Question about licensed/unlicensed contractors

[Hmongkeysauce]

So I'm looking to get a concrete slab in the backyard. Nothing fancy, just something that cover +1500 sqft of dirt currently there and add two planters boxes. I've had a few contractors come out and the prices varied anywhere from $4000 to $10,000. Obviously, the $4000 price tag is attractive, but far below what I was expecting (going rate is about $4/sqft here). Not that I should complain, but when I asked him about license and insurance, he said, his uncle is the licensed and insured contractor and that he'll be working under his uncle for this job. His uncle will just come out to approve all measurements and pouring, but will not actually do the work. I asked him about payment since I'd like to put it plastic (to get some protection from the bank) and he said I can pay for all the materials myself and just deduct that from the $4000 price tag and pay him whatever is remaining in check/cash. This sounds a bit unconventional(?) and has my spidey senses tingling. Is this something that I should be worried about? What other questions should I ask this contractor or what paperwork should I get him to sign to protect myself? Thanks in advance.

 

[Humpy]

Lot of red flags here that usually lead to hiring someone to come break up and haul away the "concrete" so the weeds can grow again.

License, insurance, financial solvency of the business, and evidence of competency will lower the risk of the job going tits up.

 

[DrPizza]

I'd be very nervous with a contractor like that. If he's working under his Uncle, you pay his uncle, his uncle pays him. (for starters). I'd want all the paperwork to be through the uncle - insurance, etc., in case shit hits the fan.

But, since it could save a couple thousand dollars, that's an amount that shouldn't just be ignored immediately. Ask to see examples of his work, references. If he has none, then definitely say no.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Someone else here had some issues with a budget concrete job gone wrong...I'd walk away from the $4K guy. Rule of thumb was throw out lowest and highest bid.

 

[Greenman]

No licence, and a price that will barely cover the cost of materials, don't even bother talking to the guy. The fellow is going to need a bare minimum of 19 yards of concrete, that's $3400.

 

[DrPizza]

No licence, and a price that will barely cover the cost of materials, don't even bother talking to the guy. The fellow is going to need a bare minimum of 19 yards of concrete, that's $3400.

That's a bit more expensive than in NY. My brother just had a very large slab poured about a month ago for a barn he's building. I think the concrete was right around $100 a yard ($110?), and $65 or $85 delivery charge per load (10 yards). 4000 psi concrete - tractors are heavy, not to mention 2500 pound bulls.

 

[Subyman]

Talk to the uncle IMO. This might be a family operation where the guy is trying to get his own thing going. He may have worked under his uncle for years. I'd do what Dr Pizza recommended though, do everything through the uncle.

 

[DrPizza]

Talk to the uncle IMO. This might be a family operation where the guy is trying to get his own thing going. He may have worked under his uncle for years. I'd do what Dr Pizza recommended though, do everything through the uncle.

But, only if he has a portfolio of projects he has completed, and you can check the references to make sure he's the one who did the job.
You definitely want someone experienced doing the job for you. Else, you may as well do it yourself (I don't think anyone would recommend that size slab for a first timer - and you couldn't do it alone.)

 

[Hmongkeysauce]

Thanks for the replies. I've seen the job of the contractors in person since some of them worked on other houses in my neighborhood. It's good enough for what I need. I'll definitely make sure it's through his uncle and not him if I decide to go with him. For the concrete, he said it's $94 per yard and using an online calculator, I think I'll need 22 yards total so that's already $2068 for the material alone, not including cost for delivery or anything else. Hrm, I think I'm going to bring in more contractors.

 

[Greenman]

Thanks for the replies. I've seen the job of the contractors in person since some of them worked on other houses in my neighborhood. It's good enough for what I need. I'll definitely make sure it's through his uncle and not him if I decide to go with him. For the concrete, he said it's $94 per yard and using an online calculator, I think I'll need 22 yards total so that's already $2068 for the material alone, not including cost for delivery or anything else. Hrm, I think I'm going to bring in more contractors.

