Conference 7.286::home_work

I had BOJ do my foundation last summer.  The one mistake I made was not signing
a contract (I guess country living can do that to a person).  To make a long
story short, the final price came in very close to the original estimate (they
ran into some unexpected problems and didn't take advantage of me).

The only negative was it took a couple of weeks from the time the footing were
poured to the time the forms went in.

-mark

    I have used and will recommend
    
    		Harry Decato
    		Amherst Road
    		Merrimack, NH
    
    His work was excellent, his price reasonable for the area (Merrimack,
    NH).  He set the forms and poured the foundation for my addition
    (20x24 family room, 24x30 garage) 1 and 1/2 years ago.  He often
    works with Harold Tardiff, whom I'll enter under
    Landscapers/Excavators.
    
    -Stan

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 734.2       Addition foundation work - bulkhead replacement          2 of 8
VIDEO::FINGERHUT                                     11 lines  26-JAN-1987 09:43
                                   -< Forms >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For your forms, Dick Crowe in Shirley is good.  (I don't think you
    said where you are but if you called Need Pumps you can't be too
    far from Shirley).  Guiguire and DuFresne in Fitchburg is good too.
    I've used them and Dick Crowe.  I've also used Need Pump Co, and
    the owner let me keep his rotary hammer-drill to use over the
    weekend.  I thought that was generous since he didn't know me at
    all.  For your pre-formed bulkhead, get somebody not too far from
    where you live to install it.  If it's guarenteed not to leak
    you wouldn't want them to be too far way when it comes time to bring
    them back to fix it.
    

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 734.2       Addition foundation work - bulkhead replacement          2 of 8
VIDEO::FINGERHUT                                     11 lines  26-JAN-1987 09:43
                                   -< Forms >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For your forms, Dick Crowe in Shirley is good.  (I don't think you
    said where you are but if you called Need Pumps you can't be too
    far from Shirley).  Guiguire and DuFresne in Fitchburg is good too.
    I've used them and Dick Crowe.  I've also used Need Pump Co, and
    the owner let me keep his rotary hammer-drill to use over the
    weekend.  I thought that was generous since he didn't know me at
    all.  For your pre-formed bulkhead, get somebody not too far from
    where you live to install it.  If it's guarenteed not to leak
    you wouldn't want them to be too far way when it comes time to bring
    them back to fix it.
    

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 734.5       Addition foundation work - bulkhead replacement          5 of 8
AKOV01::MCPHEE                                        5 lines  27-JAN-1987 13:22
                        -< Foundations from Fitchburg >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I second th evote for Guiguire & Dufresne.  I used them and they
    did an excellent job (garage & sunspace foundations).
    
    Tom
    

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 734.6       Addition foundation work - bulkhead replacement          6 of 8
ISBG::POWELL "Reed Powell - LCG Marketing - 297-4261" 5 lines  28-JAN-1987 21:27
                        -< If in Northboro try KeyWay >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Are you near Northboro?  if so I'd recommend KEYWAY.  They did the
    digging/forms/pouring for the foundation on the addition I'm putting
    up.  Good price and good work.
    -reed
    

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 1262.1     Wanted: Concrete floor contractor - Central Mass.        1 of 11
AUTHOR::WELLCOME "Steve"                              3 lines  25-JUN-1987 15:55
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    You might try Gary Ford on Neck Road in Lancaster. I think he does
    that kind of work.
    

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 1262.4     Wanted: Concrete floor contractor - Central Mass.        4 of 11
EXODUS::MOLLICA                                       8 lines  26-JUN-1987 12:38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Try Herluf Johnson...Clinton, MA.....Park Street...phone ???
    
    He comes highly recommended.....in terms of quality. All he does
    is floors.
    
