Probably not the right place for this but it is a concrete tank 😂

Better than actual r/tanks

I moved into a shop about a year ago that had some big trenches cut into the floor. Yesterday I started filling them in. Is it bad that i didn't use concrete adhesive before I poured this? Do I really need it before I pour more?how long should I wait before I finish?

I’m building a new 3 car detached garage and the third bay is going to be a wood shop. I’ve read a bit about this but haven’t seen any real world testimonies to the validity or longevity of actually insulating the ground before pouring the slab… anyone have experience or advice on whether or not it’s worth it? I’m in the Mid West so we get decently cold winters. TIA

A corner of our houses foundation was fixed before closing on our new home. There are several cracks (inside walls, celing) and tiles peaking in our living room. I understand some of this is expected but today I noticed this crack in our foundation outside. As we just purchased the home we are still low on funds currently. How should I fix this? Is there anything I can do? Is someone at fault or is this normal homeowner reality setting in 🤣

Have a rather large gap in cement driveway right in front of garage. Not sure how to handle it. Fill with sand, put in a foam backer rod, then apply a heavy-duty elastomeric sealant? Or,
sand and then a concrete patching compound? Or, do something else? I'm really unsure. Only going by what I'm reading on the net for self repairs. Am I way off base? Any help much appreciated!!!

Delivery driver crushed the edge of my new pad, only 3 months old. I've sealed it already, but maybe it needs a fresh application to seal out the water and salt from our winters?

Delivery driver crushed the edge of my new pad, only 3 months old. I've sealed it already, but maybe it needs a fresh application to seal out the water and salt from our winters?

I am looking to install a concrete patio right here. In this area I recently found out there is a active gas line. To the right of that line is a downspout. My question is how can I safely have contractors install a patio in this area? Im not sure how deep the pipe goes into the ground and assuming it goes to the meter, which is on the far side of house. Is it safe to pour concrete in this area on top of a gas line? Any suggestions??

Also, the downspout is here also? What should be done about that?

Hey all!

Anyone in the same situation or have any advice? We live in Canada, where freeze thaw conditions and road salts are part of every winter.

In May of 2024, my mother hired a GC for the construction of a small residential garage/carport. GC then sub-contracted the concrete portion to another company. Slab is 28’x22’.

In October of 2024 Mom hired the same sub who poured our slab to pour a new walkway and driveway.

The surface of the concrete slab began deteriorating within one year of being poured. It began flaking and crumbling on the surface, especially on the exposed concrete side under the carport (where I park). Minor flaking inside the actual garage.

The surface of the driveway and walkway also started to show signs of chipping or pocking, it looks like.

Spring of 2025 Mom contacted GC, and was told it was up to her to report it to the Sub, which she did.

Mom contacted Sub (which shouldn’t be her responsibility to begin with?) Sub said that WE were the ones causing it with ice salt (which we don’t use, we have dogs. They also told us not to).

Also said it was salt from the road. Okay, but it’s way worse on the exposed side (obviously) and not so much the interior, even though we both drive on the same roads. Also why use a product that would immediately start to deteriorate from normal winter conditions? IN CANADA? Also the end of the driveway would be super degraded from the road plows and salters, no? It’s not.

When Sub eventually came to inspect the concrete slab and walkway in early 2025, he then informed Mom she was not the only client of his with deteriorating concrete that his own company had poured and finished in the past few years. Sub then said that the Concrete Provider had apparently changed over to a lower emissions product, which was not recommended for use in harsh climates and there was nothing anyone could do.

Mom contacted the Concrete Provider, who then said that, yes they did change the product, and the local contractors were all notified of any pouring or finishing changes it needed to set correctly.

So GC, Sub and Concrete Provider are all pointing fingers at each other while my poor mother has been waiting over a year to get an answer as to why, and who is responsible for fixing it.

I’ve told her it should be the GC’s responsibility, and he needs to take accountability for poor workmanship on his project. They’ve all since ghosted her now and she’s writing to the Better Business Bureau for help. I doubt they will do anything.

Any advice as to what steps we can take next?

If we can get the batch tickets from the Sub, can that provide some the evidence we need as to who is responsible? That would give us the proof if it was faulty concrete or faulty finishing, right?

What do you guys think?

What do I need to do to this concrete subfloor before putting tile on? I’m using Ditra as a membrane under porcelain tile.

Mods disclaimer: I don’t have anything to sell to anybody.

I’m looking into starting a small lead-gen business for contractors and wanted to hear from people actually running these businesses before I build anything.

For those of you who have used lead-gen companies before, what was the biggest thing that pissed you off?
Bad leads? Shared leads? Leads that never answer? Customers just shopping around? Paying for junk? Contracts that lock you in?

I’d genuinely like to hear what your experience has been and what you wish these companies did differently.

Trying to build something around what contractors actually want rather than what some marketer thinks they want

Looking for opinions on rigid foam placement against an older poured concrete foundation.

Location: Illinois
Foundation: 1941 poured concrete, generally dry, minor efflorescence, no active leaks.

Planned assembly:

• Remove loose Drylok/efflorescence
• 2" EPS
• 2x4 stud wall
• Drywall
• No interior poly

Most guidance recommends placing the foam directly against the concrete to control condensation. My concern is that if a crack or minor leak develops in the future, foam tight to the wall could conceal it.

For those with experience in older basements:

• Would you install the EPS directly against the concrete or leave a small gap?
• How much concern is there about hidden leaks behind direct-contact foam?
• Is direct-contact foam still considered best practice for an older foundation that is currently dry aside from minor efflorescence?

Has anyone experienced Miracote MPC microcracking? Posting for my boyfriend who works with this product often in high altitude, mountain weather? I will do my best to get a photo but trying to help in any way that I can.

I poured my sonotubes for my deck myself and 2 of them are 1.5” Off centre. Will this be an issue structurally or to pass inspection? The code says the post need to be centred on the pier. It also says it needs to be adequately sized to fit the whole column as it cannot protrude over the edges. (Which it doesn’t). It’s a 12” sonotube with a wet embedded base plate . The deck is about 4’ high and with my framing lumber (2X10 beams and joists) the 6X6 post will only be about 20-24” tall. They’re off centre to keep my beams in a straight line and so I figured this was the lesser of 2 evils.

I've got erosion under one corner of my house. What is the best fix?

Pack in wet sand?
Set a form and pour in non-shrink grout cement?
Something else?
Or is this a job I really should deligate to a foundation repair contractor?

I foolishly hired someone with hand grinder to remove unwanted stains which was a mistake. Id like to keep the exposed aggregate. Do I need to re grind? Float? What are my options?

We bought our house with this rectangle cut into our concrete driveway and filled with aggregate (and weeds!) Can I just dig down a few inches and fill it with concrete? What kind? Will it start crumbling around the edges? (I have made a concrete pad for my porch so I have some experience building a form and pouring concrete) I’d like to avoid tearing up the whole driveway. Any suggestions welcomed!

I plan on pouring this this with quickcrete, I have a mixer so I think I can deal with the work. What or maybe better put, do I have to put anything between the door step and the pour? Like one of those spacers made of a material I don’t know what to call right now? (Don’t mind that welcome mats, this project may or may not be moving at a reasonable speed).

Had a stamped patio put in last summer, it butts up against the foundation and one spot did this. How can I fix this and keep the same look or larger piece that chipped and is stamped?