I'm having a pro pour my large parking pad.

Plan is to pour on Wed.

There is 60% chance of rain/t-storms Wed (30% Thu)

What % chance of rain would you consider a "safe bet"?

AI's recommendation: Given the 60% chance of rain on Wednesday, it would be highly advisable to postpone the pour if at all possible. The risk of significant issues is simply too high.

The 30% chance on Thursday is still in a cautionary zone. You'd want to monitor the forecast closely. If it trends lower, it might be acceptable, but you'd still want to be prepared for potential light showers.

One thing I've noticed from living in many different areas and working in them is it depends on the kind of rainstorms you get in your area. There are three basic types I see. #1 is the broad front storms like you get in Calif that come down from the Gulf of Alaska - hundreds of miles wide and deep that let it loose and it can rain for a solid day or more. #2 is the spinning cyclonic style storms that generally come from the southwest direction --smaller but still big and it can rain for several hours, sometimes heavily. #3 is the small passing through storms and the leading edges of fronts like they get in the upper Midwest where they are smaller, maybe only a few miles across and can miss you and hit a place 5 miles away. These generally only last a half hour to an hour- if they actually hit your exact area. Of course I left out hurricanes because you can see them coming and no one would pour cement in a hurricane.

You can see the differences on the radar feeds.

As for me, if it was type 1 or 2 I would postpone the pour. If type 3 I'd try to estimate the timing of arrival of the storm and work around my best guess.

Of course, have protection for your job in case it does rain, like recommended above.

OK, time for a reality check

Prep for concrete pour is today, around 11.

I get there about 10:40 & see the guy already there laying out

measurements.

Greetings. I didn't recognize him & asked his name 

Oh- I did confirm the time by text this AM. Not TRYING to be a PITA, just trying to minimize my time out since I am ill.

I did have to go to clarify the placement of the pad in alignment with fence to be

Installed late. Good thing I did because he had it wrong.

He did say "he" a couple times in reference the fence installation although I stated "I"will do Xx a couple of times (I'm "she")

I have a hard time watching and not working, so I offer to help with the other end of the tape measure - if it would be helpful.

So, he sets a string line around the area & starts digging a trench along it with a

Pick.

I'm thinking to myself: is he planning to lay a 2x6 in the ditch & call it formed?

So I asked him to please describe the steps in the process he'll be doing, saying with joking kind of tone that of course the center will all be dug out and stone placed and compacted.

I'll confess here that more details were discussed verbally than were written down. I know, I should know better.

Well after I asked about the steps he didn't respond & walked over to the far side of the work area. I hesitated about ten seconds then asked

If he would please answer me. I got a "bad vibe"

His answer was he's cancelling the contract & will refund my downpayment.

The reason why that I could get was that he had a bad vibe and I'm quirky.

So, what do I need to differently dealing with the next one - other than a

On the drive home, I thought of a couple more things that may be significant.

Originally, my plan was to be installing walkway edging at the same time & watching him more surreptitiously. However, since I don't have much energy today, I sat down & watched him for a while. I did tell him I wasn't too well today & promised not to cough in his direction. (my sense of humor)

Maybe that creeps him out, being watched.

When he said he was leaving I told him I always like to ask questions & learn things.

Oh, another thing: earlier I had asked if he knows about the 3-4-5 trick for squaring a corner. Not TRYING to be insulting - I've never hired him before. I also then complimented him on how good his eye was, because he got it right on. Said I'm interested to learn by watching him.

It seems to me the contractor wanted to do the work his way with no interference or questions from you - Red flag 1. If he was unable or unwilling to explain the work process - Red flag 2. He did you a favor in stopping the work and cancelling the contract. As you said and I agree Incompetent contractors outweigh the good ones.

This may actually be a blessing in disguise.

I'm thinking (as Ray would ask): will a concrete pad get me more rent than crusher-run?

Probably not, actually.

I think I may decide to just do crusher-run parking and walkways.

16 x 26'

DJ- please be careful with the roundup, that stuff can kill you.Look into putting down a barrier before the stone gets dumped and you may not have a problem with the grass growing through it

Definitely put a weed barrier down first. They have stuff made specifically for driveways as well but even the short roll out stuff will help. If you dig down far enough that you are below the roots that will help as well.

Get a good base of bigger rock then the stuff with dust.

My drive still gets growth in it. We ended up digging down a long way in some spots, but the seedlings sprout just at the surface so the barrier wouldn't help.

Don't breathe the round-up or get it on you. The new stuff isn't as strong as the old stuff because it kept getting farmers sick.

I do always put a heavy duty weed fabric down, to keep the rocks from settling down and disappearing into the soil.

What is the true cost of using Round-Up vs. concrete?