    Time frame ????? you'll have to check with him.
    
    john mollica

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 1262.5     Wanted: Concrete floor contractor - Central Mass.        5 of 11
VIDEO::FINGERHUT                                      7 lines  26-JUN-1987 13:42
                              -< Concrete floors >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    My neighbor does floors.   That's all he does, too.  He did mine
    and it came out very good.  Tony Coutreau, 597-8912.  He lives
    in Townsend. 
    Tell him I recommended him.
    
    Dave
    

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 1262.8     Wanted: Concrete floor contractor - Central Mass.        8 of 11
USMRM2::CBUSKY                                       15 lines   6-AUG-1987 11:05
                     -< A follow up on my concrete floors >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I had Tony Coutreau from Townsend Mass. (597-8912) do the floors. Tony
    was recommend by Dave VIDEO::Fingerhut back in note 1262.5. 
    
    Tony is one hard working guy and does excellent work. He works by
    himself and does his finishing by hand rather than using the power
    float (Darby machine). This concerned me at first because I had always
    equated the Darby machine and a good floor but this is FALSE. My
    original cellar floor is a mess done by someone with a machine who
    didn't know what he was doing and now my addition and garage have
    beautiful floors done by hand by someone who knows what they were
    doing. 

    I highly recommend Tony to anyone that needs a concrete floor.

    Charly

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 1262.9     Wanted: Concrete floor contractor - Central Mass.        9 of 11
CSSE::RBROWN "Bob"                                   18 lines  27-AUG-1987 21:46
                           -< Another vote for Tony >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Re .5 & .8
    
I just had Tony pour and finish a concrete floor under my new addition.
He does;
    
1.  Excellent work, by himself by hand, no machine.
    
2.  Called me back when he said he would.
    
3.  Came when he said he would. (I live in Sterling)
    
4.  Good price.
    
I would recommend Tony for any concrete finishing jobs (floors)

Bob...

    

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 1262.11    Wanted: Concrete floor contractor - Central Mass.       11 of 11
AKOV11::KALINOWSKI                                    9 lines  21-SEP-1987 12:43
                       -< Another vote for Tony Cotreau >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Tony Cotreau just did a garage floor for me. I agree with all the
    above. Tony is hard working, skilled, and tells you what is going
    on in a very friendly manner. The construction world needs more
    people like him.
    
    He also told me he has been getting lots of work from DEC employees
    lately. I wonder why?? 8>).
    
    john

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 1262.10    Wanted: Concrete floor contractor - Central Mass.       10 of 11
STAR::GOLDSTEIN "Andy Goldstein, VMS Development"     6 lines  28-AUG-1987 00:01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Phil Winin, Hudson, MA. 562-6228.

Phil does all manner of masonry. He has built me two new decks - one on
ground, one suspended slab above it; a new front walk; foundation, slab,
and walls for an addition (concrete block); miscellaneous stucco work.
Good careful work at reasonable prices.

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 1600.1                    Nashua contractor?                         1 of 1
AKOV75::GLEASON                                       6 lines   6-OCT-1987 09:17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Try Harry Wheeler in Pelham at 635-2338. I was very pleased with
    both cellar and garage floors that he poured for me. He's well
    known in the construction industry around Pelham/Lowell for good
    price/quality. I also liked the idea that he treated my small jobs
    just as well as the big ones that he was doing concurrently.
    

I too hired Tony Cotreau to do my floor.   He came to do the estimate when he
said, but alas, we ran into a problem.  It turned out on the big day he called
me at 5:45AM to tell me he couldn't make it (the time was no problem since I was
expecting him at 6:30)!  It turned out he was out until 3AM on another job and
felt he couldn't do it.  However, he arranged for his brother Bob to come out.

Bob did a fine job and I was very pleased.  The good news about all this is that
Bob is from NH (though I'm not sure where) aso anyone in up there who wants a
Cotreau to do your job can still get one.

His number is 603-382-6188 and you can tell him I sent you.

