A good concrete contractor gives you a written scope, proof of licence and insurance where required, and a payment schedule tied to the work. Here is what Tennessee requires and what to ask.
How do I find a good concrete contractor?
To find a good concrete contractor, start with people who will show you finished work near you that is a few years old. Fresh concrete always looks good. Three winters show the truth. Then check the licence on the State of Tennessee's licence search, ask for an insurance certificate, and compare at least two written quotes line by line.
Does a concrete contractor need to be licensed and insured in Tennessee?
It depends on the job size and county. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors requires a contractor's licence for projects of $25,000 and up. For remodeling work from $3,000 to $24,999, a state home improvement licence is required in nine counties: Bradley, Davidson, Haywood, Hamilton, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby. So in Nashville and in Rutherford County towns such as Smyrna and La Vergne, a typical driveway replacement falls under that law. The total counts both labor and materials. The Nashville Concrete Guys is licensed and insured. Ask any contractor for the licence number and a certificate of liability insurance.
What should I ask a concrete contractor before hiring?
- What thickness, base depth and reinforcement are in this price?
- What mix will you order, and is it air-entrained for outdoor work?
- Where will the joints go, and when will they be cut?
- Who places the Tennessee 811 request?
- What happens if you hit rock or soft ground?
- Where does the water go when it rains?
- Who handles any permit, HOA form or right of way approval?
- What is the payment schedule and what do you guarantee?
What should a written estimate include? Is it binding if they hit something unexpected?
A written estimate should include the measured area, thickness, base, steel, joints, finish, tear-out and haul-away, cleanup, start window and payment terms. Whether it is binding depends on its wording. A signed contract with a fixed price holds unless it has a clause for hidden conditions. Around Nashville the common hidden conditions are rock, soft fill and buried debris, so a fair contract names them and sets a unit price for each. An estimate marked as approximate is not a fixed price.
How much deposit is normal? The contractor wants 50 percent up front in cash with no contract.
Tennessee's home improvement law puts a limit on this. Under Tenn. Code Ann. 62-6-510, a home improvement contractor may not take a deposit of more than one third of the contract price at or before signing, unless they furnish a bond or the owner agrees to a different payment schedule. A request for 50 percent in cash with no contract is a reason to walk away. Cash with no paper leaves you no proof of what was agreed or paid. Pay by a method that leaves a record and tie later payments to finished stages.
What are the red flags?
- No written contract, or a one-line quote.
- Cash only, or a large payment before any work.
- No licence number for a job that needs one.
- Pressure to sign today, or leftover concrete from another job.
- No mention of base, steel or joints.
- No interest in where the water drains.
What warranty should I expect?
Ask for the warranty in writing and read what it covers. Workmanship warranties in this trade commonly cover defects such as settling from a poor base, scaling and major cracking for a stated period. Hairline shrinkage cracks, damage from deicer, tree roots and heavy trucks are normally excluded. We do not print a warranty term on this page. Ask us what applies to your job when we quote it.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped answering. What can I do?
Write to the contractor at every address you have, state the amount paid and set a date to start work or refund. If the contractor has stopped answering for good, file a complaint with the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors and the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and consider General Sessions Court. Keep the contract, texts and proof of payment. This is general information, not legal advice.
How do I know they have done stamped work before?
Ask for addresses of stamped jobs at least two years old and go and look at them. Check for even color, straight pattern lines, clean joints and a sealer that is not peeling. Ask which crew member runs the stamps, since stamped work depends on timing and one experienced finisher. If they have really done this before, they will have photos and addresses ready.
What if the crew hits a hidden water line?
Work stops and the line is repaired before anything else. Who pays depends on whether the line was marked. Tennessee 811 marks public utilities, not private lines such as the water service from the meter to the house or a sprinkler main. If you know where your private lines run, tell the crew. A good contract says how unmarked private lines are handled.
The only real price is one written after we have measured your site. Call (615) 436-8921 or text us a photo of the area for a free on-site estimate.