Advice regarding landscaping work

Boyce1807

We are in the process of having our whole garden redone for around £6,000. When they came round and gave us a quote we told them we had a damp survey which had said we needed the ground lowered and a channel filled with slate/stone around the house so that water could drain away. When completing the patio they have laid it right up to the side of the house in one section. They have also filled a section with concrete rather than a slab. 

Secondly they have put paving down in the alleyway down the side of the house which we asked to be in the middle with slate each side and they have put the slabs touching the house instead. When we phoned them this evening they said something about it breaching which is why they couldn’t lay it in the middle. We couldn’t understand what they meant by this so they have said they will come and talk to us tomorrow. 

Has anyone got any advice how to approach the conversation considering they are clearly not going to want to alter it and we don’t have any the specifics in writing. 

tacpot12

You need to find out why they didn't lay the slabs down the middle with slate either side. Get them to explain what "breeching" is. I've no idea. You also need to find out why they laid concrete when they were supposed to lay slabs. When they have answered your questions, you need to carefully consider whether the job has been right, or not and is the work acceptable to you. If not, you need to explain to them why it is not correct, and give them the option of redoing what is not correct, or having a deduction from the price for someone else to put it right. (I assume you haven't paid anything yet?)  

They might not want to do it, but you have a contract for the work that was to be done. They entered into the contract and need to fulfill it. They don't get to choose whether they do the job as it was specified.  

By not having a quote and specification with drawings you have set yourself up for a world of pain. I expect they will walk off the job and sue you for the full value of the job. You will have to go to court and counter-sue for the cost re-doing their work. The best thing you can do is call your insurers tomorrow (assuming you have legal expenses cover as part of your home insurance) and get professional legal advice on what to say when then come. 

When talking to them, you need to be very (hyper) polite, but leave them understanding that you will only pay when the job is done right. I might be better to have a friend/neighbor with you in case they threaten you. 

DB1904

It's not a very professional effort. 

Doozergirl

I'm probably only stating the obvious, but that will make your damp problem worse, not better.  

The way they've laid it also suggests that they either don't own, or really hate using a cutter.  

It should come up and go back down in the right place with the french drain in place.  Was the person laying different to the person you spoke to? 

Jeepers_Creepers

Boyce, at what stage did you realise that they weren't laying these slabs at the requested (lowered) height? The path along the 'concrete slab' side, in particular, is nearly touching the DPC in places.

At what point did you realise they weren't laying that path to the side gate in the centre as you requested?

At what stage did you realise they weren't fitting a French drain alongside the house wall?

They are the pros - they should have done better than this without being asked. But the question might be asked - should this go unpleasantly legal - why you seemingly said nothing before it was completed (so think of a good reason...)

They should have discussed with you beforehand any alternations that needed to be done - eg why the path couldn't go down the middle of that run as you requested. (If there is even a valid reason, which I cannot think of).

They should have pointed out to you that the slabs shouldn't ideally be in contact with the house wall, and certainly not if it can't be 150mm+ below DPC level.

They are supposedly the 'pros'. Even if you had asked for that run of slabs (the 'concrete slab' side) to have been laid as they have done it, they should have politely refused, explaining why. A 'pro' outfit would simply not have done something that is so patently wrong. 

Do you have LegProt on your house insurance? Phew - 'cos I think you will need it.