You, sir......are an ass!! Concrete contractors do not warranty concrete because we do not manufacture it, therefore have no control over it before it arrives on site. Most concrete is placed and finished in ways recommended by the MANUFACTURER. Concrete suppliers have a huge rebutal book for not taking responsablility for their product. Your contractor's only fault was not going after his supplier for the sake of your dumb ass. P.S. I would be suing the S#$T out of you for this.
This doesn't look like $36,000 worth of damage; I can't believe there isn't a way to patch and re-seal a problem like this, since it needs periodic re-sealing anyway. Did RKC offer to remedy this in any way, short of ripping it out and replacing it? One thing they shouldn't be doing is trying to blame their sub-contractor. Even if that was in the fine print, it's a totally lame way to do business. Can GM send you off to one of their hundreds of subs every time you need a warranty repair?
Very thoughtful and well developed communication with this video. I share your hope that this medium is effective in minimizing the unprofessional and unethical behaviors of contractors. I have too often encountered contractors who make sure the work looks good on the outside, only later to discover the shortcuts and sloppiness behind the scenes. Great advice you gave, get it all in writing!
Good video quality. People should be responsible for what they install. This may bebeyond their control but then they shouldn't put it in and recommend it.
Thanks for the kind comments. Am taping a second video later this month and hope to have it posted on YouTube by the end of October. This one has even more information on what to do and not do.
really!? cracks will happen. you can go to anybody and get the same result. It looks like you just want a free stamped concrete job. Stamped concrete cracks and flakes all the time. It wont look perfect forever so just enjoy the relatively great job you've received. Ive heard some crazy stories about stamped concrete. U should be very happy
I am a decorative concrete installer. I am not a manufacturer of any of the products that I use. My top concern is the satisfaction of my customers but there is a middle ground. I never want a customer to think that I am short changing them either in quality of workmanship or quality of product. I use what I believe is the best and I put down the best I can personally offer. Most customers are very happy, others believe that I owe to them to keep their project looking brand new for life
You put all those conditions in a contract for me, after I picked myself up of the floor laughing I would be out of your life so fast your head would spin. You are every concrete contractors nightmare. If you have a beef with the spalling of the concrete you best take it up with the Conc Company because who ever put that down did a first rate job. You are a typical know all homeowner that actually knows just enough about concrete to be dangerous. You will delete this.
Concrete will crack. you drive cars over it, a rock slung from your lawnmower, How long do you expect it to last with no marks? Its 2011 now! You have no right trying to hurt this business! It looks very good to me! If you can figure out how to keep air voids and cracks from coming into concrete let me know! We can buy 10 islands each off the interest we will make off our money! Be a big boy and quit trying to ruin these folks and DELETE video!!
Unfortunate that people dont read contracts that say the contractor is only responsible for defects due to workmanship. I'm pretty sure that was in there and this doesn't look like poor workmanship it looks like low strength, poorly batched concrete. Now this company is taking a hit because of the concrete provider, when they have no way of regulating what kind of concrete comes out of the plant.
It appears that Mr. Kennedy did his due diligence and hired what he believed to be the best decorative concrete company. He trusted the company would hire proper suppliers and laborers and do the job right. If it's not done right it's the company's fault if problems arise during the warrantee period and are not specifically excluded in the contract. To me, any pop-outs or chipped sealer or color flaking or cracks over time would look horrible. I'm going to rethink my decision on concrete.
Yes the rock is the fault of your problem. This installer you speak of is known for the great work around cincinnati. Do your homework and you will see that they are one of the leaders in this field of concrete.Any company you look at has made mistakes but no person or company can warranty products that were made outside of there control. Keep in mind the supplier of the concrete is the #1 supplier for all major jobs downtown including city work they know what the guidelines are.
You mentioned the driveway concrete turned out lighter in color then the other concrete. This could be because the contractor sprayed water on the drive once it was poured out to make it easier to work with. That would also explain the flaking due to the break down and weaking of the cement at the surface. Bottom line, never spray the surface of the concrete to make it easier to work!
I was preparing to have stamped concrete paths installed around my home. Thank you VERY much for this video. I may now go with quality pavers instead and tolerate the weeds that grow in between the blocks. Lots to think about.
the company should know you cant concrete in cold conditions and get a top finish ,,anything bellow -3 to 4 you should not pour ,,zero or bellow forget it ,,,,,,how can you get that wrong ,,,sue the concrete people dude not the rkc people ,,,i bet you poured your drive and u probably had a frosty or very cold day ,,ive never heard of colour being mixed in the truck ,,gash gash gash,,,,,,,you throw the colour on and then float it in without bringing too much water up,,,shame on you people,lol
with all he said not once did he mention the use of a salt guard penetrating sealer or the fact he use likely offered the choice of colour to be mixed in the truck at a cost of about triple this guy is one of those people who was not going to be happy anyways! Just wondering he didn't mention the scaring from the snow removal company is he suing them to?
This guy takes great care of his property and did good research to find a solid company. He paid a large sum of money and wants it done right. it's obviously NOT done right. I understand the company that poured and stamped the concrete
did'nt make the concrete, but they did sell it to him - they should stand by their work..get with the concrete maker and fix this guy's driveway. If they don't I hope he nails 'em. I'd be pissed if I was in his situation. Good luck.
In freeze thaw areas, limestone aggregate is the only way to significantly reduce the pop outs in exterior concrete. But, sometimes it's not available everywhere. The concrete job you sound like you desired you probably wouldn't have like the bid. So you get what you pay for. It's funny that appearance means so much to you(black socks), but that concrete looks good on video I'm sure it does the job in person too.
I have been stamping concrete since 2001 and like to think I do a great job. But I have to say I have had my share of problems. Stamped concrete took off so quick and got so popular in the mid 2000s everyone was getting there hands in it and every one was coming out with new products. I dont think any of this stuff has had a chance to prove its self. Buddy you are attacking the wrong guy! Go after INCRETE or who ever the color maker is The same people brain washing everyone that this stuf is ok
I have been stamping concrete since 2001 and like to think I do a great job. But I have to say I have had my share of problems. Stamped concrete took off so quick and got so popular in the mid 2000s everyone was getting there hands in it and every one was coming out with new products. I dont think any of this stuff has had a chance to prove its self. Buddy you are attacking the wrong guy! Go after INCRETE or who ever the color maker is The same people brain washing everyone that this stuff is ok
My question despite all the negative posts here is whether or not stamped concrete is the best medium for cold weather applications. Is it possible the expectations are a little too much? For driveways that may experience high traffic and even possible snow plows should the coloring have been added throughout the batch?
Mr you are a perfect example of whats wrong with this country. Listen up mr smartypants. Ever cross your mind to hire an engineer for an hour to show up and test for soil compaction?Or Reinforcement in the slab? How bout testing the concrete for proper air entrainment? Last but not least did someone do a slump test BEFORE you poured. A simple 3 dollar cylinder full of concrete is what you needed then. A swift kick in the nuts is what you need NOW. Residential concrete is a fucking joke.
wow thats sad people calling him a loser, an idiot or a liberal.
This man made a well documented case and truthfull advice on how to deal with contractors. The pop outs is the concrete mixing plants fault and if it didnt meet the specs the contractor ordered they are liable. Then again its also up to the contractor to test the concrete to make sure it meets the specs they ordered.
My father was a project manager for concrete and i remember all the testing he did before accepting a load
I might be getting similar work done as well so thanks for the heads up. I don't own a business but if i did and i had a customer paying what you did i would go out of my way to satisfy you. Even if it cost me a little money out of pocket. You never know how good someone service is until you have a problem. This was posted in 2008. Have they done anything for you ?
In the big scheme of things, life,the universe, etc your problems are pretty insignificant. It's outdoor concrete and in that climate will start to erode after day one. I don't get why people become so house proud? They lose focus on what truly matters in life.
Faulty mix from the ready mix plant and your all up in arms at the contractor. Im sure they specified that they cannot warranty something they didnt make (ie. the concrete ) I dont see asphalt contractors being sued when there driveways start falling apart. Get a grip its a freaking driveway with a few small chips.
