Patio problems

yinhong

Hi everyone, this is not a DIY job and it's not directly to do with moneysaving so I apologise upfront and understand if this thread is removed, but wondered if you could help me.

We have asked a landscaper to lay a new patio for our back garden using slabs. So far he's dug up the old turf and slabs, and yesterday he laid the cement and half of the slabs.

My wife and I are complete amateurs which is why it's not a DIY project, but I'm now very concerned because of two issues:

1) I can see a hump in the middle of the patio which means that it slopes back to the house, and
2) it is only 100mm below the damp proof course, and from my basic reading it should be at least 150mm.

It is a new build house, less than 2 years old. We have been quoted £2000 for the job but we haven't paid anything up front.

Before and after pictures below:




I suppose the crux of my thread is:

- are these two issues serious, and if so I would appreciate your advice on how I should go about resolving them, if it's even possible!

olias

Hi, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that job is appaling. Yes it should ideally be 150mm below DPC (building regs), and absolutely should fall away from the house, unless directed towards a drain, which with a patio that size it should be, or your remaining lawn will be a quagmire after any heavy rain. Also the grout lines are all over the place - not just slightly, but all over! Lastly, not sure about the cost of that paving, but £2000 for the job seems way OTT.

Olias

yinhong

Thanks Olias. I suspected the worst but hoped for the best.

Not sure what to do now.... I presume that the only way to fix it is to smash up the slabs, dig out the concrete and start again? If so, who pays for the slabs.... sigh.

Do you know of any organisation I can contact for professional advice (not that yours isn't) on what to do next?

Furts

yinhong wrote: »

Thanks Olias. I suspected the worst but hoped for the best.

Not sure what to do now.... I presume that the only way to fix it is to smash up the slabs, dig out the concrete and start again? If so, who pays for the slabs.... sigh.

Do you know of any organisation I can contact for professional advice (not that yours isn't) on what to do next?

I agree with olias - they look dreadful and need re-laying at a lower level.

They should not be bedded on concrete. They could be, and probably without problems,but the accepted way is to lay on sand, or perhaps a weak sand/cement or sand/ lime mix. When this is done it is easy to lift and re-lay them. It is also easy if over time any settle - you lift them and place in some sand/cement and drop them back down.

Ruski

+1 on awful job.

cyclonebri1

The joints are intended to be staggered with "random paving like that, not coursed.

Are you sure it's on concrete, should be on a mortar base, and if not down too long it should be possible to salvage and re-use the pavers.

Plus another for a pathetic effort.:eek:

yinhong

Hi, yes I did mean mortar, not concrete. I've tried lifting up the slabs and they come off very easily which is a slight relief.

I've been advised the first step is to write a letter of complaint detailing my concerns and ask for a detailed written reply with how he plans to resolve it.

My plan is to get rid of him anyway, but if I do how much should I pay him, if anything, for the work he's done already?

So far he's

- de-weeded, laid down a membrane and put shingle on the small front garden of the house, area of 4 square metres (4m x 1m)
- ripped up the turf down two sides of the back garden to create borders, and again laid down some membrane and shingle, and also installed a gravel board (8 metres long).
- and of course he's done that botched up on the patio.

I expect that at some point it'll come down to negotiation on how much I should pay for what he's done already and I want to be prepared. Any advice?

olias

Was the work not detailed and itemised in his quote?

Olias

yinhong

No it wasn't. All we have is a short email from him as follows:

"please find quotation as discussed to lay slabs and take rubbish away and to supply sand and cement grass seed and top soil
Will be between £1800 £1950
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any queries"

I know, stupid and naive, but we've never done anything like this before and he was such a polite, friendly and seemingly professional guy.

I feel such an idiot.

yinhong

Important update:

The contractor came round this morning, unannounced. I relayed my concerns about the patio and he got really defensive, stormed off and said I'll be hearing from his solicitor.

I stopped him in time to hand my written letter of concerns but he immediately ripped it in half. I then asked him to reconsider his attitude so that we could try to peacefully resolve this, but then he said "I'm this close to punching you in the face," before zooming off in his truck.

Does anyone think he has a case? Should we be worried?

cyclonebri1

Err given this;

"I know, stupid and naive, but we've never done anything like this before and he was such a polite, friendly and seemingly professional guy."

And then this;


"I'm this close to punching you in the face,"

You made an error of judgement, but it gives him no right to threaten you in anyway, let alone with violence.

Take more photographs of all the work he has completed, you may need them later and if that was my handywork, I'd be round to rip it up before anyone saw the mess I'd left.

You are right, a negotiated price or rectification of the errors.

Re write your letter, keep a copy and send it to his home/registered address recorded delivery, you must give him the opportunity to correct it otherwise you fall into his hands.