We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
New Patio
Marshallp
Posts: 1 Newbie
We recently contacted a couple of builders and a landscape gardener to quote for a sunken patio using indian stone at the rear of the garden, with a fence, railway sleepers as a retaining walls and steps down with a small border between the patio and fence.
Most of the quotes came in at around 6k, with the exception of the landscape gardener who's quote came in at just over 7k, we felt more comfortable going with the landscape gardener so started to negotiate the price. He had a great website with lots of video testimonials and reviews, and seemed like a nice guy!
We finally agreed on a price of £6700.00, and he was available to start the work within a few weeks, anyway a few weeks later and here we are today. The patio has been laid but I have a big problem, it's higher than the original land it was built on, in fact you have to step upto the patio, he laid the step onto the original path that leads to the bottom of the garden and has had the cheek to ask for more money because he said its been more work than he anticipated.
The job has taken him just over a week to complete, even though he originally said it would take two, on the occasion my wife has been home she's notices a lot of standing around smoking, drinking tea and messing on phones ect..
I'm in the fortunate position as I've only paid half, I don't believe I should pay the total as I haven't got what I asked for, which was a sunken patio. I don't really know where I stand legally, and need some advice.
He's due onsite tomorrow to collect some equipment he left in my garage, I'm certain he will ask for the balance then. Any advice would be welcome.
Most of the quotes came in at around 6k, with the exception of the landscape gardener who's quote came in at just over 7k, we felt more comfortable going with the landscape gardener so started to negotiate the price. He had a great website with lots of video testimonials and reviews, and seemed like a nice guy!
We finally agreed on a price of £6700.00, and he was available to start the work within a few weeks, anyway a few weeks later and here we are today. The patio has been laid but I have a big problem, it's higher than the original land it was built on, in fact you have to step upto the patio, he laid the step onto the original path that leads to the bottom of the garden and has had the cheek to ask for more money because he said its been more work than he anticipated.
The job has taken him just over a week to complete, even though he originally said it would take two, on the occasion my wife has been home she's notices a lot of standing around smoking, drinking tea and messing on phones ect..
I'm in the fortunate position as I've only paid half, I don't believe I should pay the total as I haven't got what I asked for, which was a sunken patio. I don't really know where I stand legally, and need some advice.
He's due onsite tomorrow to collect some equipment he left in my garage, I'm certain he will ask for the balance then. Any advice would be welcome.
0
Comments
-
The key question is what do you have in writing about the project? Can you prove what you asked him to do? Can he prove what you agreed to pay?
The first thing is to tell him it's not what you asked for and not what you wanted. Then see what he says. However it does seem strange that you've not said anything to him whilst the work was ongoing.
The time it took to do the work is irrelevant. He may have originally planned to take even more breaks, and instead cut them down.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 353.6K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.1K Spending & Discounts
- 246.7K Work, Benefits & Business
- 603K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.1K Life & Family
- 260.7K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards