Bad Paving Driveway Job

JimmyChanga

Okay, just seen your last set of pictures. Yes, it's a crap job. Blocks should not only be lower but fill out the whole space, cut to size. The perimeter filled out with concrete will just have water sitting there. If they used a compactor and then placed concrete around it (which it looks like), then that's pointless. All sides must have proper edging before compacting.

Surprised they dug out deep (as you say) and still managed to leave it so high. Any chance of getting them to correct it will just ruin your health further. Lesson learned. Get someone else in.

BTW, how did you find this company?

AndyMc.....

The only positive is the blocks are reusable.

indianabones

JimmyChanga wrote: »

Okay, just seen your last set of pictures. Yes, it's a crap job. Blocks should not only be lower but fill out the whole space, cut to size. The perimeter filled out with concrete will just have water sitting there. If they used a compactor and then placed concrete around it (which it looks like), then that's pointless. All sides must have proper edging before compacting.

Surprised they dug out deep (as you say) and still managed to leave it so high. Any chance of getting them to correct it will just ruin your health further. Lesson learned. Get someone else in.

BTW, how did you find this company?

Yes - I'm going to have to spend about £1500-£1700 to get it completely re-layed. I've had 2 quotes from the highest rated pavers in my area.


My primary concern now is and please tell me honestly what you think.


If I get another company to come out and re-lay my driveway entirely, is there a chance out of anger/petty nature they could come around and damage the work?


Should I risk water damage from the existing driveway for a little while, whilst these guys are in my area or just get on with the work and hope they are not going to damage the new driveway.

Aylesbury_Duck

Honestly? No one is going to be able to rule it out entirely but I would say it's unlikely. Where did you find these guys in the first place? They're obviously incompetent but do they strike you as the sort to risk adding criminal damage to the list of problems they're on the hook for?

When you say "while they're in the area", what do you mean? Where did you find them and what due diligence did you do on them and their prior work?

Aylesbury_Duck

While you're at it, make sure you don't need planning permission for the change. You don't want to be throwing good money after bad only to find out the planning authority will force you to dig it all up and reinstate the original surface. If you are allowed to go ahead, make sure proper drainage is organised. You cannot just discharge your surface water onto the public road as a solution.

JimmyChanga

If I get another company to come out and re-lay my driveway entirely, is there a chance out of anger/petty nature they could come around and damage the work?


Should I risk water damage from the existing driveway for a little while, whilst these guys are in my area or just get on with the work and hope they are not going to damage the new driveway.

You know them better than I do so if you're really worried, yes, you could delay the work. A CCTV camera might come in handy too.

Are they one of these gangs who say they're working in the area and come knocking on your door?

AndyMc.....

JimmyChanga wrote: »

You know them better than I do so if you're really worried, yes, you could delay the work. A CCTV camera might come in handy too.

Are they one of these gangs who say they're working in the area and come knocking on your door?

You mean travellers?

indianabones

AndyMc..... wrote: »

You mean travellers?

They may well be come to think of it.

They did a small front patio on the road next to mine and came around knocking.

I went by their catalog and it all looked ok. I spoke to the lady who got her patio done by them and she seemed happy by the work and them. But her patio is probably 12 sq m2 and straight.

I am from Birmingham. I asked them where they are from they all said they are from Birmingham, or at least they live here. But they are definitely not Birmingham born.

They have done 3 jobs in the area and according to the person who they are currently working with, they have another job on our road lined up. The job they are doing right now is just as terrible and the current owner is scared of pulling out now. I have warned them and asked them to look carefully at my drive. But the final decision will be theirs. I told them if I had known what you now know about these guys, I would stop them immediately. Pay for the materials and labour done so far and then just move on.

AndyMc.....

Not the O'Briens by chance?

indianabones

No I don't think so. These guys are known as JS Landscapes and the group of guys I've seen are around 25-30 maybe even younger. They keep talking about a gaffa but I haven't seen him.