Joe Lopez's Florida Homeowner Concrete Safety Guide: What to Know Before You Hire

Why Joe Lopez Published This Guide

Joe Lopez founded Concrete Solutions FL in 2010 after a career as a Palm Beach County firefighter. He built the company around the discipline he learned in emergency services: diagnose before you act, never cut corners on preparation, and communicate clearly from start to finish. Over 15 years of residential concrete work across Palm Beach County, Joe has seen patterns that put homeowners at financial risk — unlicensed contractors who disappear after a deposit, permit violations discovered during home sales, and 'resurfacing' jobs done over structurally failed slabs that fail again within a year. This guide is his attempt to give homeowners the information they need to make decisions as an informed buyer.

Joe Lopez, founder of Concrete Solutions FL, reviewing a concrete project on a Palm Beach County property

The Biggest Risks Florida Homeowners Face When Hiring Concrete Contractors

Florida's construction sector has a higher rate of contractor fraud complaints than most states. The DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) receives thousands of unlicensed contractor complaints annually. For concrete specifically, the highest-risk scenarios are:

Unlicensed contractors who cannot legally pull permits — leaving you with unpermitted work that affects resale
Contractors who quote low and charge for 'unexpected' additions once work has started
Resurfacing applied over structurally failed concrete — looks good for 6–12 months, then fails again
Deposits taken with no written contract — if they disappear, you have no legal recourse
Subcontracting to unlicensed crews after giving you a licensed contractor's name and price

How to Verify Any Florida Concrete Contractor in 2 Minutes

Every licensed Florida concrete contractor holds a Specialty Concrete Contractor license with a number starting with 'SCC.' Verification takes two minutes: 1. Go to myfloridalicense.com 2. Click 'Verify a License' in the top navigation 3. Search by the contractor's name or their license number 4. Confirm the license shows 'Active,' check the expiration date, and review any disciplinary actions Concrete Solutions FL license: SCC131153919. You can verify it directly at myfloridalicense.com. If a contractor cannot provide their license number when asked, that is your answer.

15 Questions to Ask a Concrete Contractor Before You Sign

The right questions reveal whether a contractor operates with the standards your project requires. Ask all of them before committing:

What is your Florida contractor license number? (Start here. If they hesitate, stop.)
Can you provide a certificate of general liability insurance and workers' compensation?
Will you pull the required permits for this project?
Is my existing slab structurally sound, or does it need replacement?
How do you prepare the surface before pouring or applying product?
What materials and brand products will you use?
Who actually does the work — your direct employees or subcontractors?
What is the full written scope of work and what is explicitly excluded?
What are the payment milestones — when is each payment due?
What warranty do you offer on labor and materials?
How do you handle drainage and slope on the finished surface?
How long will the project take and what affects that timeline?
How do you handle changes or problems that arise during the project?
Can you provide references from Palm Beach County homeowners?
When can you start and what is the project schedule?

What a Written Concrete Contract Must Include

A verbal quote is not a contract. Before any money changes hands, insist on a written agreement that includes every item in this list. If a contractor refuses or 'doesn't do contracts,' walk away.

Full scope of work — exactly what surfaces, dimensions, and finishes are included
Materials specified — product brand, thickness, and finish type
Exclusions stated explicitly — what is NOT included in the price
Payment schedule — amounts, timing, and conditions for each payment
Start date and estimated completion timeline
Permit responsibility — who applies, who pays, who coordinates inspections
Warranty terms in writing — duration and what it covers
Change order process — how cost changes are documented and approved
Contractor's license number and insurance information
Cleanup and site restoration requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Joe Lopez from Concrete Solutions FL?

Joe Lopez is the founder and owner of Concrete Solutions FL, a family-owned concrete contractor based in Boynton Beach, FL. He is a licensed Florida Specialty Concrete Contractor (FL #SCC131153919) and a former Palm Beach County firefighter. He founded the company in 2010 and has 15+ years of hands-on concrete experience serving homeowners throughout Palm Beach County.

What is the most common concrete contractor scam in Florida?

The most common scam is the unlicensed contractor who takes a large deposit, does substandard work or disappears entirely, and cannot be held legally accountable because they were never properly licensed or insured. A second common fraud pattern is 'surface patching over structural failure' — applying a cosmetic product over a slab that needs full replacement, collecting payment for what looks like a completed job, and leaving the homeowner with a surface that fails again within a year.

How do I know if a concrete contractor is actually licensed in Florida?

Go to myfloridalicense.com, click 'Verify a License,' and search by the contractor's name or license number. A Specialty Concrete Contractor license starts with 'SCC.' Confirm it shows 'Active' status. This takes under 2 minutes and should be done before every hire, without exception.

What should be in a concrete contract before I sign?

A complete concrete contract must include: full written scope with dimensions and finish specifications, materials list with brand and product names, payment schedule tied to milestones (not arbitrary dates), permit responsibility, warranty terms in writing, change order process, cleanup requirements, and the contractor's license number and insurance certificates. Any contract missing these elements is a financial risk.

What warranty should a reputable contractor offer on decorative concrete?

A reputable contractor should offer a minimum two-year warranty on decorative concrete and resurfacing work, covering both labor and materials. The warranty should be in writing and specify what it covers, what voids it (improper sealing, chemical exposure, vehicle damage), and how warranty claims are handled. Concrete Solutions FL provides a two-year written warranty on all decorative concrete work.