My fiancé and I just had a contractor install a new driveway, the main contractor installed the form and he used a cement subcontractor, poured the driveway mid-morning on a Friday, it was a windy/hot day that reached a high of approximately 93 degrees in the afternoon.
The contractor finished around 2-2:30pm and had sprayed the completed driveway with a garden hose a few times after they had swept it, no expansion joints had been installed during the pour. He mentioned that I could spray it a few times to help it stay cooler. I went out at 3:30pm (to spray) and discovered a large crack that ran the entire width of the driveway. I informed the contractor and he said he would be out Monday morning to inspect it and "cut the lines (wet cut). I asked him if this meant expansion joints and if these should have been done during the pour or soon after (within 24 hrs) but he did not respond.
The contractor came out Monday with a saw and wet cut the lines in the driveway. Needless to say I was not happy that my brand new driveway had a crack the entire length of the driveway. The contractor and subcontractor both said this can sometimes happen.... I asked what the options were to correct and of course they said not really anything could be done, I responded with what about cutting out that section and re-pouring.... of course this involves more time / cost on their part and the main contractor said he would not do that.... I responded that I'm not paying top dollar for a new driveway that had a crack the entire width. I realize concrete can/will crack but nothing this major on a new driveway and I expect problems down the road, much earlier than I should have to deal with considering a new driveway.
I was hoping for thoughts from knowledgeable concrete people, I'd certainly appreciate feedback and suggestions on how to proceed since the contractor is saying that there's nothing they will do and I pretty much have to accept it as it is. I have attached some pics.
Frustrated new driveway owner