Stamped concrete driveway and alley
They did what they say they will do. Pour concrete and make it look good.
Now I need to call a landscaping company to build up the lawn, this needs to be underlined before the work starts. I was not aware of this. Concrete is OK, but extra work needs to be planned afterwards and expenses accounted for.
Stamped concrete driveway and alley
I realize that the company is "not a landscape company", as I was told a few times verbatim, but when you pay 20k for a work you expect better.
To be honest, they did what they say they will do. Pour concrete and make it look good. But the devil is in the details. I didn't know better to ask when I signed, what should I expect the edges will look like, would there be any kerbside or edge restraint for the alley? It turns out that there isn't any. Meaning my edges are patched, but the subbase is exposed. The crushed stone that forms the subbase under the concrete is visible at the edges and as far as I can tell, unless I call another landscaping company to build up my lawn and cover it and build a grade, it won't last a few winters. Water will sip underneath, the subbase will be infiltrated and the concrete blocks will crack.
You cannot let something like this pass, so I decided to finish it myself, buy crushed limestone and cover it - build a slope all the way at the edges of the alley and cover the base.
I don't feel like running after Bomanite a few years from now, so I will finish the job.
Too bad I didn't know better, I should have asked the crucial question before signing: how about the base, at the edges, would they be left exposed or covered by Bomanite? I was expecting some kind of edge restraint in place, so the subbase wouldn't remain exposed, but no chance. The only answer I was given is Bomanite is not a landscaping company. Oh well, live and learn. Next time I'll know better.