-mark

    If you need to replace an old foundation under an existing building,
    I'd suggest
    
    	Robert B. Miles & Son.
    	787 Concord Road
    	Marlboro, Mass.  01752
    	(617) 485-8601
    
    It's been my experience that most contractors don't want to touch jobs 
    like that, but he does a lot of it.  He's replacing an old stone 
    foundation for me right now, and from what I've seen so far (the job 
    is about 3/4 done), I'm pretty much satisfied.  I thought the foreman 
    who was originally in charge of the crew, Dick McCarthy, was really
    good.  He did an excellent job jacking up the house and putting in the
    first wall.  Then he went off on another job and somebody else took
    charge.  My opinion is that the new foreman is adequate, but not 
    impressive.  If you have him do work for you, I'd suggest you stipulate
    that Dick McCarthy be in charge of the crew for the ENTIRE job; I think
    then you'd be pretty sure of getting good work.  
    I'd describe his business as low-key, low-budget; he's got old ratty
    trucks and he rents things like jackhammers.  But he seems to know what
    what he's doing, and I feel as though he's giving me a square deal with
    no sleight-of-hand.  The main problem is that the grunts in the crew
    are willing, but need somebody to tell them EXACTLY what to do.

    Approximately 43' of foundation wall, a new 14'x30' concrete floor,
    and a 8'x16' concrete apron in front of the garage door is costing
    me about $10,000.
    On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd rate him about a 7.  On some days, 6; on good
    days, 8.  If you contemplace hiring him, send me mail and perhaps I can
    give you more details.

   I'd just like to add a second to the recommendation for Harry Wheeler in 
Pelham NH (635-2338).  We called him last fall to pour the floor, and the told 
us that unless we absolutely needed it, we should wait until this spring, as it 
would likely settle somewhat over the winter.  It did settle, and we're glad 
that he wasn't willing to just 'come and do it,' but rather told us to do the 
right thing.  We called him this spring to come and do it and:

	He came to look at the job when he said he would.
	He called with an estimate when he said he would.
	He came and did the job when he said he would.
	He did an excellent job.
	He charged us exactly what he said he would.

All of which are quite a rarity these days.

Paul

    
    Took the referral of Phil Winin from these notes and am very grateful.
    We had a cellar floor poured in our addition this week.  Phil was
    wonderful.  He first came to the house for an estimate, and showed
    up when he promised. His price was good, his work was excellent
    and fast and he was real easy to get along with.   
    
    He considers himself a mason and does all masonary work. If work
    is slow he also installs tile.  Although I have not seen his work
    in these other areas I feel he would be as good.  He is precise
    and takes pride in his work.
    
    
                        
    

    I have a rather unique foundation recommendation. I had a house
    raised and a foundation poured under it and then had the house lowered
    onto it.  The job was done in the Falmouth on the Cape.  I had a
    outstanding gentleman do the work.  Ken Kline from Harwich, it was
    a pleasure doing business with a man who is honest, efficient and
    knowledgeable.  He showed up for appointments when he said he would
    did the work when and how he was supposed to, he offered excellent
    suggestions and has an great reputation amongst builders and building
    inspectors.  His prices beat the nearest by more than 20%.  His
    number is (508) 432-7218.  You may call me for more info DTN 223-1311
    or (508) 875-6215.
    
    Paul
    

I have a very strong recommendation for Herluf Johnson of Standard 
Floors in Clinton. The number I have for him is (508) 368-8907.

He came when he said he would, his price was the same as his estimate, 
except for changes that I asked for and that he told me would be 
extra. His work is, in my opinion, excellent. 

An example of his attention to detail: the night he poured our 
basement/garage floor the temperature fell to below freezing. Sometime 
after 8 p.m. on an early March evening one of his crew returned to our 
site and nailed up plastic at all openings to help prevent freezing.

I hope I never build another house, but if I did you can be sure I 
would have Herluf pour the basement floor.

