Driveway Farce

Emma79

Hello,
I had a driveway installed nearly 2 months ago, and have had a number of problems with it - pooling of water in mini ponds, sinking where the car is parked and now weeds.

I spoke to the guy who laid it and he said he is going to come back in a couple of weeks to relay it. He said that the problems have been caused by all the heat and then rain... I think he didn't lay enough base. I don't really trust him to do a decent job second time round either.

What would you guys recommend I do? Friends have suggested I get an engineer to inspect and make a report, but I've no idea where to find these guys.

Thanks!

kitchpoo

Is it brickweave? We have been left feeling very confused as we have had 2 different people say different things - one has said that they lay a concrete base as that stops the drive from sinking, especially where the weight of the car regularly goes. The other person said a definite no no to concrete because the water gets under the bricks, has nowhere else to go and lifts the bricks up, so they use sand and hardcore to allow the water to drain. I can see both points of view so now we don't know which one to go with!!

Emma79

I should have said... it is a tarmac drive.

I've no idea either! Perhaps get a third quote?

Poppycat

Sounds like they haven't gone deep enough for the hardcore.

LandyAndy

Poppycat wrote: »

Sounds like they haven't gone deep enough for the hardcore.

Thats certainly the problem. The only real cure is to dig the whole thing up and start again with a much greater depth of base :mad: .

alanobrien

The base isnt prepared properly. At the very least they should have put weed suppressant material down. better still would have been a concrete mix base for the hardcore.

It will never be right unless the base is sorted out properly.

ben500

Emma79 wrote: »

Hello,
I had a driveway installed nearly 2 months ago, and have had a number of problems with it - pooling of water in mini ponds, sinking where the car is parked and now weeds.

I spoke to the guy who laid it and he said he is going to come back in a couple of weeks to relay it. He said that the problems have been caused by all the heat and then rain... I think he didn't lay enough base. I don't really trust him to do a decent job second time round either.

What would you guys recommend I do? Friends have suggested I get an engineer to inspect and make a report, but I've no idea where to find these guys.

Thanks!

There is no need for you to go to the expense of an engineer, register a claim with your buildings insurers, (The claim will almost certainly be declined as poor workmanship for which no insurer will cover you) armed with the surveyors report which will be supplied on request, you can then go back to the builder and present the evidence, you should in all honesty give them the opportunity of putting things right, but you should also require from them a scope of works outlining exactly what they propose, anything less than a complete restrip and relay with the correct materials and specifications should be rejected, if the builder is not prepared or able to comply with the recommendations (again when your surveyor arrives be sure to ask him to detail in his report the remedial action necessary) you can then take action in small claims or even through Trading Standards.

Emma79

Thanks for your advice - I'll do as you suggested Ben. :beer:

nelly_2

Tbh i'd be suprised if he turns up at all

isayoldchap

I appreciate you may have an estimate,but won't he just deny he attended if you don't have a receipt.Any witnesses?
Taped phonecalls?Photo evidence?Funny that as we have all this when we had ours done just in case we ever needed it.He even smiled at the video we done of him ripping up our drive with the digger.Oh don't forget to date the clips.Make sure you have all his details for the court case and good luck.

Have you got buildings insurance legal cover?It's the £18-£25 add on.Try phoning them before you go down the small claims route.I see that Barclays have recently removed the £50 Excess to their policies.

isayoldchap

ben500 wrote: »

There is no need for you to go to the expense of an engineer, register a claim with your buildings insurers, (The claim will almost certainly be declined as poor workmanship for which no insurer will cover you) armed with the surveyors report which will be supplied on request, you can then go back to the builder and present the evidence, you should in all honesty give them the opportunity of putting things right, but you should also require from them a scope of works outlining exactly what they propose, anything less than a complete restrip and relay with the correct materials and specifications should be rejected, if the builder is not prepared or able to comply with the recommendations (again when your surveyor arrives be sure to ask him to detail in his report the remedial action necessary) you can then take action in small claims or even through Trading Standards.

Ben500
Will you still need to advise other companies, at renewal,(in the next 3/5 years )that you have made a claim?
I'm guessing that as they haven't had to pay out for work your premium maybe unaffected,but if they are paying for an surveyor to attend and do a report won't that be a cost to a claim which may affect your premiums?