looking broom finish with expansion joints cut in all nice and neat. My question is when the forms were removed kickplate/riser location on the stairs looks like swiss cheese as if there were air bubbles or peices of aggrigate that fell out when the form was removed. Is this normal? Should they be perfectly smooth? Is there some sort of skim coat that can be done to dress it up?

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

Tscarborough

Normal, somewhat, problem, no. Just use a sand/cement mixture with a little milk (bonding agent) to fill the holes, then rub the surfaces down with the mix using a sponge float. There was probably not enough vibration applied when placing or it was placed at too low a slump.

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Patrick

Is this something that I should be expecting my sub to do on his own? I just assumed it would have been smooth when he was done. Other than that everything is perfect. The customer hasn't said anything but it bothers me every time i look at it.

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

Tscarborough

It should be fixed. It is normally done as soon as the forms are stripped.

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neolitic

'Round here we call it "rubbing out."
It's SOP when the forms are stripped,
and definitely part of the job.
If the guy has anything else to say
I'd be looking for a replacement.

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Brock

Hell yes it is his responsibility.
Very easy fix though. He could send out his most inexperienced guy to mortar it up for you. If he won't do it P.M. me and I will run you through the process.

plazaman

simple fix, i guess if a concrete vibrator was used, it should got rid of all the air pockets. As mentioned before, sandmix with milk and float should do the trick

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Snow Man

Dittos on the form pull rubout , you wont be able to match the original slump though.

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Patrick

So heres a picture of his fix, he came out mixed up some concrete, and filled in just the larger holes. The concrete that he used to fill in the holes, has dried out and turned to powder.... He said the only remedy now is for him to skim coat the entire slab, which may not hold up???? Am I crazy, shouldnt it look better than this? Im not dealing with a hack either, this is a known company with 6 new trucks and 10 guys workin alongside the two owners. He did say that they vibrated the concrete.

Attached Images

 

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

Snow Man

I would tell him this is not acceptable and that he needs to RE-DO the job.
Whatever you do , do not "dash " the steps.
That was not the original spec. , was it?

I know I'd have a difficult time getting paid for that slop. NO EXUSES.
Them risors should have been rubbed out with the original slump mix at the time of the pull.

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Serving Delaware County & Philadelphia Pa
610 457-9721

Tscarborough

It can be saved. Just rub it after cleaning and use some bonding agent in the mix. On the vertical surfaces only, of course. I would also make him cut and remove the slop.

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Patrick

He claims he had two laborers remove the forms which is why they didint notice the holes. As far as the original specs, I know NOTHING about concrete, this step was a very very very very tiny piece of a very huge job. I simply chose the biggest most well known company i could find that had good words said about them by other contractors.

The owner who tried to fill the holes told me he will do whatever i want to make it right. Does the skim coat sound reasonable?

That is not SLOP, its actually a shelf for the brick pavers If you notice its flat on top and is at the correct height to add one paver width to give an equal riser height

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

neolitic

Shiny new trucks don't finish concrete.
The guy is a slug.
You can do it yourself.
Blast out the stuff he did,
wet it down, and rub it out
with cement and sand.
It should have been done
the day after the pour,
the sooner the better.
This guy either is a liar,
incompetent or both.

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Patrick

NEO the guy is not a slug, he is very well known and very highly regarded, and he always answers my calls and told me if we werent happy with the patch they would do whatever they needed to do to make it right.

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

Snow Man

Would you guarantee the vert-dash. We both know it will pop because it's not part of the substrate, right. It may look good untill you get paid .
You wont get away with that at my house.

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Serving Delaware County & Philadelphia Pa
610 457-9721

Patrick

so what about a skim coat?

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

neolitic

Never saw a good finisher who
didn't know how and
when to rub out.
Have had some that
had to be reminded,
but if I have to beg them,
I'll never use them again.
If he wants to do what's right,
that would be what Scarsborough
and I just outlined.

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Snow Man

what about performing the said job correctly . He didnt ask for a pour and a skim kote .

Do it over or hit the brix i say. Do not pay him! Whatever you do .

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Snow Man

Thats the same as if I were to go to a fancy restaurant , order the filet , and they come out with a hamburger .

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Patrick

I think I ordered a hamburger and they just forgot the ketchup

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.