My recommendation for Giguere and Dufresne of Fitchburg [(508)
342-1895] for the forms and foundation work is moderate. Jack Dufresne
was very very easy to work with. He gave and explained a competitive
price clearly and patiently and he rescheduled cheerfully when the
weather didn't cooperate. I was less impressed with the work of the 
crews that did the work. They completely missed pouring one pad,
stopped the continuous footing for the central lally columns short of
what the print called for, and they left the portion of a frost wall
4" low. None of those errors was fatal, though the lack of footing
caused me some additional aggravation and expense later on and the low
wall complicated Herluf's work with the basement and would make
finishing the basement difficult. They poured the missing pad later. 

In their defense, I was there and could have said "hey..." if I had 
known then what I know now and they did willingly and for no charge 
make a change in the plan after they had a portion of the forms up.

John H.

            <<< JOET::DUA1:[000000.NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Better living through DIY >-
================================================================================
Note 373.25               Lbs of concrete to cubic feet                 25 of 25
REGENT::POWERS                                       38 lines  20-JUL-1989 22:27
                  -< Concrete Express - small load delivery >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some of the replies to this topic deal with where/how to get a small load 
concrete.  I'm building a deck, and I had that problem just this week.
I needed just about half a yard - too small for real delivery, a bit much
for Sakrete and a bucket (other people's opinions notwithstanding).
I asked at the local rental place about the 2 cu. ft. electric mixer,
but then I'd have to fetch a ton of raw materials too.
He told me about an outfit called Concrete Express.  They operate
out of Natick, Mass. and (apparently) some home centers and contracter
suppliers have dealings with them (Handyman in Marlboro, for example).
They have a special truck that mixes concrete on-site, and meters it.
"You pay for what you use, and no more."
The truck has separate compartments for sand, gravel, cement, and water.
It's mixed in an auger that delivers it to a chute, where it dumps
into your job (or wheelbarrow, or whatever).  The truck has max capacity
of five yards.  
They charge $75 just to show up ($50 if you use more than 3 yards),
and $65 per yard.  I ended up with just under half a yard, and it
cost me just over $100.  I figure Sakrete would have cost me half that.
$100 is a bargain, in my mind, compared to lugging raw materials, 
premixed or not, and mixing, shoveling, and dumping.

This guy has been in the business about two months.  He told me about
how his suppliers test his loads for mix and do test cylinders for him
and such.  He says there's a guy in Bernardston with a 10 yard version 
of the same truck.

My tubes look okay, about like the last ones I did when I did use Sakrete.
If they crummble into dust, you can be sure I'll report back here.
The Natick phone number for Concrete Express is 508-653-1512.
They say that same-day delivery is usually possible.

- tom]

PS: The guy at the rental center recommended against the trailer systems.
He says that separation of the mix is a problem because of vibration
on the road, and lack of remix capability in the trailer.
This was the rental guy, not the Express guy, so he had less of an axe
to grind.  Take it with a grain of salt, though.

        This is another recommendation for Giguere & DuFresne Foundations
        out of Fitchburg.  Jack poured the footings last(6/14/90) Thursday
        afternoon, poured the foundation Friday and took the forms off
        Saturday.

        This was a 24x27 garage with 5' walls and an additional wall for
        a portico.  Jack got back to me right away with the estimate and
        did the job for that price.  He followed the plans and helped
        decide the depth of the garage door opening.

        I feel that even if the plans were not complete he would have helped
        lay out the foundation.

                        Ron Proulx

    Has anyone had any experience where they needed repair work done a
    deteriorating concrete floor and whom did you hire?
    
    Bob Brister
    
    

Does anyone have recommendations on finding someone to remove a
large concrete apron?  This is a 40x10? foot patio in front of
a colonial; it looks like a foundation with 3' (4'?) square concrete
"pads" (2 feet off the ground).  We've broken up a piece by hand 
in order to determine that the pads are only an inch or so thick -- 
the space under the concrete looks like it's filled with fist-sized 
stones. The house is in Pepperell, MA.

