Paving question??

sm1015

In 2016, I had a patio done in the back garden, nothing special Indian stone imitation slabs basically. When they were first put down, the pointing was starting to crack and come out. It was the brush in resin style pointing they used. I also noticed some paving slabs were loose. When i got the builder back, he said he couldn't find any loose slabs but agreed that the pointing was unsatisfactory and took it all out and replaced it with the same resin. About a month later it did the same. I decided to take the pointing out myself this time and point myself using a proper mortar mix. Again about a month later it all crack and became loose. There was also a lot of loose slabs at this point. I took a slab up and realised the builder had a used a spot method to lay the pavers instead of a full mortar bed. I have had 2 independent builders out to inspect the patio and they both come to the same conclusion that the pointing is cracking because of the movement in the slabs. Basically it wasn't laid correctly.

My question now is, is it acceptable to get the builder back to sort this after 3 years have passed? Many thanks for any advice.

phill99

You can ask but tbh I doubt if he will come. Although it is laid on spots of mortar it doesn't mean that the slabs are moving because of this. It may be that the ground under the mortar is moving, which is nothing to do with what the builder has done.

Belenus

phill99 wrote: »

You can ask but tbh I doubt if he will come. Although it is laid on spots of mortar it doesn't mean that the slabs are moving because of this. It may be that the ground under the mortar is moving, which is nothing to do with what the builder has done.

The builder may not have compacted the ground sufficiently.

That will be difficult to prove, especially after three years.

sm1015, you say 'builder'. Was that a jobbing builder or was it an experienced landscaper?

You may have to consider uplifting everything and starting again, this time with a more competent installer.