Hiring a Concrete Repair Contractor in Yakima: What to Ask

The best way to choose a concrete repair contractor is to ask how they'll fix the cause, check their Washington contractor registration yourself, get the estimate in writing, and insist that someone looks at the slab before giving you a number. A good contractor will answer all of that without squirming.

Hiring wrong costs more than hiring right. Homeowners sometimes pay for a repair that doesn't hold, then pay again to have it redone. The questions below help you avoid that.

Questions worth asking

• Are you a registered contractor in Washington? Every contractor must be registered with the Department of Labor and Industries. Ask for their registration and look it up yourself on the L&I website. It's quick, and it shows whether the registration is active.
• Is concrete repair what you do, or a side job? Leveling, stabilizing, crack repair, resurfacing and sealing each need their own materials and know-how. A company that pours new driveways may not have the tools to lift an existing one.
• What method will you use, and why? A good answer fits your slab. Someone who pitches the same method for every situation is selling, not advising.
• Do you come and look first? Concrete costs depend on the size of the area, how far it dropped and what's under it. Nobody can judge that from a phone call.
• Can I see recent local work? Ask for photos of real jobs nearby, not stock pictures, and ask if you can drive by one.
• What do you cover, and is it in writing? If there's a warranty, get its length and terms on paper. A verbal promise is hard to rely on later. Ask about insurance too, and ask to see proof.
• How long until I can use it again? A contractor who knows the work can give you a clear answer.
• Is replacement actually needed? A fair contractor will tell you when repair won't work, even if it means less work for them.

Red flags

• A pitch at your door with a deal on leftover material from a job down the street.
• No real business address you can find later.
• Pressure to sign today, or a discount that expires at the end of the visit.
• Cash-only terms or a very large deposit.
• A one-line quote with no description of the work.
• Can't explain in plain language why your slab sank or why their fix will work.

What the work should look like: a Terrace Heights garage

Here's a real example of a repair with the cause and the fix lined up. A homeowner in Terrace Heights had a garage slab that had settled about 3 inches, dropping away from the raised step at the back. The lip was a trip hazard, and cracks had opened across both sections of the floor.

Garage floors usually sink because the soil beneath wasn't fully compacted before the pour, and water makes it worse. Downspouts, sprinklers and melting snow find their way under the slab edge and carry soil off. We measured the drop, drilled small holes of about 5/8 of an inch, and injected Eco-Rise polyurethane foam to fill the voids and raise the slab the full 3 inches. Then we sealed the cracks so that water couldn't get back in, and patched the holes. The foam cures in about 15 minutes, and the whole job was done in one day, with no demolition and no second trip.

Notice the order. Lift the slab, then seal the cracks. Sealing a slab that still has a lip would have left the real problem sitting there.

What an estimate visit should be

When you call us, we come to your property and look at the concrete. We tell you what we see, what we think caused it, and whether the answer is a lift, a repair or a replacement. Sometimes it's replacement, and we'll say that even though it means no job for us. We don't do structural foundation repair either, so if your problem is bigger than a slab, we'll say so and point you elsewhere.

The estimate is free, and you can take your time with it. Compare it with the others you collect. Two or three quotes is plenty, and what to look for is whether they agree on what's wrong. If one diagnosis is wildly different from the rest, ask each contractor to explain theirs.

About us

Level Best Northwest is a locally owned, father-and-son company based in Zillah. Merle Brovont owns it and has more than 10 years of hands-on concrete experience, including leveling sunken slabs and repairing large commercial and warehouse floors. His son Wilson works alongside him. We're a registered Washington contractor, and you're welcome to look us up. We serve the Yakima Valley, the Tri-Cities, Ellensburg and nearby towns.

Call us at (509) 796-0658 for a free estimate. We'll tell you what your concrete needs, in plain terms, and leave the decision to you.