Commercial & Residential Concrete Repairs Contractors Arlington TX

Questions to Ask Professional Concrete Contractors

Hiring concrete contractors can be difficult due to lack of time or experience. If you have never had to hire a concrete contractor before, you might not know what to expect and, therefore, may not know the proper questions to ask when looking for experiencing great concrete contractors. While it is easy to assume that all concrete contractors are made equally, this is a dangerous assumption to make. All contractors vary in quality due to skill, training, professionalism, and experience. You should not hire a concrete contractor until you are sure they go above and beyond in all of these categories, like our concrete contractors here at Omega Masonry, for example.

Choosing The Best Concrete Contractors In Your Area

To discern the quality of a concrete contractor in your area, you should first ask the strength of the mix they use. They should be using a mix of 4000 psi compressive strength at least, as this is what is required of most concrete jobs—excluding footing and walls.

You should also ask if the concrete will be reinforced. While not all concrete projects require reinforcement, projects like driveways that will carry large amounts of weight daily should be reinforced to avoid damage over time. Adding rebar to reinforce jobs might add to the initial cost of the project, but it pays for itself in the long run when it comes to longevity of the job.

You might also benefit from asking how long the job should take. While patios and driveways usually do not take more than a few days, some contractors will start on one day and finish on the second day, unfortunately, that may be two weeks later. To make sure that does not happen, ask the concrete contractor when they believe their job will start and finish. Because our concrete contractors here at Omega Masonry are so experienced at this job, they should be able to give you an accurate time estimate.

Similar to wanting the job done all at once, you probably wish the job to be completed as soon as possible, not months from now. The only problem with this is that good contractor are usually booked a few weeks in advance. If you are interested in booking an appointment, start calling ahead of time to avoid the wait.

You should also ask what the area will look like once the job has been completed. While this is not a commonly asked question, it is an important one. Sloppy contractors can ruin an entire backyard just by installing one small patio. Our Omega Masonry contractors keep the area nice and clean while we work, harming as little landscaping as possible during the process.

You should also ask for pictures of previously completed jobs, as a concrete contractor like ours here at Omega Masonry should always have a portfolio of before and after photos available.

If you are interested in hiring the professional concrete contractors, give us a call today for more information. We can help you set up an appointment to begin the design process.

What You Need to Know About Stucco Repair

There are many good reasons why homeowners prefer to install a stucco finish on their walls, as these finishes are extremely durable and can strengthen your home’s insulation. When installed right, they can last for many decades. Stucco repair is also generally affordable if it’s carried out before extreme damage occurs.

The cost of installing stucco is worth it because aside from better installation, it also makes your home fire-resistant and soundproof. With this type of finish, you’re technically protected from all the elements so if it does get damaged for whatever reason, it’s important that you fix it right away.

Types of Stucco Repair Issues

There are many reasons why you want to call the professionals to do some stucco repair work for you. The most common issues with stucco are listed below and if observe them on your wall or wherever you have stucco finish installed, it’s time to call the repair experts.

Stucco Repair for Water Damage

Water damage must be one of the most expensive and most common types of stucco problems. Rarely does water seep into the stucco finish but if they do, then that part of the wall must be in contact with water most of the time.

In most homes, the walls are protected by the flashing installed on the roof. The job of the flashing is to keep rainwater from getting into the walls and joints of your home. If they were damaged or incorrectly installed, then the water will trickle down into the stucco finish and that’s when moisture starts to seep in. When it does, structural damage happens. You’ll see cracks in the stucco finish and if you choose to ignore it for a long time, mold will start to proliferate.

Stucco Repair for Cracks

Going back to cracks, there are other reasons why a stucco finish show cracks. If your home experienced no water damage but you see cracks around the doors and windows, then the problem may have to do with seismic activities. This means that your home shifts or settles slightly due to some underground movements.

Aside from that, cracks may also be caused by installation errors. If the stucco mix has too much water or if it fails to cure properly, cracking will appear not long after the finishing was installed. If you think that this is the case with your wall, then you have to call the contractors who installed the stucco to provide you with stucco repair services, especially if it’s covered by the warranty.

Stucco Repair for Stains

Staining is also a problem with the stucco and this happens when there are contaminants in the rainwater that splashed onto the walls. While you may think that staining is not as severe as the other stucco issues, think again. Staining means the wall came in contact with enough water to leave ugly stains. This will cause the stucco to deteriorate after some time. If you have issues with staining, do call the experts to provide stucco repair as soon as possible.