Would like to have a cement or pavers/ brick backyard installed, to replace my current "Sprawling Fishtown 10x10 grass'n weed patch backyard". I do have partial cement walkway around my kitchen and the covered pathway b/w my house and my neighbors. The rest is "grass" and weeds and is a haven for mosqitos and little biting flies and gnats.

Any contractor recommendations? Doing it myself is not an option because I have neither the skills nor patience. It would end up a disaster!!!.

Thanks!

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Ftown69
Fishtown Phila, PA 19125
USA, Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy. Alpha Sector.

My wife and I are going through this now...its been a hassle getting people out to look at the yard and for a lot of them, once they see the size and the amount of work it will take just to get stuff into the yard they say 'no thanks' or give us an absurd estimate to get us to go away.

We found a company we'd like to hire, but nothing has been confirmed. I'll keep you posted.

If you just want concrete, check the back of the Star.

Thanks! I will post an update as with my progress.

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Ftown69
Fishtown Phila, PA 19125
USA, Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy. Alpha Sector.

I'm in the exact same boat. If you find anyone good, let me know.

I'll second that "people don't want to deal with you" from above. We had one quote that was roughly equal to a compact car to demo the concrete & install pavers in our 12x12 plot in the back, which seemed a little outrageous to me, so we're just going the DIY route instead.

The guy that we're likely going to hire is local, so he's familiar with the ins and outs of small yards. He isn't as experienced as some of the other people we've talked to, but he showed up when he told us he would, he gave us a complete estimate in a couple days, and he knows how to work in the city.

We got one quote that was $6,000. Ftown69, if anybody quotes you that, they're blowing smoke.

If we can't find someone to do such a small job, maybe we should go the barn raising route.

I'll come to your house this weekend, help you jack hammer and remove your old concrete, build a frame, mix and pour some new cement, let it dry.

Next week you can come over my place and we'll do my 10x12 "yard"

I like that Idea , unfortunately, weekends in May are out for me!

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Ftown69
Fishtown Phila, PA 19125
USA, Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy. Alpha Sector.

Hold on...been there, done this. First, there's another way: level off what you have and go over it with pavers.

The reason? 1) Our backyards are pains to get concrete out of (unless you're fortunate enough to have a sideyard) and it's VERY costly to get a dumpster to remove it. The crazy high estimates you're getting are normal--it's costly to dump it, it turns out.

2) It can potentially structurally disrupt your house if you fail to sawcut the concrete next to your house. I paid $800 for removal of mine when it was a straight bulldozer shot to my corner--they sawcut it but not enough and it screwed up my patio doors. They were slightly moved which caused my patio door to bow slightly and now I need to get it replaced. I also needed to get a $1K step put in to tie into the house and to make up the 6" of concrete that left my backyard.

3) Concrete keeps water going to your drains better than grass does. I ended up having to build a bit of a brick patio on top of that to get the pitch right into the sewer line drain.

Soooo I do recommend getting someone who knows what they're doing to do it or else you'll end up with what happened to me with lack of planning: a dirt pit for around $4K...

Pmac had someone who did a great job with his backyard for a reasonable price and I recommend pm'ing him. (Sorry, Pmac...)

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

Thanks Brooke,

Sorry for your bad concrete experience, thanks for sharing though! A friend of mine recommended pavers as well. Clean, easy and he'll do the labor for beer and food and some minor unskilled labor (me) assistance as needed...

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Ftown69
Fishtown Phila, PA 19125
USA, Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy. Alpha Sector.