"Ralph Henrichs" wrote


I've just been waiting to hear from a professional concrete contractor.
Like the one that did the flat work in the house I brought. The garage
floor only needed the slop out the door but instead a 1/2" of water stands
in the middle of the garage! In the basement the floor drain is a 1/2"
higher than the floor 2 feet from it! I have poured concrete a number of
times and did a better job than the professionals!


I grew up in Las Vegas. Many of the old timers said, "That guy was a real
"pro" when referring to someone. I asked one of the old timers what "pro"
meant. He said it was someone who did a good job no matter how they felt.
I always remembered that, and used it many times in my life.

Now, the only difference is that a "pro" gets twice as much as anyone else,
and half the time, the work is substandard.

There is very little required to get a contractor's license in most states
in a lot of fields. So, "licensed contractor" don't mean squat much any
more. I've had crappy work done by contractors, and superior work done by
handymen working out of a twenty year old van or truck.

Pros come in all sizes and shapes. I guess the best thing is to get
referred to one, or hire one and watch him work on some small projects to
see how they do before letting them at the big stuff. Small towns help,
too, because everyone knows who the good guys are, and who the idiots are.

Steve