Pouring a concrete patio is SO much fun.

[trof]

Right.
:eyes:

My contractor is a big ol' boy named 'Junior'.
Junior's spent some time in a state institution for those who get caught using coke and meth. But his dad is a good friend, and we're pretty sure Junior's on the righteous path now.

He operates a big ol' front-end-loader/backhoe.
In just a few passes with the loader he rips out the wood deck I built myself 17 years ago (it was past it's prime).
And a faucet near one corner of the house near the deck.
And an irrigation pipe buried under the area he's grading for the patio.
Oh dear.
:-(

Trip to Lowe's for PVC plumbing parts to repair the damage.

Then, while ripping out a piece of deck has a pergola over it, he raised the bucket arm just a l-i-t-t-l-e too high and busted the beam that supports the pergola rafters.
"Ah'll fix that. No problem."
:-(

I'm ready for this to be over.

[gratuitous]

1. You're sure he's off the coke and meth?

By the way, you know what's really in? Paving stones. Several years ago I took a month's sabbatical from my job and tore up our small back yard to put in pavers. I'd never done it before, but it turned out pretty good, if I say so myself. In nearly 10 years, I haven't had to re-seat any of it.

If you need a tamper I know where you can buy one, cheap.

[trof]

2. Labor intensive and lots more expensive.

Yeah, I'd love that, but I'm almost 70 and stoop work is beyond me.
I'm getting an 800 sq. ft. patio for $2000.
The concrete alone is $895.

Junior works cheap. That, and the fact that his dad and I are close friends, is why I hired him.

I can put up with his 'mistakes' as long as the finished product looks OK.

[MiddleFingerMom]

3. Let me guess... the low-bidder, right?

.
.
.
If he's in Dad's business... I think I'd call for Dad.
.
.
.

[trof]

4. Actually, this was a no-bid contract.

I knew Junior was (more-or-less) capable. I've seen his work on other patios.

And I really think I got a 'kin-folk' price because of my friendship with his family and some other things I've done for him.

It'll work out, eventually.
I guess I really didn't expect that the job would progress without a few 'setbacks'.
Hey, this is Alabama, after all.
:-)

[UTUSN]

5. You otta try it in Vietnam n/t