Thanks for the insight on your process, I'm getting ready to have a similar job done at my home and appreciate the research that you have done and the items that I need to be aware of. I'm sorry that you are having to go through this anguish and wish the best on your outcome of your lawsuit. I believe that companies need to be held to their word and workmanship, I know that I am as a business owner myself. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
You are a f&*(%$# idiot. I hate dealing with people like you. Contractors can not control the weather. I do think the contractor did a proper job. The problem is with the concrete but come on man all concrete weathers and cracks. Its out doors dumb shit. Be a man and a do it your selfer. You can put a little color release on it and reseal jack waggon. People like you make me sick. I love it when people like you think your an expert. IDIOT>>>>>
@jbchoon1 he dropped 25 k on the stampwork buddy snacks. the stamp company should come out and fix some of the spalls for free, or all of them for cost of labor. Much better way of doing business. work with eachother
I have over 19 years doing concrete .its simply the aggregate causing the stone pops. lime stone should of been used in the mix. not round stone that contains sand stone. round stone is for indoor use only. so i would say most of the blame is on the ready mix company. and in part. RKC for not asking for lime stone. as far as the flaking rub some colored release on it and reseal it. the the hole job if you have two. ?
Also I would like to add that I think the stamp work is very nice and its obvious that there is a problem with the actual concrete, not the stamp work. If RKC is like any other decorative concrete company it will state such things in their warranty as I put in my last comment. I agree with jjureka1179 that it is up to the homeowner to properly maintain the stamped concrete to extend the life of it. Then there are things that just can't be controlled and its outdoors so its not gonna stay perfect
Decorative concrete companies stamp the designs into the concrete. Most decorative concrete companies hire a concrete company to pour the concrete and there really is no way at all that the decorative concrete company could know that they were given faulty concrete to stamp. If this man wants some satisfaction with these minor issues then A core test is actually a great thing to have done. I'm sure that the warranty with RKC covers workmanship, peeling and fading but not a crappy concrete batch
your a dumbass. the concrete plant makes the concrete not the contractor and just so you know i do feel that rkc should have tried to help but concrete plants do deliver bad batches and core samples will prove that. you seem to be a homeowner who doesnt know anything about concrete.
RKC cant warranty concrete that they didnt make nor can they warranty possible salt eating at the sealer. With that being said i stamp all my concrete with colored cement and colored realease so that i dont have to worry about color sealers flaking off. However it is the home owners job to properly care for the concrete to ensure durability. My company also offers a maintinace plan wich only 1 out of 10 people buy. Remember we just stamp the concrete not make its up to youto maintain it.
I own a concrete company and i do alot of stamped concrete. I hate to tell you this but it is not the fault of RKC but the fault of the concrete plant for mixing and sending the poor concrete out. There is no way that RKC could have known that they were given poor concrete. What you should do is have done is a core test done to check the concrete and make sure its 4,000 psi. Then you and RKC can go after the concrete plant for the tear out and replacement of the concrete and stamping of it.
@jjureka1179 Unbelievable advice: advocating home owners do core tests and thereby advise contractors how to do their job? That will go over like a lead balloon. It is the responsibility of the contractor, not the home owner, to provide suitable concrete along with all other materials and workmanship to achieve the quality fit and finish they promise. The fact the contractor refuses to stand behind their work pretty much says it all here.
I live in england, during the freeze my concrete has been poping like pop corn, it's a mess, the romans could lay concrete that would last up to 1750 yrs for example the pantheon dome roof in rome, nothing last now, all these new idea's rubbish.
$10 bucks says he uses someone to clean the snow off his drive and they also use a strong ind salt. And they use a snow blower on a driveway that big would easly chip off bits. Use your head man.
The gentleman making this rather impressive presentation had clearly done his homework AFTER THE FACT. I can gaurantee you he was warned of the damage that can be caused by the occurance of cold and wet weather on ANY paved surface soon after or during completion, and not only that but the usuall difficulty in laying the product that comes along with set weather. And he STILL probably ya'd away the estimator.
A truly fine example of white collar ignorance at work.
Not only that , but sealer does not last forever. The average hardware store sealer is only good for about a year .Higher quality sealer you should do every 2 years . That's why all your colour is fading .
To avoid having the problems you are experiencing , don't park your vehicle on it after a snowfall. The salt dripping off your car will eat the concrete . Yes I am a finisher and also do stamped .
I can understand your problem but you should state that it comes down to hill side and there dodgey mix not RKC as finishers. But like you said RKC should of had there arse covered with there sub contractors. I work for a company which makes toppings for stencil crete and we cover or products so why shouldn't they. If wrong spec mixers are used by law here they have to be replaced by the mixers, RKC being in the game for 20yrs should have had better control over the mix used at what you paid.
Impressive presentation video! The recommendations on the contract...good luck finding a contractor that will agree to it! Mehi77 - contractor is the one at fault to install the concrete in the wintertime! Did the company agree to a settlement? Personally, I hate the look of this stamping.
you said you have the internet as a powerful tool that is called slander!!! and you could end up in more trouble than the concrete company you are trying to squeeze, you are not allowed to name names on the internet when bagging out a company
wonder why this type of work costs so much and increasing all the time, its because of dickheads like this guy! This guy obviously didnt do enough research or ask enough questions to make the right decisions he would be happy with. Now hes crying like a little bitch. ha ha
the contractor did its best ,the one that should be held responsible is the redimix company, the contractor is just an installer of the product ( they should have used only a lime stone mix...sorry if the answer did not satisfy everybody ...Mehi...
get a grip pal what are you counting every hole in your drive for? btw if i were you id use the money you plan on spending taking this company to court to get a new driveway cause ya old ones crap :P
Sir, Do not feel either discouraged or intimidated by any comments against this video. It is your right to obtain the best possible result. Contractors should stick to their capabilities and state them to costumers up front. Settle for not less than satisfaction! Congratulations for the outcome of your case.
Have never used salt on our driveway. Besides, we go to Mexico for the winter. This was purely a situation of Hilltop Concrete delivering a batch of concrete loaded with chert and other deleterious aggregate.
It is amazing that know one in arbitration brought up deicing salts, which is the number one reason that concrete gets surface spalling. You have every right to sue as a homeowner, as does the contractor in return. I have twenty years under my belt in the concrete business in Southern Utah, as a contractor I feel that it is the responsibility of the contractor to inform the homeowner of possible defects that can occur because of improper care. Steve I hope you don't have salt on your driveway.
My case went to arbitration. I had 580 surface defects on my 2,110 square foot driveway at the time of the arbitration. The contractor got a bad batch of concrete from Hilltop Concrete of Cincinnati, who was contacted by me, but refused to stand behind the quality of concrete. I won the case and was awarded a judgement against the contractor of $36,587.00. I am currently awaiting payment from RKC Increte of Cincinnati, with whom I had the contract. I could not sue Hilltop.
Thanks for posting the video. It is very informative. Kinda anal that you count the number of chips, etc. You must be retired. Nevertheless I don't know why other ppl have problems with your video below. They are probably all in the biz and are afraid of consumers telling their side of the story. I suggest ppl in the biz that have problems with this to stfo and gtfo OR post a response video and that you allow it here. Welcome to 2010.
It looks to me like this guy is a complete dick. What type of De Icer or salt did he use ? They should have resealed it just to shut this guy up , but I'm guessing this guy was such a dick they realized there was no way to deal with him . Contractor Beware . The concrete supplier should request core samples to be tested and if that concrete meets spec they should sue this guy ,they will win .
Exterior construction projects require routine maintenance programs. Failure of the homeowner to properly follow the required maintenance program is a typical problem. Spend thousands to install, but won't spend a few hundred to ensure quality.
Concrete requires a quality sealer be applied to the surface to prevent water penetration. If you don't maintain it, OF COURSE it will fail.
Rather than blame the contractor, look to see if you followed the maintenance program.
This video is a disgrace, I truly hope the contractor sues you!
You cannot put any blame on the contractor what so ever, looking at their work, it seems very good, you even said the pavement and porch where very well done. The problems you had are with the concrete supplier, not the contractor. How are they to know the concrete was a bad batch. I think you owe RKC an apology, they seem to do good work, and cannot be blamed for bad materials which are not present until the concrete dries....
its sad that you have to take it out on the contractor.I pour concrete for a living and I have pop outs some times but i make the concrete plant pay you out.
