Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 9/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi,  We recently contracted to have a new 10' x 24' porch slab with six steps and an approach on our 1927 home replaced.  It is surrounded on three sides by brick, (with a drain spout to the front) and has two brick pillars at steps.  (We feel) The contractor poured (finished) the slab and steps at an incorrect pitch, as there is water pooling in the center of the slab (as much as 1 1/2 inches deep) and at the back of the steps.  He claims that he can put cross cuts in the slab and step to enable drainage, but we and the others we have spoken to feel that this will not only asthetically ruin the porch, but would harm the integrity of the porch overall, and may not work. The other local contractors we spoke with said we needed to rip the whole thing out and start over.  Can you give an opinion?
Thanks,
Marlene

ANSWER: Hi Marlene, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and rip the whole thing out and redo it.  I think this might be the time.  I had a similar problem on a church I built last year.  The back porch was holding water.  We tried the cutting drain grooves and it didn't work especially when the heavier rains came.  The contractor tore it out and redid it with the proper pitches and we haven't had any problems since.  Complete Remove and Repour is generally the last resort but in this case I think it is best for all concerned. I hope this information helps feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Approximately how long should it take a contractor to rip out and replace a porchcap(10 x 24) & steps(6), and rebuild a 11 x 6 brick wall?  We were quoted 4-5 days by several bidders, but this contractor took over three weeks.  Granted it rained three days, but....

Answer
Hi again Marlene, if this is the contractor that originally did the work then you are probably lucky that it took only three weeks.  It is a different story when someone is doing a new job for new money, they can get it scheduled, bing bang boom, in and out done.  But if this is the original contractor and it is out of pocket for him then he will have to keep other "paying" work going on and try to fit this redo into his schedule.  If this is a different contractor, the same theory may hold true, it is not a big job so they may have shoe horned it into an already busy schedule.  The important thing is:  Is the work done now?  Are you satisfied with the work?  If so, then ten years from now that extra week won't make a lot of difference in the overall scheme of things.I hope this information helps feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com