Where the hell do you get concrete for $94 a yard? I pay nearly double that.

 

[DrPizza]

Where the hell do you get concrete for $94 a yard? I pay nearly double that.

You're in California. You probably have some weird regulations or something that increases the cost. The national average was $93/yard in 2013: http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete-prices.html

$80/yard here: http://www.lmcc.com/q_and_a/concrete-cost.asp
5 years ago, but around $100/yard in Charlotte: http://bajaconcrete.com/concrete-cost-per-yard-in-charlotte-nc/
Here's another cost sheet - well under $100 per yard: http://www.consolidatedconcrete.com/2013 Omaha Price Sheet.pdf

 

[Subyman]

Knowing California they probably hold licenses back and only let a few insiders provide concrete. Such a racket.

 

[Greenman]

The yards around here won't post prices, you have to call.
Thinking about it a little more, it occurs to me that I always use 6 sack mix (3000 psi). But that sure as hell wouldn't amount to $80 a yard.

A lot of the concrete I pour is tested, an inspector on site checks the time on the dispatch tag, and checks to see how many revolutions the drum has turned, then takes 3 test cylinders that are crushed at 3, 7, and 21 days.
It's a pain in the ass.

 

[lxskllr]

A lot of the concrete I pour is tested, an inspector on site checks the time on the dispatch tag, and checks to see how many revolutions the drum has turned, then takes 3 test cylinders that are crushed at 3, 7, and 21 days.
It's a pain in the ass.

Is this commercial work? I don't think I've ever seen that for residential.

 

[Greenman]

Is this commercial work? I don't think I've ever seen that for residential.

Residential. Structural engineers often spec 3000 psi mix, code here says 3000 psi concrete has to be tested.

 

[boomerang]

Is this commercial work? I don't think I've ever seen that for residential.

Earthquake reg's would be my guess.

 

[MongGrel]

I'd be very nervous with a contractor like that. If he's working under his Uncle, you pay his uncle, his uncle pays him. (for starters). I'd want all the paperwork to be through the uncle - insurance, etc., in case shit hits the fan.

But, since it could save a couple thousand dollars, that's an amount that shouldn't just be ignored immediately. Ask to see examples of his work, references. If he has none, then definitely say no.

You have to be nervous about things like that, I had some roofing work done that way once about a decade ago that was sub par adding a slant to a couple flat roofs.

I had to have it redone about 5 years later.

 

[Greenman]

Earthquake reg's would be my guess.

In a nut shell, yes. Though there is also the point that the structural engineer can reduce his chance of being sued by spending more of other peoples money.

 

[briansanders]

So I'm looking to get a concrete slab in the backyard. Nothing fancy, just something that cover +1500 sqft of dirt currently there and add two planters boxes. I've had a few contractors come out and the prices varied anywhere from $4000 to $10,000. Obviously, the $4000 price tag is attractive, but far below what I was expecting (going rate is about $4/sqft here). Not that I should complain, but when I asked him about license and insurance, he said, his uncle is the licensed and insured contractor and that he'll be working under his uncle for this job. His uncle will just come out to approve all measurements and pouring, but will not actually do the work. I asked him about payment since I'd like to put it plastic (to get some protection from the bank) and he said I can pay for all the materials myself and just deduct that from the $4000 price tag and pay him whatever is remaining in check/cash. This sounds a bit unconventional(?) and has my spidey senses tingling. Is this something that I should be worried about? What other questions should I ask this contractor here or what paperwork should I get him to sign to protect myself? Thanks in advance.

The price of 4000 dollars is quite real. I did my renovation two years ago for $3,500 and I was happy with it. So I recommend reading the reviews of the company and choosing the best option.

 

[paperfist]

The price of 4000 dollars is quite real. I did my renovation two years ago for $3,500 and I was happy with it. So I recommend reading the reviews of the company and choosing the best option.

That was a post from 2016. I can’t believe it is the same today in this nutty climate. I could sell the 10 2x4s I bought last year and didn’t use for more then I can make in an index fund 😂