If you know so d@m much about concrete then get out there and pour it yourself! Concrete is not going to be perfect. ITS ONCRETE! God forbid it may even crack! Are you sure that it was not salt or some other chemical de icer that came off your vehicle and caused the top to pop? Funny how only the driveway did it and not the sidewalk or porch.
the concrete people want you to talk to the concrete supliers, when you pay tens of thousands of dollars to a finish work company no go, when you buy a good from a store and it doesnt work you dont fly to china to talk to the workers.. concrete workers get your supliers in line or chose another business and if it takes 70 degree weather for it to cure do it with 70 degree weather or find another business or do low end concrete you all want the big jobs do it right
i dont know of rkc but i do pour concrete for a living i do agree you should get what u pay for but this is not their fault at all you even said the sidewalk is fine but the driveway is flaking that is the readymix companys fault . i would take them to court and have rkc come back from what i see they did an awesome job the readymix company should be held liable for the mistakes
Thank you very much for posting this well-done video. I am sorry to hear of your problems. I am having similar difficulties with my driveway. Unfortunately, I didn't see your video until after I had my driveway poured. I would really appreciate your contacting me. Thanks again.
CoreyGameFreak is absolutely right. There is ALWAYS a risk factor with concrete. You ever realize how almost no contractors (ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE WEATHER IS HARSH IN WINTER) will guarantee the job??? This is because the ready-mix company (thats the people who supply the cement) DO NOT GUARANTEE THEIR OWN PRODUCT TO THE CONTRACTORS. How do you expect a contractor to pass down any serious guarantee to you??
You say this is happening on the driveway and not the sidewalk or patio. I think maybe its something you are doing. Using deicing salts or just picking them up off the roads. I am a concrete contractor and have had to deal with people like you. And I gotta say people like you keep me up at night. Concrete is an imperfect material in an imperfect world with imperfect conditions. Yet guys like you still expect perfection. If you live where freeze thaw exists this is what you get.
If the temperature drops too close to freezing, hydration slows to nearly a standstill. Under these conditions, concrete ceases to gain strength and other desirable properties. In general, the temperature of new concrete should not be allowed to fall below 50 Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) during the curing period.
this is the reason why concrete contractors cant make a buck these days because of guys like you you got a problem with the concrete call the concrete supplier not the guy that did it you must be going broke and are looking for some money back you no what dude shit happens deal with it " i should of went to school to become a lawyer it seems like there the ones making all the money these days
Dude, you are a contractors nightmare, You are the reason why contractors have to charge the rates in what they do. I am a Class A contractor in another state, and have to pay a recovery fund every year or so, because of what you doing right now. You should stop this nonsense, and quit hurting this guys reputation. I bet you are a whiny complainer every where you go......
@iptaytiger ...and to make an edited video of yourself complaining about it. I bet the guy that made this video for you was relieved when he was done, and probably charged you an arm, and a leg to make it for you. How many complaints did he get?
@iptaytiger ...and to make an edited video of yourself complaining about it. I bet the guy that made this video for you was relieved when he was done, and probably charged you an arm, and a leg to make it for you. How many complaints did he get?
there are so many ways to prevent all your problems..... just cause someone tells you they can do concrete, does not mean they really can. 13 yrs in business not one problem with pop ups....
Anyone that tells you concrete won't crack or chip is lying to You!! There are many reasons why your concrete problems happened, my guess the finisher added to much water decreasing the strength of your concrete and used no rebar or your subgrade was shit and not compacted. But you have to expect some imperfections in concrete that's the beauty of it.
you are a bitchy old queen the contractor purchased the concrete from a supplier. the problem is the concrete. not the workmanship it has nothing to do with the freeze its expansive/reactive concrete. This problem does not only occur in stamped concrete but in any concrete. I have had it happen to me in CA and it doesn't freeze here. Now I add a disclaimer to my contract, as we all should in case of shit like this
Pavers in Ohio aren't a good way to go unless you have a good base-12'-18' of stone. The cost is about double of stamped concrete. It doesn't sound like a bad mix; the defects would cover a more extensive area. It could be that an area set up fast and the stamping caused a small "crack'. Still looks good, but water can seep in and freeze in winter.
your driveway can be repaired , why your contractor does not carry out simple remediel works is beyond me, i wish we in the uk could get paid so much , and our work is better than this example.
You do have alot of strong points, I agree with BDG6863, This is the ready mix plants fault, if you have extreamly hot summers and cold winters as you do in Ohio there is not much that can be done with the expansion and contraction of the aggreget in the concrete. Almost anywhere you will run into this problem, you can get away with stampped concrete in warm climates such as southern California and Florida, nearly everywere else you will run into the same problem.
thank you ,my driveway was poured on a 90 degree day. it set up to fast within a year it started chipping up like yours.i recomend pouring only on cooler days,less than70 degrees. thats all i have to say about that!
@rotoclip not tryin to pick bones but when u live in ohio you get laid off in the winter you only have nine months to bust ass and pour all that u can to survive if we only poured concrete on 70 degree partly cloudy days we would only work 10 days a year my friend
ABSOLUTLEY FANTASTIC. I commend you on the professionalism you have tshown. You maintained facts not emotion.
Unfortunately,if we follow your simple suggestions, we may not find a contractor willing to do the job. I completely agree with what you said, but not many contractors are willing to follow through with a "Binding Guarantee". They generally use vague wording as you leaded to with surface cracks.
Any chance you can change the title? so that more will view = Stamped concrete problems?
Will give your suggestion serious consideration. Am currently in the middle of my lawsuit at present. I do intend to put together another video and post it after suit settled, unless RKC and I come to an acceptable settlement. As you can imagine, he wants my video off the internet. Good luck with your negotiations.
Another thing you might want to consider is how windy it is and how cold and hot it can be in your environment before getting stamped concrete. There is a lot of variables with this especially stamped work. Another thing you might want to look at is the actual type of cement there are you using whether it is ash grove , fly ash, ling high or however you say that. These all have major influence on your concrete. especially stamped because of the little crevasse that can cause chips.
Pavers is the way to go. Pavers have a compression ratio of 8,000 lbs a sq. inch, Compared to concrete which is only 2,000 lbs per sq inch. Concrete cracks and heaves while pavers look great for many years and require little maintenance. Pavers transfer weight equally through out and the bricks rarely have defects. if a brick somehow cracked you could easily replace it, if stamped concrete cracks its not easy to fix.
the higher the aggregate the higher the lbs per sq inch you can get concrete up to 10000 lbs per sq inch do some research there bud iam doing a drive way now that has 5000 lbs sq inch
Thank you very much for posting this great information, I am in the process of getting stamped driveway and I would consider all ur recommendation in this video.
I have never put salt on the driveway and more than half of the pop outs are where there is no auto traffic at all. Salt is NOT the answer as I am gone much of the winter and don't drive in bad weather. I just got a very bad batch of concrete with very poor quality aggregate.
If you made all of the changes to my contract, I would walk away from this client and most other contractors would too. Demands such as this typically indicate a customer who is "looking for a fight". If you do get a contractor to agree to all of these stipulations, you're probably working with someone new to the business or on the edge of surviving and won't be around when you go to claim your lb of flesh.
I think RKC did a NICE JOB!!! you are one of the picky ass clients that think they know it all, You know why your sidewalk and porch did not pop? Because you do not drive your salty ass car on it, Yes.. your car dropped salt from the road on your driveway and that made the pops and will eat through the antiquing, You seem like one of the customers that can not swallow the $25k you spent now you want to bitch and moan for your own wrong doing... I would dump 55 gal of used oil on your driveway
Absolutley steller video..I am in the process of getting stamped for my driveway and this has helped me out extremely as far as signing this contract!..Sue the contractor as you are right on this, if the concrete company had any balls they would split with the contractor who did this and move on..
The soft aggregate being in the concrete retains water in the concrete and causes pop ups. The Increte and the ready mix company should be aware of this. As far a your antiquing on your driveway, being a increte distributor installer we have ran into simular problems that requires hands on from the contractor to come to a resolution. If the driveway stopped popping, then it could be repaired by color hardner and cosmetics to make it look good.
RKC, has refused to even confront Hilltop, the concrete supplier, about the poor quality. I have no choice but to go after the contractor as my contract is with him only. I agree the fault is Hilltop, but they refused to acknowledge me directly as their contact was with RKC. I intend to make the public aware of how RKC treats customers, refusing to stand behind the quality but to protect the relationship with Hilltop instead.
The contractor did nice work, no need to drag him through the mud. The concrete supplier is the one who should bite the bullet to make the customer happy. I have worked on both ends and in no way can the contractor foresee this type of defect. Shale is a major problem in limestone aggregates and must be noticed by the people at the batch plant and returned, or they should accept liability for risking quality. I dont agree with everything the contractor did but take it easy on him.
