[Hamons]

Renovating a landscape that just had the concrete landscape curbing installed around the entire permimeter of the yard.

Damagd several small spaces doing the work today and even cracked one part all the way through.

Anybody have any expereince with htis -- I have never seen any that damaged as easy as this particular one.

Is it repairable by me or do I need to hire the company to come out and repair --


AS ALWAYS __ YOUR THOUGHTS ARE APPECIATED!

[HardDaysKnight]

How did you damage it? Did you have a skid-steer or other heavy machinery near it? What kind of work were you doing in that area.
It could be that there was a bad mix in the curbing material.
Too much sand in the mix, not enough water, etc.

[sleepy]

sounds like shoddy curbing to me 2. Fix it up as good as it was. Did you tell them yet? Or did they complain already?

[Hamons]

Have not told them yet.

Wheelbarrow damged a part, rock rolled over and hit it on part and Toro dingo bucket hit part.


I was pulling out tree stumps, rebuiling rock walls and putting in 20 yards compost.

[Inspired]

Depending on how it is mixed, sometimes very dry, concrete curbing can be very easily damaged before it has cured. The really decorative curbing can even be “scuffed” or “gouged” by the landscape install crews 24 to 36 hours after installation. We used to work with a contractor that installed some really interesting decorative curb and small patio combinations. They were all textured or shaped with multiple color combinations. The problem with it was we had to keep our guys away from it for at least 72 hours. Four days was better. Even then we made up little ramp / bridges to roll our wheel barrows over.

Ideally the landscape curbing guy should come in after the irrigation lines have been buried, finish grading has been completed, all boulders have been set and the trees are in. That way all you have left is sod, plants, sprinkler heads, drip completions and top dressing or gravel. Unfortunately that means sometimes you have to pull all or most of they crew off the job for a few days.

If the curbing is decorative, I would call the original contractor back to repair it. If it’s just square grey curb, you can probably repair it yourself if you have an employee with a little concrete finishing experience.

If your project manager is the home owner, I might suggest to him that he should pay for the repair since the curbing should have been scheduled later in the job. All concrete needs to cure before it can support anything heavy.

Hope that helps.

Bill

[Hamons]

This is not a new construction -- but rather a renovation.

Curbing was installed before I was ever brought into the mix.

Don't think it would sit well with me if homeowner had to pay -- if I was in his shoes I would be upset.

Wonder how much costs will be -- if you took all the nicks (4 or 5) they would be ina about a 25 foor area -- I wonder if the r epairs will be patches to those nicks or replace 25 fot section.

[Inspired]

It never does set well with the homeowner. In his mind it's always our fault. It's possible thought that the curbing guy warned the homeowner about the curing process.

The stuff runs between $3 and $8 a linear foot here depending on color, shape, texture and of course the total footage. Most curb contractors have a minumum charge.

Just be careful around the stuff for a few days in the future. No matter how much of a hurry the homeowner is in.

[Hamons]

curbing was more than 1 month old

[Inspired]

Then HDK and Sleepy could be right. Sounds like maybe a crummy mix.

On the other hand, curb in the landscape will never be as strong as the street and parking lot variety. The mix is completely different. Also there are no standards for strength like sidewalks, curbs and gutters. The guy running the mortar mixer decides on the mix. Then it sits on ground that may or may not support it very well. Frankly, I think most people are happy with it if the lawn mower doesn't break it.

Anyway, hope I'm not sounding all condescending here. Just sharing my opinions and experience.

Bill

[HardDaysKnight]

You can patch it up but it will never dry the same shade of gray
that was there a month ago...and you will see the repair work for quite some time. Maybe you can suggest patching your
dings and stain the entire curbing. That would be the most cost effective and a nice color stain looks better than cement curbing
in it's original state. Good luck and keep us posted on how it worked out.

[Hamons]

Edging is not grey --- it is already stained beige.

I'm sure I will have to have the guy come out and repair the curbing -- on hi swebsite he mentions a $250 minimum. that will be a chunk out of the black. Figure it to be a lesson on how fradgile this could be -- next time it will be reflected in my price for working around the stuff.

[mark allen]

Talk to your fellow contractor who did this and expalin what happened, let him know that you like his work and would like to refer him in the future.... also, you could meet him there to learn more about it.
If he is asked about mulching etc. from homeowners, give them your name.... ( and wait few weeks the way it sounds) to do the install.
I had a guy chip a sidewalk last year and the homeowner was furious, not even sure we did it... but probably... I called the contractor who was to repair it and asked him to be fair with me and if he ever needed anything (referrals) to give me a call.

[Hamons]

That was the approach i was leaning too also Mark -- you and I think a lot alike.