We're having trouble finding someone who is interested in breaking
this up and hauling it away.  I've seen the notes here and under
Demolition recommendations, as well as the notes under keywords
Concrete, Patios, Demolition.

If you have comments about us doing it ourselves, please see 
my posting at note 390 and reply there-- this note is just
for recommendations.

--carrie

    I'd like to cross post a reference for Jeff Baer Masonary.  Jeff will
    do everything for your foundation except pour a new one with forms.  He
    repairs foundations with blocks, he does slab floors, poured porches,
    steps and concrete floors.  He has the help and the equipment needed to
    do the job right.
    
    See 2021 for further references and Jeff's phone number.  He lives in
    Harvard, but does most of eastern and central Massachusetts.
    
    Elaine

    
    Here's a reference on foundation work for   Steve Laakso of
    Ashburnham, Ma. Tel. 508-827-5556.
    
    Steve and his crew of one, Angus, did about 35-40 feet of foundation
    across the back of my 150 yr old four family house for $4750.00
    
    They are both structural engineers (retired from BIG business to run
    there own little company).
    
    The quality of the work was very good, they are REAL easy to work with
    because they take the time to listen to your concerns and try to under-
    stand them.
    
    On our foundation, there was little or no room to work and every thing
    had to be carried in and out by hand. A lot of manual labor carrying 
    out all the old brick, carrying in the new block, and having to carry
    small buckets of mortar at a time made for a long day for these guys 
    but they were pleasant, regardless of not being able to use things
    like wheelbarrows, etc...
    
    Tom Bean

    Fransen & Father masonry did very nice tile work at my house.   I
    think they do all types of mason work except poured basements.   
    The guy I dealt with was very fussy about detail without charging
    me an arm and a leg for it. 

    
    	Wanted : Concrete Floor Contractor
    
    
    	Does anyone have any current recommendations on a good concrete
    	floor contractor ?  I need someone to pour the floors on a new
    	house being built in Brookline, NH.
    
    	Thanks,
    	Chuck
    

.37 is recent.  The recommendation still holds.

Elaine

    Gary Ford (see .9) might go that far...especially if he needs work!
    He's fast, trustworthy, and good.  Probably not the cheapest, but
    he gives quality work.  I had him pour a small section of basement 
    floor for me a couple of years ago.  
    A friend who had Gary do some work told me that Gary and his crew 
    were amazing:
    "They ran the hose into a 55-gallon barrel so they could dip out
    5-gallon pails of water and not have to wait around for the pails
    to fill from the hose.  I made the mistake of offering to help
    them...after an hour I had to find some excuse to go upstairs and
    lie down.  I think they worked even faster after I got out of the
    way."
    

    
    CRISTO / ZINK FOUNDATIONS of Marlboro MA. is A#1..   They are currently
    
    pooring the FOX FARM development in Shrewsbury  all 150 + homes.  I
    
    know I am sealing all the foundations for then.....
    
    
    
    		John

    I've been getting some good referrals out of this section, so it's
    probably time to start adding my own.
    
    For foundations, Oscar Girouard from Lancaster, MA is great.  He did
    the foundation on my first house 15 years ago, and I called him several
    months ago for an estimate on a new foundation.  I thought his price
    was high, but after talking to several other contractors (excavator,
    framers, GC's), they all said "if you want to be sure about the
    foundation, Oscar is the best".  I talked to him again, and he came up
    with some great ideas that lowered the cost and also made the house
    look much better.
    
    He & his crew showed up when he said they would, and poured a perfectly
    square and well-finished foundation.  I'm glad we had him do it.  His
    phone number is 508-840-1353.  He'll travel quite a distance.
    
    /Don

	I recently had a garage floor put in by Jeff Baer of
	Harvard, MA.  I'm very pleased with the way the floor
	came out.  Jeff can be reached at (508) 456-6941.
	Also, he seems willing to travel in the Central and
	Eastern Mass area.