I am a contractor in the Cincy area. I have 1 driveway that 1 of the pours has more pops than normal. We are at the mercy of the suppliers. Also the winters in Cincy and the salt contribute to the problem. Even if you don't salt, it does fall off the car as you drive in. Are there more pops in the apron area or where you park a vehicle? I do question RKC for not patching the pops.We also do pavers. For the same price as stamped, I pour a 5" concrete base with fiber and rebar then put pavers on
well thats fair. if the concretor is silly enof 2 not go after the concrete supplier witch whos at folt then thats hes problem. good luck with solving there problem anyway mate by the way how many square meters was the job
im a concrete contractor i think it is a good job u should always stand by your work but u cant create mirricals not everything in this world can be perfict. if u r going 2 take any1 to court it should be the concrete company that supplyd the concrete
You are correct that the problem is bad aggregate from the concrete supplier, but my contract is with the contractor. I asked him to go after the concrete supplier, but he refused. My only legal option is to go after the contractor.
Wow. Its concrete, Not stone. You had what before that? Asphalt? concrete is almost as ghetto. Its not permanant. Its a cheaper alternative to permanant. I would wager that none of your friends or family would have noticed any defects. You are a nut. Its like moving from a condo of straw to a split -level of sticks and complaining about sagging after a good rain.
Thank you for your video, this is an excellent venue to share information/experiences with contractors. We had a stamped concrete sidewalk put in a few years ago by this same contractor (RKC Increte Systems) and are having similar problems. We are also having problems getting them to come back out to repair. I cannot find another contractor in Cincinnati who installs/repairs this product - is anyone aware of another contractor in Cincinnati?
Stellar job on the video. Superbly documented and produced. Extremely educational and helpful for those of us planning on purchasing stamped concrete. Additionally, very helpful in general to realize what is required to protect one's self, as a homeowner or general consumer. Well done Sir. Thank you and best to you securing some remediation with your issues.
We live here in Guelph, Ontario, CANADA and had patterned concrete since 2005 and every year we have similar problems. Fortunately, our contractor comes to fix the problem every year. The only thing is it is a big inconvenience. It looks like this will be an annual problem. Better to invest on interlocking bricks.
awsome handwork !! sad that people tryin to make a living get problems like this cous of the weather/concrete : / i understand you making this video . .
i do stamped concrete for a living in michigan,,,,and we have some of the worst clay grounds in the country,,,,,you get 6 months to a year here,,,,if this clown started all these demands.....id say have a nice day,,,,,call someone else,,,hes all trouble,,,,,the missing chunks of concrete ive never seen b4,,,so i dont think id have trouble with it,,,,but it is mother nature,,,look at our roads,,,there all jacked up,,,,some things are out of our control,,,,go blacktop to be safe
Well, by doing that it soaks into the concrete and then happens to pop when it's diluted. Happens to concrete everywhere in these area's. Now, you want the guy to replace the concrete because of a freeze. Sorry, you knew this happens if you did any research. It's not there job to maintian against mother nature.
On the poping also, if you happen to live in a freeze thaw zone you also happen to have ice melt put down. It's properties are that it decreases the temp that water will freeze. Meaning, instead of 32 degree freezes it won't freeze till 20 degrees.
Concrete cracks. That's a guarantee. The prooblem with poping in the Plant. You are giving the contractor a bad name. On sealers. Re antique and re seal. Problem settled. If you didn't know that, you didn't do your reasearch very well.
I do like the driveway it is awesome looking. the pits would tick me off too. just get it fixed and maintain it, that is probably your best course of action. I was dissapointed with my stamped patio too, and wish I had gone w/ regular concrete. now I must also learn how to correct fading and flaking. (no pitting yet) but I do have cracking:( ...so best to learn how to fix it and post what you learn please. good luck.
O.K.! I watched the video 3x's and have a few thoughts. (opinions) first of all, when you are sold something, you expect it to look like what your buying. So I agree with the gentleman here, because when you look at the glossy photo, they should also explained what problems may come along with it. In that vane I would say that the popouts need fixed, and the flaking also needs fixed...and that these issues should have been discussed and talked about at the time of purchase....next post
they did not manufacture the concrete
Ranger0024 1 week ago
You, sir......are an ass!! Concrete contractors do not warranty concrete because we do not manufacture it, therefore have no control over it before it arrives on site. Most concrete is placed and finished in ways recommended by the MANUFACTURER. Concrete suppliers have a huge rebutal book for not taking responsablility for their product. Your contractor's only fault was not going after his supplier for the sake of your dumb ass. P.S. I would be suing the S#$T out of you for this.
cementheaded1 2 weeks ago
This doesn't look like $36,000 worth of damage; I can't believe there isn't a way to patch and re-seal a problem like this, since it needs periodic re-sealing anyway. Did RKC offer to remedy this in any way, short of ripping it out and replacing it? One thing they shouldn't be doing is trying to blame their sub-contractor. Even if that was in the fine print, it's a totally lame way to do business. Can GM send you off to one of their hundreds of subs every time you need a warranty repair?
lrd9999 3 months ago
Very thoughtful and well developed communication with this video. I share your hope that this medium is effective in minimizing the unprofessional and unethical behaviors of contractors. I have too often encountered contractors who make sure the work looks good on the outside, only later to discover the shortcuts and sloppiness behind the scenes. Great advice you gave, get it all in writing!
michaelalanlee 4 months ago
Thx Steve, great info. hope all works out well in your situation. you seem to be managing well..pb..
ballahp 5 months ago
Good video quality. People should be responsible for what they install. This may bebeyond their control but then they shouldn't put it in and recommend it.
larryllix 5 months ago
Thanks for the kind comments. Am taping a second video later this month and hope to have it posted on YouTube by the end of October. This one has even more information on what to do and not do.
Best regards,
Steve
stevekennedy77 5 months ago
Steve, thanks for educating me on the risks of stamped concrete. This is
an extremely informative video. Great job!
kellj72 5 months ago
really!? cracks will happen. you can go to anybody and get the same result. It looks like you just want a free stamped concrete job. Stamped concrete cracks and flakes all the time. It wont look perfect forever so just enjoy the relatively great job you've received. Ive heard some crazy stories about stamped concrete. U should be very happy
hym456 6 months ago 2
I am a decorative concrete installer. I am not a manufacturer of any of the products that I use. My top concern is the satisfaction of my customers but there is a middle ground. I never want a customer to think that I am short changing them either in quality of workmanship or quality of product. I use what I believe is the best and I put down the best I can personally offer. Most customers are very happy, others believe that I owe to them to keep their project looking brand new for life
shannonringenbach 6 months ago
You put all those conditions in a contract for me, after I picked myself up of the floor laughing I would be out of your life so fast your head would spin. You are every concrete contractors nightmare. If you have a beef with the spalling of the concrete you best take it up with the Conc Company because who ever put that down did a first rate job. You are a typical know all homeowner that actually knows just enough about concrete to be dangerous. You will delete this.
BlackCountryPuddler 6 months ago 3
That is a great Stamped Concrete job.....
BlackCountryPuddler 6 months ago
you suck man, I can't believe you not do anything whit you life, if you not happy whit you retirement plan looking for job or something .
jufaxosi 6 months ago 2
Concrete will crack. you drive cars over it, a rock slung from your lawnmower, How long do you expect it to last with no marks? Its 2011 now! You have no right trying to hurt this business! It looks very good to me! If you can figure out how to keep air voids and cracks from coming into concrete let me know! We can buy 10 islands each off the interest we will make off our money! Be a big boy and quit trying to ruin these folks and DELETE video!!
jrodtidefan 6 months ago
Unfortunate that people dont read contracts that say the contractor is only responsible for defects due to workmanship. I'm pretty sure that was in there and this doesn't look like poor workmanship it looks like low strength, poorly batched concrete. Now this company is taking a hit because of the concrete provider, when they have no way of regulating what kind of concrete comes out of the plant.
musicman99ca 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Stop fucking hating!!!!!!!!!!
plukebone 7 months ago
It appears that Mr. Kennedy did his due diligence and hired what he believed to be the best decorative concrete company. He trusted the company would hire proper suppliers and laborers and do the job right. If it's not done right it's the company's fault if problems arise during the warrantee period and are not specifically excluded in the contract. To me, any pop-outs or chipped sealer or color flaking or cracks over time would look horrible. I'm going to rethink my decision on concrete.
