• Ask your friends, acquaintances and family for recommendations. Call or e-mail several contractors in your area. Note their response times.
• Meet with the contractor at your home. It is important that they see the jobsite and do the appropriate measuring.
• Ask lots of questions. Concrete projects are a big investment and very permanent. Make sure you feel good about the answers.
• Get written estimates. Consider timeliness and the completeness of the bids. Make sure producing a sample is included. Discuss any special situations about your project.
• Compare apples to apples, of all estimates. Verify construction procedures, start dates, and job duration. Verify all inclusions or omissions.
• Do your due diligence. Check the contractor’s references, the Better Business Bureau, and make sure they are insured.
• Sign a written contract and avoid verbal agreements. A good contract will include a complete description of services to be provided, from surface preparation to final finishing. Make sure you establish well-defined contract terms and warranties. It should also include a payment schedule that you and the contractor are comfortable with.
• If possible be around when the work is done. This is especially important with color, but all concrete projects can benefit from your presence. This way, you can answer questions and help keep the pour efficient. You can also watch the process and make sure the contractor is following proper concreting procedures.
• Pay on time according to the payment schedule.

For Color Contractors

• Do your research. Search the web for colors, textures, and patterns so that you know what you want. Start with our Pure Color palette and look at our Home Design Gallery for ideas.
• Make sure the contractor specializes in the type of work you want done. Be wary of a company that professes to be the best at multiple applications.
• Ask about the contractor’s training and experience. Look at samples of their completed work at other houses.
• Get and approve a sample. Make sure that the sample was poured no earlier than 28 days when you review it. Samples allow you to make sure that you and the contractor are on the same page.