BiggerPockets

Josh, sorry you had this problem.From the pictures,it looks like the tannins from the leaves stained the concrete.If you just stain the concrete the problem areas will just become highlighted.Here are some suggestions:
1.Try to power wash the stains.
2.Use a primer to cover the stains & then paint,not stain.
3. Last resort, grind the stain out.
Watch the concrete over the next few months.If it was poured in the rain the concrete may "dust" for some time.
Hope that helps.

This was poured last week. I'm not going to just fix this one on my own. He needs to make it right . . .

What other ideas can you guys think of?

Do you think we're going to have to re-pour this thing?

I wouldn't complain at a resolution that looked like that, Joel. I wonder if a coating like that would still show the wide variety of imperfections below.

Great suggestion. Any others?

Nope I would want them to fix it too Josh. If the contractor knew how much influence you had they would be jumping over themselves to fix it.

They should make it right regardless for each client.

I would have an honest conversation with the contractor.They might not even know HOW to fix it and hoping something works.

I wouldn't redo the whole concrete unless it failed the strength test and the mix was bad.

Rob -
Would an acrylic sealer hide those imperfections or make them stand out - like when you stain wood? Any ideas about the product Joel mentioned?

Most everything I can say has been pointed out. Covering the concrete will effect how fast it cures, so time may be a possible solution.

The leaves will pressure wash off. Start with low pressure and no solvent, and move up from there.

Muriatic acid is a definite possibility, but I'd use it as a last resort.

Finally, using an epoxy stain will completely cover any discoloration.

The contractor saying "This is normal" is chock-full-o-shyte.

I wanted to keep everyone abreast of this ongoing saga.

My contractor didn't show up today as promised, so I called and emailed him. I just got off the phone and I have to tell you that I'm absolutely astounded by this conversation.

First, I guess he is slammed right now and will supposedly come tomorrow or will send his guy to make the final fixes left on the project - of course, despite my being told it would happen today. When I brought up the topic of fixing the stains, it just went to a bad place.

Essentially, he told me that there is no way for them to predict and protect against an act of god (his words). I of course responded by explaining that anyone could see that it was going to rain, and even if that wasn't the case, once it started, it was their obligation to properly cover the patio to protect it. He claimed that is what they did, and I counter claimed that if it were done properly, we wouldn't be having the discussion.

We then started arguing over details over how it was covered and ultimately, he kept trying to shirk responsibility over the stains, saying that they probably came from leaves. I explained that it could have been leaves, plastic tarp laid directly on the concrete, my picnic table cover or my barbeque cover (both of which were used to cover parts of the patio that got stained - if you believe that), but ultimately it didn't matter.

The responsibility for the stains were his -- the first time I ever walked on the patio, there were stains on it. That is a fact. There was nothing I could have done, and I, as the homeowner, have an expectation that this thing be delivered properly - without stains or discoloration - from the beginning.

He had the nerve to say to me that maybe I should have gone out on the patio and swept away any leaves that had fallen during/after the rain on the thing.. Apparently, it was my job to protect the project that he was getting paid to protect and build. He also asked if he was supposed to just wrap it in plastic for the 28 days that the patio is going to take to cure. The fact is, and I explained this to him, that leaves have since fallen on the patio and have not stained the thing. I'm not an expert, but clearly wet leaves that fall on a freshly poured patio are far more staining than dry ones that fall on one that has had a few days to cure.

He said that he would try to get the stains out, and apparently that's the whole answer. I said that if they didn't come out, he'd need to find a way to make it right and all I heard were crickets. It is my belief that he wants to give it the ole college try and if he fails, he's going to simply shrug it off and move on.

The uncomfortable silence before we got off the phone definitely made that clear to me.

I'm not quite sure what's going to happen tomorrow, but I don't expect the stains to come out and I don't expect him to voluntarily agree to add some kind of acrylic or other sealer to cover them up.

(deep breaths)

I hope that he has some time to think about everything and decides to make it right.

Thoughts?

I cannot resist this, and of course it is highly inappropriate given your saga, and yes, maybe it is even too soon..... but this is the internet and people tend to say inappropriate things before they are entertaining... but, here it goes:

So what are you thoughts on Angie's list now?

Of course I am not an Angie's list advocate because their system can be gamed - but still.... I wonder.

Have the guy cover it with brick - I had a bad pour one time and the guy fixed it with brick over the top - it looked great.

Myself or Terrence Robinson know some good concrete guys, locally if you need.

Maybe you found your answer Josh, but I'll add my two cents based on some experience.

I would not pour anything onto the concrete. All this will do is dissolve the stain or tar and wick into the surrounding area. Instead of a defined spot you'll have a discolored patch that's now soaked in.

Every few years I rent a gas powered power washer from Home Depot to clean my driveway, sidewalk, and back yard stairs. These are not the wimpy 1900 psi electric models, but operate at 4500 psi. You could cut a toe off with them. Held close, and you have to be very careful, they remove all dirt and can literally etch the concrete. After everything is cured, and I mean several months, even next spring, I'd rent a power washer and practice in a small area. I'm certain this will remove all surface debris, including tar, and any stains that have not penetrated too deeply.

I seal everything using matt finish Behr concrete waterproofing sealer. Next time one of your kids spills grape juice, or you red wine, you'll thank me.

Jeff