LivingFit365 8 months ago
Yes the rock is the fault of your problem. This installer you speak of is known for the great work around cincinnati. Do your homework and you will see that they are one of the leaders in this field of concrete.Any company you look at has made mistakes but no person or company can warranty products that were made outside of there control. Keep in mind the supplier of the concrete is the #1 supplier for all major jobs downtown including city work they know what the guidelines are.
mrsypert 8 months ago
You mentioned the driveway concrete turned out lighter in color then the other concrete. This could be because the contractor sprayed water on the drive once it was poured out to make it easier to work with. That would also explain the flaking due to the break down and weaking of the cement at the surface. Bottom line, never spray the surface of the concrete to make it easier to work!
benv04 8 months ago
I was preparing to have stamped concrete paths installed around my home. Thank you VERY much for this video. I may now go with quality pavers instead and tolerate the weeds that grow in between the blocks. Lots to think about.
newjerseybt 8 months ago
the one guarantee you have of all concrete it will crack you stupid fuck
MitchelPie 9 months ago
the company should know you cant concrete in cold conditions and get a top finish ,,anything bellow -3 to 4 you should not pour ,,zero or bellow forget it ,,,,,,how can you get that wrong ,,,sue the concrete people dude not the rkc people ,,,i bet you poured your drive and u probably had a frosty or very cold day ,,ive never heard of colour being mixed in the truck ,,gash gash gash,,,,,,,you throw the colour on and then float it in without bringing too much water up,,,shame on you people,lol
brady412009 9 months ago
@brady412009 If you have never heard of color mixed into the concrete you should keep your mouth shut and never do concrete work.
billsconstruction68 7 months ago
Looks great! I would have that concrete over pavers or blacktop anyday!
ShefBill 9 months ago
with all he said not once did he mention the use of a salt guard penetrating sealer or the fact he use likely offered the choice of colour to be mixed in the truck at a cost of about triple this guy is one of those people who was not going to be happy anyways! Just wondering he didn't mention the scaring from the snow removal company is he suing them to?
kvnfawcett 9 months ago
This guy takes great care of his property and did good research to find a solid company. He paid a large sum of money and wants it done right. it's obviously NOT done right. I understand the company that poured and stamped the concrete
did'nt make the concrete, but they did sell it to him - they should stand by their work..get with the concrete maker and fix this guy's driveway. If they don't I hope he nails 'em. I'd be pissed if I was in his situation. Good luck.
royalmotors 9 months ago
In freeze thaw areas, limestone aggregate is the only way to significantly reduce the pop outs in exterior concrete. But, sometimes it's not available everywhere. The concrete job you sound like you desired you probably wouldn't have like the bid. So you get what you pay for. It's funny that appearance means so much to you(black socks), but that concrete looks good on video I'm sure it does the job in person too.
bhtmfan 9 months ago
Ohh!! and nice socks!!
Tman5827 9 months ago
I have been stamping concrete since 2001 and like to think I do a great job. But I have to say I have had my share of problems. Stamped concrete took off so quick and got so popular in the mid 2000s everyone was getting there hands in it and every one was coming out with new products. I dont think any of this stuff has had a chance to prove its self. Buddy you are attacking the wrong guy! Go after INCRETE or who ever the color maker is The same people brain washing everyone that this stuf is ok
Tman5827 9 months ago
I have been stamping concrete since 2001 and like to think I do a great job. But I have to say I have had my share of problems. Stamped concrete took off so quick and got so popular in the mid 2000s everyone was getting there hands in it and every one was coming out with new products. I dont think any of this stuff has had a chance to prove its self. Buddy you are attacking the wrong guy! Go after INCRETE or who ever the color maker is The same people brain washing everyone that this stuff is ok
Tman5827 9 months ago
My question despite all the negative posts here is whether or not stamped concrete is the best medium for cold weather applications. Is it possible the expectations are a little too much? For driveways that may experience high traffic and even possible snow plows should the coloring have been added throughout the batch?
stevking007 9 months ago
Mr you are a perfect example of whats wrong with this country. Listen up mr smartypants. Ever cross your mind to hire an engineer for an hour to show up and test for soil compaction?Or Reinforcement in the slab? How bout testing the concrete for proper air entrainment? Last but not least did someone do a slump test BEFORE you poured. A simple 3 dollar cylinder full of concrete is what you needed then. A swift kick in the nuts is what you need NOW. Residential concrete is a fucking joke.
MrGit2work 9 months ago
should have used integral color ass.
rlasher52971 10 months ago
wow thats sad people calling him a loser, an idiot or a liberal.
This man made a well documented case and truthfull advice on how to deal with contractors. The pop outs is the concrete mixing plants fault and if it didnt meet the specs the contractor ordered they are liable. Then again its also up to the contractor to test the concrete to make sure it meets the specs they ordered.
My father was a project manager for concrete and i remember all the testing he did before accepting a load
Cigmachines 10 months ago
This guy is as dumb ass. I gurantee hes an out of touch with reality liberal that voted for Obama. What a LOSER.
kolodkaben 10 months ago
I might be getting similar work done as well so thanks for the heads up. I don't own a business but if i did and i had a customer paying what you did i would go out of my way to satisfy you. Even if it cost me a little money out of pocket. You never know how good someone service is until you have a problem. This was posted in 2008. Have they done anything for you ?
dsm4life12 10 months ago
In the big scheme of things, life,the universe, etc your problems are pretty insignificant. It's outdoor concrete and in that climate will start to erode after day one. I don't get why people become so house proud? They lose focus on what truly matters in life.
acirlam 10 months ago
Faulty mix from the ready mix plant and your all up in arms at the contractor. Im sure they specified that they cannot warranty something they didnt make (ie. the concrete ) I dont see asphalt contractors being sued when there driveways start falling apart. Get a grip its a freaking driveway with a few small chips.
95opal 10 months ago
Thanks for your info
robertlewisvazquez 1 year ago
Thanks for the insight on your process, I'm getting ready to have a similar job done at my home and appreciate the research that you have done and the items that I need to be aware of. I'm sorry that you are having to go through this anguish and wish the best on your outcome of your lawsuit. I believe that companies need to be held to their word and workmanship, I know that I am as a business owner myself. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
theelevatorsband 1 year ago
You are a f&*(%$# idiot. I hate dealing with people like you. Contractors can not control the weather. I do think the contractor did a proper job. The problem is with the concrete but come on man all concrete weathers and cracks. Its out doors dumb shit. Be a man and a do it your selfer. You can put a little color release on it and reseal jack waggon. People like you make me sick. I love it when people like you think your an expert. IDIOT>>>>>
jbchoon1 1 year ago
@jbchoon1 he dropped 25 k on the stampwork buddy snacks. the stamp company should come out and fix some of the spalls for free, or all of them for cost of labor. Much better way of doing business. work with eachother
cheshstyles 10 months ago
I have over 19 years doing concrete .its simply the aggregate causing the stone pops. lime stone should of been used in the mix. not round stone that contains sand stone. round stone is for indoor use only. so i would say most of the blame is on the ready mix company. and in part. RKC for not asking for lime stone. as far as the flaking rub some colored release on it and reseal it. the the hole job if you have two. ?
arrow2930 1 year ago
Also I would like to add that I think the stamp work is very nice and its obvious that there is a problem with the actual concrete, not the stamp work. If RKC is like any other decorative concrete company it will state such things in their warranty as I put in my last comment. I agree with jjureka1179 that it is up to the homeowner to properly maintain the stamped concrete to extend the life of it. Then there are things that just can't be controlled and its outdoors so its not gonna stay perfect
hebbie84 1 year ago
Decorative concrete companies stamp the designs into the concrete. Most decorative concrete companies hire a concrete company to pour the concrete and there really is no way at all that the decorative concrete company could know that they were given faulty concrete to stamp. If this man wants some satisfaction with these minor issues then A core test is actually a great thing to have done. I'm sure that the warranty with RKC covers workmanship, peeling and fading but not a crappy concrete batch
hebbie84 1 year ago
my last commet was for whoever jadeturt is
jjureka1179 1 year ago
your a dumbass. the concrete plant makes the concrete not the contractor and just so you know i do feel that rkc should have tried to help but concrete plants do deliver bad batches and core samples will prove that. you seem to be a homeowner who doesnt know anything about concrete.
jjureka1179 1 year ago
RKC cant warranty concrete that they didnt make nor can they warranty possible salt eating at the sealer. With that being said i stamp all my concrete with colored cement and colored realease so that i dont have to worry about color sealers flaking off. However it is the home owners job to properly care for the concrete to ensure durability. My company also offers a maintinace plan wich only 1 out of 10 people buy. Remember we just stamp the concrete not make its up to youto maintain it.
