Important Things to Consider When Selecting a Concrete Raising Contractor
Anytime you call a contractor or receive an estimate, you are being marketed to. Unsurprisingly, most contractors will tend to highlight assets, not liabilities. As a consumer, it is important to know what to look out for when getting estimates. We at Acme Concrete Raising & Repair take pride in putting our customers’ best interests first. After all, we are consumers too. To follow is some information we hope you find helpful:
Demand a Polyurethane Specialist!
When looking to hire a company to raise concrete slabs with polyurethane at your property, we believe it is wise to select a contractor whose primary focus is doing just that – raising concrete with polyurethane. More and more common, are multi-service companies providing concrete raising estimates as a sideline to their main business focus. We’ve seen epoxy coaters, landscapers, mudjackers, and even waterproofing companies try to make a go at adding polylifting, or polyjacking as an additional service. The results are not great. You wouldn’t hire a waterproofing company to do electrical work (or raise your concrete) right?
What happens when these companies fail to provide well-seasoned workers with the necessary experience to raise your concrete? They fail miserably with your concrete but continue to profit from their main business focus. They do not rely on their ability to raise concrete. Acme Concrete Raising & Repair is not one of those types of companies. We have years of experience and thousands of successful projects under our belt, and our main focus is on raising sunken concrete with poly. We wouldn’t be here if we weren’t good at it.
Insurance
Probably one of the most important things to look for when shopping for a contractor is proper insurance. Experience and “know-how” are essential; however, the risk and potential for financial loss that uninsured contractors can pose to clients is a serious matter, one often exceeding the value of most concrete repair projects.
It is vital that concrete raising contractors carry Workers Compensation, General Liability, and Commercial Auto insurance.
While accidents may be rare, employees should always be well trained and knowledgeable in dealing with accidents. Unfortunately, an accident can occur and a worker may become injured while on your property. This is true with nearly any service type business. If the contractor does not have a worker’s compensation policy to cover medical and lost time expenses, the injured employee could potentially sue the homeowner for those costs. In extreme cases, lawsuits seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution could be filed.
Quality of Work
After making sure a contractor has the proper insurance policies limiting your exposure to risk and liability, you will want to check on that contractor’s track record. Aside from the company’s ability to perform the work itself, it is important to have confidence you will be happy with the transaction. Here are some things to consider:
Is the company responsive and polite to customers? Does the company listen to concerns and answer questions, or do they make people feel rushed? Are they proposing a warranty period that exceeds their time in business? Does the company provide enough information to make you feel comfortable with their manner of operation? Are they cost-competitive? Do they show up on time? Did they do what they said they would?
Here are some ways to determine if you want to hire a particular company:
- Better Business Bureau – The Better Business Bureau helps protect consumers by providing customer reviews and assisting in conflict resolution. Before hiring a contractor, first, make sure they are an accredited BBB member and take note of any complaints consumers have made against them. Acme Concrete is an accredited member of the BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois.
- Online Reviews – People who take the time to submit online reviews do so because they feel strongly about what they’re saying. Question and answer scenarios are not typically supported by review sites, however, online reviews can provide a great deal of insight into someone’s actual experience with a contractor.
- References – Any company you consider hiring should be able to quickly and easily provide names and phone numbers of prior customers who would be willing to share their experiences with that company.
- Videos – A company that is serious and proud of the services they provide will have videos showing projects being completed. A well-experienced company should be able to produce video of past projects that closely resemble your particular situation.
- Social Presence – We recommend choosing a company that is secure enough to represent its business within social media outlets such as Youtube.
State Registration
A quick and easy way to verify if someone is a “real company” is by checking them with the State. An official company will be registered with the State of Illinois. Registering with the State as a corporation (Corp or Inc) or Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) is how a company receives a Tax Identification Number (TIN). A TIN is required for a company to pay employment taxes on their employees’ behalf. It also enables them to bid on State contracts and open business bank accounts.
Checking to see if a concrete raising company is indeed “real” is easy, fast, and free. Simply go to the Illinois Secretary of State website and click on “Business”, then select “Corporation/LLC Search”. Click the search button under “Corporation/LLC Search/Certificate of Good Standing”. A search window will appear where you can easily enter a company’s name to find out if they are registered.
You can also request a potential contractor to produce a “Certificate of Good Standing” issued by the Secretary of State.
Technology & Repair Methods
Due to technological advances, modern concrete raising using polyurethane foam is currently available and it is far superior to old “mudjacking” methods. When looking to hire a concrete raising contractor, make sure you understand which method they are proposing. Feel free to view this Wikipedia page discussing some of the differences between the old mudjacking method VS polyurethane concrete raising:
Wikipedia.org: Concrete Leveling
For an even more in-depth comparison as well as additional information, we welcome you to view our website:
Acme Concrete Raising & Repair: The Easy Choice!
Acme Concrete Raising & Repair is fully insured and incorporated in the State of Illinois. We have a great social presence, excellent reviews, and references we are happy to provide upon request. If you have settled concrete needing raised, we most likely have video of a project completed similar to yours!
Call us today to schedule a free, no-hassle estimate! (815) 264-2200
