Finding a Phoenix Concrete Contractor

Concrete isn’t just for garage floors anymore. It’s become quite popular in recent years as a favorite material for many applications, such interior floors, kitchen counter tops and a number of decorative purposes. Of course concrete is still popular for its many traditional uses such as driveways, sidewalks, foundations and retaining walls. Due to its strength and versatility, concrete is considered very environmentally friendly in an eco sensitive world. If you’re planning a concrete project you need to find the best Phoenix concrete contractor available.

When considering a concrete contractor for any project it's important to remember that concrete work encompasses a vast area of expertise. Obviously you wouldn't hire a contractor that paves concrete driveways to install your concrete countertop. Your choice of a Phoenix concrete contractor really depends on the job you are trying to accomplish. Just remember to look for a concrete contractor that handles your specific type of project.

Where to Look for Best Phoenix Concrete Contractor

Hiring a Phoenix concrete contractor is really no different than hiring any other contractor. Start by checking your local yellow pages. Don’t be swayed by big flashy ads. While big companies might have the manpower, a smaller company may have the time to give special attention to your project. Ask relatives, friends and next door neighbors if they have hired a concrete contractor in the past. Often word of mouth is the best way to find a good Phoenix concrete contractor.

Do a search online. You’ll find several websites that maintain a directory of qualified local concrete contractors. The site will usually supply all the necessary contact information including address and phone number along with the contractor’s area of expertise. Sometimes they may contain images of projects or testimonials from satisfied customers. If the Phoenix concrete contractor is large enough they may even have their own web site. This is usually handy because it gives you some detailed information about the company.

Interviewing the Phoenix Concrete Contractor

Once you have a few concrete contractors in mind, you should call each one to verify that they can handle the type of project you have in mind. Remember there are areas of specialization within the field and you don’t want to have a foundation contractor drive all the way out to your home only to find out you want talk about a colored concrete kitchen floor. Once you do pinpoint a Phoenix concrete contractor that seems right for the job ask them to do an onsite inspection to discuss your project with you.

Be specific. If you aren’t able to get your ideas across to the Phoenix concrete contractor you could be very unhappy with the end results. Having images from magazines or brochures of projects close to what you have in mind can always be helpful. The concrete contractor can also show you some samples to help you determine the color and texture you’d like most.

Make certain the Phoenix concrete contractor is licensed. Most states require that contractors be licensed. This assures you that they are trained and skilled within the trade and helps prevent you from being taken advantage of by those posing as professionals with the only intention of taking your money and running. Write down the license number and call the state board of contractors licensing to verify that the license is legitimate.

Also check to see if the Phoenix concrete contractor has general liability insurance as well as workers comp. It’s imperative that anytime someone else is working on your property that they be covered by workers compensation. If there is no insurance you may find it impossible to recover a loss for any damage to your property. If an employee is injured while on the job, you could be held liable for medical bills and other expenses which could run into millions of dollars. It’s simply not worth the risk. Call the insurance carrier and the department of workers compensation to make sure all necessary policies are in place and up to date.

Requesting a Bid from a Phoenix Concrete Contractor

After interviewing several concrete contractors it’s time to ask for bids from those you are most interested in working with. Each bid should be submitted in writing and include a detailed outline of the project and how it will be accomplished. It should also include itemized costs for materials and labor. By giving you a breakdown of the pricing you can see which bids offer the best savings. You’ll also want a completion date included if the project is going to take longer than a day or two.

Compare your bids to determine which Phoenix concrete contractor is going to be the best choice for your project. Most people tend to think that the idea behind getting bids from a contractor is to find the cheapest deal but the truth is, cheap is not always the best deal, especial where concrete is concerned, since if it isn’t handled properly it can crack and flake You’ll only be wasting your money if you don’t give some thought to the quality of service and materials you’ll be getting. You want the Phoenix concrete contractor bid that offers the best combination of price and service.

Before accepting any bid, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if the Phoenix concrete contractor has any complaints filed against him. Complaints can happen to the best of contractors simply due to the volume of work that they do. Find out what the complaints were and if they were resolved. If a job was done poorly or the concrete failed to hold up you might have second thoughts about hiring a specific concrete contractor.

Of course concrete is going to look great right after the project is completed but how is it going to look in a month or a year? Inferior concrete can crack and flake in a very short time but a professionally done job can last for years. The difference is in the materials and the level of experience of the concrete contractor you choose. When you make your final selection you want to know you’re choosing a Phoenix concrete contractor you can trust.