jjureka1179 1 year ago 9
I own a concrete company and i do alot of stamped concrete. I hate to tell you this but it is not the fault of RKC but the fault of the concrete plant for mixing and sending the poor concrete out. There is no way that RKC could have known that they were given poor concrete. What you should do is have done is a core test done to check the concrete and make sure its 4,000 psi. Then you and RKC can go after the concrete plant for the tear out and replacement of the concrete and stamping of it.
jjureka1179 1 year ago
@jjureka1179 Unbelievable advice: advocating home owners do core tests and thereby advise contractors how to do their job? That will go over like a lead balloon. It is the responsibility of the contractor, not the home owner, to provide suitable concrete along with all other materials and workmanship to achieve the quality fit and finish they promise. The fact the contractor refuses to stand behind their work pretty much says it all here.
jadeturt 1 year ago
I live in england, during the freeze my concrete has been poping like pop corn, it's a mess, the romans could lay concrete that would last up to 1750 yrs for example the pantheon dome roof in rome, nothing last now, all these new idea's rubbish.
kopynd1 1 year ago
$10 bucks says he uses someone to clean the snow off his drive and they also use a strong ind salt. And they use a snow blower on a driveway that big would easly chip off bits. Use your head man.
bornforeverfree1988 1 year ago
11- make sure the concrete is at least 3000 psi!!!
dariomtz08 1 year ago
$24880!!! OMG!!! U should have bought a new car! :)
shikotus777 1 year ago
Hahahah who counted all the defects ?
jttj123 1 year ago
The gentleman making this rather impressive presentation had clearly done his homework AFTER THE FACT. I can gaurantee you he was warned of the damage that can be caused by the occurance of cold and wet weather on ANY paved surface soon after or during completion, and not only that but the usuall difficulty in laying the product that comes along with set weather. And he STILL probably ya'd away the estimator.
A truly fine example of white collar ignorance at work.
Canuk4 1 year ago
@Canuk4 Watch the video again and listen more closely. You seem to have a very selective memory.
jadeturt 1 year ago
Not only that , but sealer does not last forever. The average hardware store sealer is only good for about a year .Higher quality sealer you should do every 2 years . That's why all your colour is fading .
pencon61 1 year ago
Lets see the same damage on the areas where the car wasn't parked - patio , walkway etc .
pencon61 1 year ago
To avoid having the problems you are experiencing , don't park your vehicle on it after a snowfall. The salt dripping off your car will eat the concrete . Yes I am a finisher and also do stamped .
pencon61 1 year ago
I can understand your problem but you should state that it comes down to hill side and there dodgey mix not RKC as finishers. But like you said RKC should of had there arse covered with there sub contractors. I work for a company which makes toppings for stencil crete and we cover or products so why shouldn't they. If wrong spec mixers are used by law here they have to be replaced by the mixers, RKC being in the game for 20yrs should have had better control over the mix used at what you paid.
xxx2strokexxx 1 year ago
Comment removed
esneale 1 year ago
They must have had a bad lawyer salt from your car dripped on the concrete look where the popouts are
wac4545 1 year ago
Impressive presentation video! The recommendations on the contract...good luck finding a contractor that will agree to it! Mehi77 - contractor is the one at fault to install the concrete in the wintertime! Did the company agree to a settlement? Personally, I hate the look of this stamping.
hagesful 1 year ago
you said you have the internet as a powerful tool that is called slander!!! and you could end up in more trouble than the concrete company you are trying to squeeze, you are not allowed to name names on the internet when bagging out a company
brockjorden 1 year ago
stamped concrete, its only concrete its gonna crack chip and crumble! hense the word concrete, spend more money and get pavers for life dumb asses!
bbeamsss 1 year ago
salt pops ftw
daldridgex 1 year ago
wonder why this type of work costs so much and increasing all the time, its because of dickheads like this guy! This guy obviously didnt do enough research or ask enough questions to make the right decisions he would be happy with. Now hes crying like a little bitch. ha ha
vidarjens 1 year ago
the contractor did its best ,the one that should be held responsible is the redimix company, the contractor is just an installer of the product ( they should have used only a lime stone mix...sorry if the answer did not satisfy everybody ...Mehi...
mehi77 1 year ago
@mehi77 Your spot on, i find more and more the big concrete companies have poor quality of mix, it is not the contractors fault the mix was poor.
vidarjens 1 year ago
He spent more money on this stupid video than he did on his driveway.LOLOLOLOL
kingslanddigger 1 year ago
get a grip pal what are you counting every hole in your drive for? btw if i were you id use the money you plan on spending taking this company to court to get a new driveway cause ya old ones crap :P
gillies999 1 year ago
Thank you for this video and valuable information.
What was the result of your lawsuit?
fredemiller 1 year ago 4
wow, this was so well put together and very educational. thanks so much for posting!
jewellgroove 1 year ago
This guy must be a democrat.
thegoatbird22 1 year ago
Apparently this man wants a free driveway.
kingslanddigger 1 year ago
Are you going to replace your driveway of live with it?
MrPaver1 1 year ago
Sir, Do not feel either discouraged or intimidated by any comments against this video. It is your right to obtain the best possible result. Contractors should stick to their capabilities and state them to costumers up front. Settle for not less than satisfaction! Congratulations for the outcome of your case.
Perth Amboy, NJ
melancox 1 year ago 2
@melancox You and him need to get together cause neither of you know what your talking about.
kingslanddigger 1 year ago
Have never used salt on our driveway. Besides, we go to Mexico for the winter. This was purely a situation of Hilltop Concrete delivering a batch of concrete loaded with chert and other deleterious aggregate.
stevekennedy3 1 year ago
@stevekennedy3 so you old ass hole why didint you sue hilltop
jbchoon1 1 year ago
It is amazing that know one in arbitration brought up deicing salts, which is the number one reason that concrete gets surface spalling. You have every right to sue as a homeowner, as does the contractor in return. I have twenty years under my belt in the concrete business in Southern Utah, as a contractor I feel that it is the responsibility of the contractor to inform the homeowner of possible defects that can occur because of improper care. Steve I hope you don't have salt on your driveway.
BrodyBradshaw 1 year ago
My case went to arbitration. I had 580 surface defects on my 2,110 square foot driveway at the time of the arbitration. The contractor got a bad batch of concrete from Hilltop Concrete of Cincinnati, who was contacted by me, but refused to stand behind the quality of concrete. I won the case and was awarded a judgement against the contractor of $36,587.00. I am currently awaiting payment from RKC Increte of Cincinnati, with whom I had the contract. I could not sue Hilltop.
stevekennedy3 1 year ago 2
Thanks for posting the video. It is very informative. Kinda anal that you count the number of chips, etc. You must be retired. Nevertheless I don't know why other ppl have problems with your video below. They are probably all in the biz and are afraid of consumers telling their side of the story. I suggest ppl in the biz that have problems with this to stfo and gtfo OR post a response video and that you allow it here. Welcome to 2010.
cicero747 1 year ago
It looks to me like this guy is a complete dick. What type of De Icer or salt did he use ? They should have resealed it just to shut this guy up , but I'm guessing this guy was such a dick they realized there was no way to deal with him . Contractor Beware . The concrete supplier should request core samples to be tested and if that concrete meets spec they should sue this guy ,they will win .
Elcimarrone 1 year ago
u need to kill you self! Karate Kit
pjscream 1 year ago
Exterior construction projects require routine maintenance programs. Failure of the homeowner to properly follow the required maintenance program is a typical problem. Spend thousands to install, but won't spend a few hundred to ensure quality.
Concrete requires a quality sealer be applied to the surface to prevent water penetration. If you don't maintain it, OF COURSE it will fail.
Rather than blame the contractor, look to see if you followed the maintenance program.
StunTech1 1 year ago
This video is a disgrace, I truly hope the contractor sues you!