	Leslie

	p.s. I shouldn't mention this (for fear of ruining his
	personal life), but Jeff really puts in a hard day.  
	Since we needed this floor done in a hurry,
	he began our job in the afternoon and worked into the
	night to get it done for us.

I recommend Val's Concrete and Masonry, Nashua, 883-4710.  Val poured a cement
slab for my new granite steps, and not only quoted a very reasonable price,
but also came back to fix a minor problem with the slab on a weekend!   He's
been in the business over 20 years.

				Steve

    I had Jeff Baer (508-456-6941) pour and finish my addition floor. He
    is very carefull and concerned about doing a good job. A real nice
    guy to work with and he takes pride in his work. 
    
    Ray

    On recommendation from this notesfile, my dad had Jeff come out to give
    an estimate on some work. He brought his wife, who, until very recently
    was a Digit in Maynard. Jeff must be pretty busy because my dad's been
    waiting over a week for the estimate.
    
    Just FYI.

I'm looking for references/recommendations for contractors to do a garage 
foundation and floor.

I live in Franklin, MA

    
    
    	S.M. Zink foundations in Marlboro 624-6342  (ask for Steve)

    
    
    	Foundation sealing by M.B.S.  (Moisture Barrier Systems)  460-1853

I just had a foundation put in for an addition. Ernie Gagnon
from Amherst NH was very competitively priced, showed up when
he said he would, started early, stayed late, came back on
weekends, etc, etc,.  I would hire him again in a heartbeat.  
He is definitely the best contractor we have dealt with for
excavation work.  He spent the time to be sure we all knew
what was going to happen.

I know he works in the Nashua/Manchester area.  I don't know
if he has limits on how far out he would go.

Call him - you won't be sorry!
672-3748

                      <<< Note 2007.53 by KOALA::HUJSAK >>>
                          -< E. Gagnon - Amherst, NH >-

	I can second this recommendation.  Ernie's done two
jobs for me - a garage foundation, with all excavation work,
and some radical foundation work on my old farmhouse, both
in Tyngsboro, MA.  The two jobs each had complications caused
by design (mine) and the terrain, but Ernie's work was wonderful
in both cases.  I'd be glad to 'demo' the results to anyone who'd
like to check his work references.

	Hire this guy without question.  For the first garage job,
I called a bunch of companies, and selected Ernie - when the second
came around, he's the only one I called.

    Can anyone here offer a recomendation or info about 
    Robert B Miles of Marlboro.  I am looking to get two
    retaining walls replaced and am considering using them
    for the job.  I have gotten an estimate from them it is a 
    little highter than another that I got but cheaper is not
    always better. :-)  They seem very good about returning calls 
    and coming out to look at the job which is a plus compared
    to most people I had called.
    
    If anyone knows of a good concrete contractor in the Marlboro
    area I would be most appreciative.  Or a mason.
    
    Thanks for any info you all can offer.
    Mike Smith   AD::SMITH
    

    I'm just about ready to have a foundation put in for a mud room and a
    two car garage so I would also be interested in recomendations for
    someone in the Marlboro area.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Mark
    

    I've heard good things about Ed Johnson out of Bolton.

    Ref: .37 and .38.
    Unfortunately I did not have good success with Ernie.  I had him put in
    a poured concrete bulkhead basement entryway and it didn't come out 
    square.  After putting the Bilco door on top, the doors don't close 
    evenly.  I had to shim the hinges and bend some metal to get them to 
    close without binding.  I'd have had to remove the frame, thus breaking 
    the caulk seal, and cut away a lot of concrete with a diamond saw to make 
    it perfect.  As it was, I had to chisel out concrete to make room for
    the torsion bars that help lift the doors.
    
    My opinion on the problem is that my job was just a filler.  He's a
    little guy (small business) and took on foundations for a whole 
    development.  He's just plain overextended and did a sloppy job for me.
    
    \Lou Snider