We are in a real mess because of bad concrete on an almost 4 year old pool. The entire 1000 square feet is failing. It started showing signs of problems from the first week. Our builder has been evasive and defensive concerning this issue. Finally he said "call my lawyer." So, even though it is not "our style," we are forced to go the lawsuit route. We have paid about $1000 for a core sample which said it was a bad mix due to lack of entrained air, and needed to be entirely torn out and replaced. We have spent MONTHS trying to get an estimate on the tear-out and replacement. No one wants this kind of job! Finally today we should get a written estimate which is likely going to be about $16,000. I am very concerned about what else might break as the concrete is being chopped up. I keep wondering if the replacement should be something other than concrete......

Yes, around $600 is just for the door. I'd spend a little more if I thought the quality of the door was better. I don't want to waste my money on a piece of junk, but I simply cannot afford to drop a ton of cash on this project. I'll call around tomorrow to Allied and ABC and see if they carry any products in my price range. What is a good way to demo the existing door? I haven't opened up the wall or started ripping anything out yet, but I'm guessing the existing door was installed with a nail fin. It's probably going to be a pain to remove. Thanks again for the advice

Contractor #2 is the only one bidding a permeable paving job, as K&D mentioned. In my experience, a lot of people are interested in permeable paving right up until they see the numbers. Then they're ok with conventional pavers. We usually price for 12" of base; I assume the #2 stone layer is in part because of the clay soil at the base? What was your reason for requesting permeable pavers? Does the proposal include a means of exit for excess water (like the pipe shown in K&D's cross section)? And are you comfortable with the long term maintenance needs of a permeable installation? Over time, dirt and debris and other stuff blows in and settles in the joints, clogging the #8 stone and turning your permeable pavers into impermeable ones. If you're not wedded to permeable, I'd ask contractor #2 to requote it that way. I think you'll see the cost delta shrink way down. Contractor #1 concerns me just in that they either just slapped a permeable paver over a traditional base, or else they ignored the request altogether.

You could skirt a deck with stone or formed/tinted concrete or brick or anything else you choose, but I don't know of any decking that doesn't look like decking. But if the soil won't support a covered patio, how will it support a covered deck? It's true that fill is less stable than native soil, but if the lot is only "slightly sloped," your builder shouldn't have to dig down too terribly far to get to stable subgrade for the foundation. Is this a budget limitation? Theoretically you could build a deck and top it with cement board and pavers, but that won't feel as stable underfoot as a slab. I'd consult with a structural engineer and/or soils engineer to get a better answer on what's actually possible.