You cannot put any blame on the contractor what so ever, looking at their work, it seems very good, you even said the pavement and porch where very well done. The problems you had are with the concrete supplier, not the contractor. How are they to know the concrete was a bad batch. I think you owe RKC an apology, they seem to do good work, and cannot be blamed for bad materials which are not present until the concrete dries....
snico 1 year ago
its sad that you have to take it out on the contractor.I pour concrete for a living and I have pop outs some times but i make the concrete plant pay you out.
kendall6102 1 year ago
your just a jackleg that nobody can please
kingslanddigger 1 year ago
If you know so d@m much about concrete then get out there and pour it yourself! Concrete is not going to be perfect. ITS ONCRETE! God forbid it may even crack! Are you sure that it was not salt or some other chemical de icer that came off your vehicle and caused the top to pop? Funny how only the driveway did it and not the sidewalk or porch.
ekeller88 1 year ago
Thank you so much for your insights. I wish you well in the outcome of your suit.
jjcs1381 1 year ago 2
Thanks for taking the time to post your video. I'm considering stamped concrete and this will definitely help me in my decision.
soapmanic 1 year ago
look up concrete-evolutions.......bloomington, Illinois...their work is by FAR the best i have ever seen.....that good...
lilalan27 1 year ago
i just had a stamped concrete project done this week, it wasn't rkc, now i'm glad , thanks for the info
westrokker 1 year ago
the concrete people want you to talk to the concrete supliers, when you pay tens of thousands of dollars to a finish work company no go, when you buy a good from a store and it doesnt work you dont fly to china to talk to the workers.. concrete workers get your supliers in line or chose another business and if it takes 70 degree weather for it to cure do it with 70 degree weather or find another business or do low end concrete you all want the big jobs do it right
shawnhornett 1 year ago
i dont know of rkc but i do pour concrete for a living i do agree you should get what u pay for but this is not their fault at all you even said the sidewalk is fine but the driveway is flaking that is the readymix companys fault . i would take them to court and have rkc come back from what i see they did an awesome job the readymix company should be held liable for the mistakes
whiteguy2369 1 year ago
Thank you very much for posting this well-done video. I am sorry to hear of your problems. I am having similar difficulties with my driveway. Unfortunately, I didn't see your video until after I had my driveway poured. I would really appreciate your contacting me. Thanks again.
fox963 1 year ago
Thank you for the information. It's unfortunate these things happen. We appreciate you telling your story.
alelemdage 1 year ago
CoreyGameFreak is absolutely right. There is ALWAYS a risk factor with concrete. You ever realize how almost no contractors (ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE WEATHER IS HARSH IN WINTER) will guarantee the job??? This is because the ready-mix company (thats the people who supply the cement) DO NOT GUARANTEE THEIR OWN PRODUCT TO THE CONTRACTORS. How do you expect a contractor to pass down any serious guarantee to you??
716Jitsu 1 year ago
You say this is happening on the driveway and not the sidewalk or patio. I think maybe its something you are doing. Using deicing salts or just picking them up off the roads. I am a concrete contractor and have had to deal with people like you. And I gotta say people like you keep me up at night. Concrete is an imperfect material in an imperfect world with imperfect conditions. Yet guys like you still expect perfection. If you live where freeze thaw exists this is what you get.
questconcrete 1 year ago
Very informative. Thanks for uploading.
sleazybtd 1 year ago
If the temperature drops too close to freezing, hydration slows to nearly a standstill. Under these conditions, concrete ceases to gain strength and other desirable properties. In general, the temperature of new concrete should not be allowed to fall below 50 Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) during the curing period.
jmercer1820 1 year ago
this is the reason why concrete contractors cant make a buck these days because of guys like you you got a problem with the concrete call the concrete supplier not the guy that did it you must be going broke and are looking for some money back you no what dude shit happens deal with it " i should of went to school to become a lawyer it seems like there the ones making all the money these days
CoreyGameFreak101 1 year ago
Dude, you are a contractors nightmare, You are the reason why contractors have to charge the rates in what they do. I am a Class A contractor in another state, and have to pay a recovery fund every year or so, because of what you doing right now. You should stop this nonsense, and quit hurting this guys reputation. I bet you are a whiny complainer every where you go......
iptaytiger 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@iptaytiger ...and to make an edited video of yourself complaining about it. I bet the guy that made this video for you was relieved when he was done, and probably charged you an arm, and a leg to make it for you. How many complaints did he get?
I bet you are proud of yourself too......
iptaytiger 1 year ago
@iptaytiger ...and to make an edited video of yourself complaining about it. I bet the guy that made this video for you was relieved when he was done, and probably charged you an arm, and a leg to make it for you. How many complaints did he get?
I bet you are proud of yourself too......
iptaytiger 1 year ago
Thanks for the information. That's a large investment and we appreciate your advice~
Sorry about your problems. Good luck in your lawsuit.
YmarieR 1 year ago
there are so many ways to prevent all your problems..... just cause someone tells you they can do concrete, does not mean they really can. 13 yrs in business not one problem with pop ups....
theconcreteguys 1 year ago
@theconcreteguys
Too bad you don't serve Cincinnati.
stevekennedy77 1 year ago
@theconcreteguys Bullshit!
questconcrete 1 year ago
Anyone that tells you concrete won't crack or chip is lying to You!! There are many reasons why your concrete problems happened, my guess the finisher added to much water decreasing the strength of your concrete and used no rebar or your subgrade was shit and not compacted. But you have to expect some imperfections in concrete that's the beauty of it.
zaya9222 1 year ago
Thank you for sharing. This will be very helpful when I renovate my property.
awdiostuff 1 year ago
you are a bitchy old queen the contractor purchased the concrete from a supplier. the problem is the concrete. not the workmanship it has nothing to do with the freeze its expansive/reactive concrete. This problem does not only occur in stamped concrete but in any concrete. I have had it happen to me in CA and it doesn't freeze here. Now I add a disclaimer to my contract, as we all should in case of shit like this
cementhedd 1 year ago
Steve, you've go too much money my son !
johnymarder 1 year ago
Hello, censorsip.
johnymarder 1 year ago
I only hope you don't find yourself becoming one of them "popouts" yourself one day. LOL !
johnymarder 1 year ago
Pavers in Ohio aren't a good way to go unless you have a good base-12'-18' of stone. The cost is about double of stamped concrete. It doesn't sound like a bad mix; the defects would cover a more extensive area. It could be that an area set up fast and the stamping caused a small "crack'. Still looks good, but water can seep in and freeze in winter.
rquine1 1 year ago
your driveway can be repaired , why your contractor does not carry out simple remediel works is beyond me, i wish we in the uk could get paid so much , and our work is better than this example.
mcgregory1212 1 year ago
You do have alot of strong points, I agree with BDG6863, This is the ready mix plants fault, if you have extreamly hot summers and cold winters as you do in Ohio there is not much that can be done with the expansion and contraction of the aggreget in the concrete. Almost anywhere you will run into this problem, you can get away with stampped concrete in warm climates such as southern California and Florida, nearly everywere else you will run into the same problem.
sniper69714 2 years ago
thank you ,my driveway was poured on a 90 degree day. it set up to fast within a year it started chipping up like yours.i recomend pouring only on cooler days,less than70 degrees. thats all i have to say about that!
rotoclip 2 years ago
@rotoclip not tryin to pick bones but when u live in ohio you get laid off in the winter you only have nine months to bust ass and pour all that u can to survive if we only poured concrete on 70 degree partly cloudy days we would only work 10 days a year my friend
whiteguy2369 1 year ago
ABSOLUTLEY FANTASTIC. I commend you on the professionalism you have tshown. You maintained facts not emotion.
Unfortunately,if we follow your simple suggestions, we may not find a contractor willing to do the job. I completely agree with what you said, but not many contractors are willing to follow through with a "Binding Guarantee". They generally use vague wording as you leaded to with surface cracks.
Any chance you can change the title? so that more will view = Stamped concrete problems?
calvin4858 2 years ago
Will give your suggestion serious consideration. Am currently in the middle of my lawsuit at present. I do intend to put together another video and post it after suit settled, unless RKC and I come to an acceptable settlement. As you can imagine, he wants my video off the internet. Good luck with your negotiations.
stevekennedy3 2 years ago
Another thing you might want to consider is how windy it is and how cold and hot it can be in your environment before getting stamped concrete. There is a lot of variables with this especially stamped work. Another thing you might want to look at is the actual type of cement there are you using whether it is ash grove , fly ash, ling high or however you say that. These all have major influence on your concrete. especially stamped because of the little crevasse that can cause chips.
bigjon6666 2 years ago
Pavers is the way to go. Pavers have a compression ratio of 8,000 lbs a sq. inch, Compared to concrete which is only 2,000 lbs per sq inch. Concrete cracks and heaves while pavers look great for many years and require little maintenance. Pavers transfer weight equally through out and the bricks rarely have defects. if a brick somehow cracked you could easily replace it, if stamped concrete cracks its not easy to fix.
