When choosing a contractor for your dream project, you want to know you're working with someone who understands quality. Ferrazza Cement Construction has been going above and beyond to assure only the highest-quality projects and experiences for our customers since 1972. We know excellence, and we want to make sure our clients know it, too. That's why we've provided this list of questions for vetting a potential cement contractor. Go ahead and compare us! We're sure you'll see the Ferrazza difference!
Construction Credentials
Are they Licensed? Are they Insured?
When a contractor is licensed and insured, it means that they have passed accredited competency tests. The insurance also helps to protect the homeowner from permitting issues and can even help in the event that recourse is needed after a job is completed.
Ferrazza Concrete Construction is both licensed & insured, so you can be assured that your project will be installed professionally and without threat of a costly mistake.
What's Their BBB Rating?
The Better Business Bureau sets standards for ethical business behavior and helps customers identify trustworthy businesses. We have been BBB accredited since 1997 and have an A+ rating.
Do They Have the Right Training?
The contractor you choose should be trained and experienced in working on the type of project you want. Laying a walkway is quite different than laying a whole patio, with stairs and a fire pit! We have extensive experience in a wide range of decorative and stamped concrete projects, and have the portfolio to back it up.
Methods and Previous Work
The methods used to complete decorative concrete projects are crucial to attaining not only a beautiful finished project, but also one that is durable. Make sure your contractor can satisfactorily explain and prove competency in the following areas.
Is Their Mix Quality?
Concrete is mixed for a number of different applications. These applications must be prepared in a specific way, with the proper mix, in order to achieve minimum strength requirements and durability.
Our mixes are all prepared in accordance with the ACI (American Concrete Institute) and either meet or exceed standards with the best practices.
Are They Using a Proper Base?
Exterior concrete slabs are all prepared with a 21AA base, or crushed stone base, with proper compaction and slope. Without the proper base, concrete can droop, crack, or become otherwise malformed. We follow very strict guidelines to ensure that each of our projects has a proper base.
Is the Concrete Slope Correct?
All concrete should be installed with the proper slope, away from any structures, so no water damage will occur.
When installing concrete, we ensure that it's built with the ideal slope. We have the experience needed to achieve difficult pours by not only creating slopes that direct water away from structures, but also utilizing the installation of drains to assist in water removal.
What Concrete Forms Do They Have?
Your contractor should be able to achieve any shape or size with the use of concrete forms-- not just squares and rectangles!
We have experience using concrete forms to create just about any shape and size project, from simple square patios to long, curving pathways, and everything in between.
How Do They Reinforce Their Concrete?
The are two typical forms of concrete reinforcement: wire mesh and rebar reinforcement. Wire mesh is a form of grid steel that is embedded into the concrete to improve concrete strength & durability. Much like wire mesh, rebar reinforcement is a form of steel that is embedded into the concrete to help improve strength, control shrinkage, and tie concrete together to help in unsure areas where ground has been disturbed. Using only one of these may lead a project to be built on an improper foundation.
We use a combination of these methods depending on your unique project and landscape.
Do They Install Control Joints?
A variety of things cause concrete to crack, including temperature changes and shrinkage due to drying. Control joints are put in place to simply help the concrete crack in a straight line instead of randomly. Failing to install control joints, or failing to install them intelligently, can destroy the design of your concrete long before its life ought to be up.
We install control joints by saw cut or joint tool. Placement of these control joints complies with the ACI or our best practice methods.
Do They Have Enough Stamps?
With a smaller number of stamps, the job looks sloppier. We come prepared with enough stamps to cover large areas. This helps us stay ahead of the concrete and gives us time to fix joints where stamps come together. This makes our decorative concrete look seamless.
Can They Get Proper Permits?
While not all jobs require permits, there are some jobs that do. As a licensed contractor, we are able to attain any permits needed quickly.
Please contact us if you have any questions about what to look for in a contractor or to learn more about our services.