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New concrete driveway apron scalling & holes

Q. I had an new concrete driveway installed in July. Now I see tiny round holes on the apron in some places and in other areas the concrete is coming off. In other words the top layer is gone and a indented gray patch is appearing. The contracter told me that there is nothing he could do and that if he tries to patch the areas it would look awful. He has been paid in full and does not intend to do anything about it. What could have caused these problems?

A. It sounds like the surface is weak due to excess water. I can't be 100% sure but this is the most common culprit of scaling concrete. Maybe the concrete was rained on or water was added to aid finishing. Concrete is strongest when it all cures at the same rate. If water is added and loosens the surface, all of a sudden the surface is curing at a different rate from the rest which prohibits a strong bond.
Unfortunately, the only real solution to the problem is to have the concrete replaced. It's hard to say if there is any action that can be taken against the contractor. It depends on the severity of the problem. For situations like this, I recommend having a neutral party experienced in concrete take a look and see if you have a leg to stand on.