PhillyB217 2 years ago
the higher the aggregate the higher the lbs per sq inch you can get concrete up to 10000 lbs per sq inch do some research there bud iam doing a drive way now that has 5000 lbs sq inch
trevor288 1 year ago
should have went with exposed.
pghpit 2 years ago
Your problem is with the ready mix company not the installer. Have a core sample taken and both pressure tested quality tested by Grace Cement.
bgd6863 2 years ago
Thank you very much for posting this great information, I am in the process of getting stamped driveway and I would consider all ur recommendation in this video.
Mesry7r 2 years ago
should have went with pavers
jason300359 2 years ago
better business bureau haha. just do it yourself.
adamgrote 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
thx for info .. good luck
ohioafc 2 years ago
I have never put salt on the driveway and more than half of the pop outs are where there is no auto traffic at all. Salt is NOT the answer as I am gone much of the winter and don't drive in bad weather. I just got a very bad batch of concrete with very poor quality aggregate.
stevekennedy3 2 years ago
salt salt salt salt salt need i say more? i bet this guy salted his concrete like crazy,,!!!!!!!!!!
gazaking777 2 years ago
Comment removed
europeanstoneworkers 2 years ago
If you made all of the changes to my contract, I would walk away from this client and most other contractors would too. Demands such as this typically indicate a customer who is "looking for a fight". If you do get a contractor to agree to all of these stipulations, you're probably working with someone new to the business or on the edge of surviving and won't be around when you go to claim your lb of flesh.
billgrelmonte 2 years ago
I think RKC did a NICE JOB!!! you are one of the picky ass clients that think they know it all, You know why your sidewalk and porch did not pop? Because you do not drive your salty ass car on it, Yes.. your car dropped salt from the road on your driveway and that made the pops and will eat through the antiquing, You seem like one of the customers that can not swallow the $25k you spent now you want to bitch and moan for your own wrong doing... I would dump 55 gal of used oil on your driveway
mvadinan540 2 years ago 5
Absolutley steller video..I am in the process of getting stamped for my driveway and this has helped me out extremely as far as signing this contract!..Sue the contractor as you are right on this, if the concrete company had any balls they would split with the contractor who did this and move on..
billblue36 2 years ago
This is wonderful information.. Thanks
senragproject 2 years ago
If you have any questions concerning your driveway, please call Powell's Concrete at 2526381732.
77chrisgrant 2 years ago
The soft aggregate being in the concrete retains water in the concrete and causes pop ups. The Increte and the ready mix company should be aware of this. As far a your antiquing on your driveway, being a increte distributor installer we have ran into simular problems that requires hands on from the contractor to come to a resolution. If the driveway stopped popping, then it could be repaired by color hardner and cosmetics to make it look good.
77chrisgrant 2 years ago
RKC, has refused to even confront Hilltop, the concrete supplier, about the poor quality. I have no choice but to go after the contractor as my contract is with him only. I agree the fault is Hilltop, but they refused to acknowledge me directly as their contact was with RKC. I intend to make the public aware of how RKC treats customers, refusing to stand behind the quality but to protect the relationship with Hilltop instead.
stevekennedy3 2 years ago
The contractor did nice work, no need to drag him through the mud. The concrete supplier is the one who should bite the bullet to make the customer happy. I have worked on both ends and in no way can the contractor foresee this type of defect. Shale is a major problem in limestone aggregates and must be noticed by the people at the batch plant and returned, or they should accept liability for risking quality. I dont agree with everything the contractor did but take it easy on him.
john84uab 2 years ago
Also, unless my math is off. 1 square inch per 12960 square inches. I think you are asking a little much.
MrPaver1 2 years ago
I am a contractor in the Cincy area. I have 1 driveway that 1 of the pours has more pops than normal. We are at the mercy of the suppliers. Also the winters in Cincy and the salt contribute to the problem. Even if you don't salt, it does fall off the car as you drive in. Are there more pops in the apron area or where you park a vehicle? I do question RKC for not patching the pops.We also do pavers. For the same price as stamped, I pour a 5" concrete base with fiber and rebar then put pavers on
MrPaver1 2 years ago
About 280 square yards.
stevekennedy77 2 years ago
well thats fair. if the concretor is silly enof 2 not go after the concrete supplier witch whos at folt then thats hes problem. good luck with solving there problem anyway mate by the way how many square meters was the job
Grant0247 2 years ago
im a concrete contractor i think it is a good job u should always stand by your work but u cant create mirricals not everything in this world can be perfict. if u r going 2 take any1 to court it should be the concrete company that supplyd the concrete
Grant0247 2 years ago
You are correct that the problem is bad aggregate from the concrete supplier, but my contract is with the contractor. I asked him to go after the concrete supplier, but he refused. My only legal option is to go after the contractor.
stevekennedy77 2 years ago
Wow. Its concrete, Not stone. You had what before that? Asphalt? concrete is almost as ghetto. Its not permanant. Its a cheaper alternative to permanant. I would wager that none of your friends or family would have noticed any defects. You are a nut. Its like moving from a condo of straw to a split -level of sticks and complaining about sagging after a good rain.
sarapaxtonfan08 2 years ago
Great video Steve. Thank You for this very useful information. Your home is beautiful.
dlr1241 2 years ago
Also - Steve, I hope you post the results of your lawsuit. Thanks again.
muskiefan1 2 years ago
Thank you for your video, this is an excellent venue to share information/experiences with contractors. We had a stamped concrete sidewalk put in a few years ago by this same contractor (RKC Increte Systems) and are having similar problems. We are also having problems getting them to come back out to repair. I cannot find another contractor in Cincinnati who installs/repairs this product - is anyone aware of another contractor in Cincinnati?
muskiefan1 2 years ago
I'm glad this video is out there!
Dividend 2 years ago
Stellar job on the video. Superbly documented and produced. Extremely educational and helpful for those of us planning on purchasing stamped concrete. Additionally, very helpful in general to realize what is required to protect one's self, as a homeowner or general consumer. Well done Sir. Thank you and best to you securing some remediation with your issues.
warcog 2 years ago
Thank you for the kind words.
stevekennedy77 2 years ago
Handsome shoes.
HayateAce 2 years ago
We live here in Guelph, Ontario, CANADA and had patterned concrete since 2005 and every year we have similar problems. Fortunately, our contractor comes to fix the problem every year. The only thing is it is a big inconvenience. It looks like this will be an annual problem. Better to invest on interlocking bricks.
gcheng537 2 years ago
awsome handwork !! sad that people tryin to make a living get problems like this cous of the weather/concrete : / i understand you making this video . .
but i still think it is nice work :)
yo981 2 years ago
i do stamped concrete for a living in michigan,,,,and we have some of the worst clay grounds in the country,,,,,you get 6 months to a year here,,,,if this clown started all these demands.....id say have a nice day,,,,,call someone else,,,hes all trouble,,,,,the missing chunks of concrete ive never seen b4,,,so i dont think id have trouble with it,,,,but it is mother nature,,,look at our roads,,,there all jacked up,,,,some things are out of our control,,,,go blacktop to be safe
xrisman 2 years ago
Well, by doing that it soaks into the concrete and then happens to pop when it's diluted. Happens to concrete everywhere in these area's. Now, you want the guy to replace the concrete because of a freeze. Sorry, you knew this happens if you did any research. It's not there job to maintian against mother nature.
mverick160 2 years ago
bingo,,,,ur 100% right....
xrisman 2 years ago
On the poping also, if you happen to live in a freeze thaw zone you also happen to have ice melt put down. It's properties are that it decreases the temp that water will freeze. Meaning, instead of 32 degree freezes it won't freeze till 20 degrees.
mverick160 2 years ago
Concrete cracks. That's a guarantee. The prooblem with poping in the Plant. You are giving the contractor a bad name. On sealers. Re antique and re seal. Problem settled. If you didn't know that, you didn't do your reasearch very well.
mverick160 2 years ago
I do like the driveway it is awesome looking. the pits would tick me off too. just get it fixed and maintain it, that is probably your best course of action. I was dissapointed with my stamped patio too, and wish I had gone w/ regular concrete. now I must also learn how to correct fading and flaking. (no pitting yet) but I do have cracking:( ...so best to learn how to fix it and post what you learn please. good luck.
roger5845 2 years ago
O.K.! I watched the video 3x's and have a few thoughts. (opinions) first of all, when you are sold something, you expect it to look like what your buying. So I agree with the gentleman here, because when you look at the glossy photo, they should also explained what problems may come along with it. In that vane I would say that the popouts need fixed, and the flaking also needs fixed...and that these issues should have been discussed and talked about at the time of purchase....next post