New Patio am I being unreasonable?

FreeBear

The new slabs are reconstituted stone - A fancy way of saying "concrete slab". Yes, there may be minor variations in size & colour between batches, but being made in molds, the variation will be minimal. One reason the manufacturers recommend a ~10mm gap between each slab. If you have large variation in slab sizes, the correct thing to do is stagger  each row of slabs.

Don't see any bedding mortar for the new slabs - They appear to have been laid on top of uncompacted MOT1. If this is the case, the sub-base will settle and the slabs will start to rock and dip - It isn't difficult to prep a base, mix bedding mortar, and lay slabs with minimal lippage. Getting the lines to match up is as simple as putting down a bit of taught string between two pegs and laying the first slabs to it.

https://www.pavingexpert.com/layflag1 gives a good overview of how to do it properly and also how not to do it.

SuperHung

Was this the cheapest "cash only" quote? My 3 year old can build straighter lego blocks.

SteveVy

I'm no expert but this is what was done;

1) Entire area was dug out with a mini digger to a depth of 6 inches

2) A 'base' was made which appeared to be a mix of sand and cement, this was all leveled and looked smooth. The guy did take his time leveling this all.

3) The slabs were then laid on top of this base...

My understanding is the slabs were not laid correctly for some reason

Will be speaking to owner today...

This wasn't the cheapest quote...this was the only contractor I could get to do to the work before August...they also have over 100+ positive reviews on checkatrader and have been a member on their for 7+ years...also checked a few other websites and see positive reviews for this company...so I am pretty shocked at these issues I am having...

Grenage

While no help in this instance; don't bother with checkatrade or other sites.  They're run for the tradesmen who pay their subs, not the customers.

Word of mouth is the way to go; preferably also viewing prior work.

SteveVy

I did also go view their work...they were installing a block paving drive way a few streets away and that seemed to look quite good...

Mojisola

SteveVy said:

Will be speaking to owner today...

You may find the owner is just as shocked at the work.

We had an experience with a couple of workmen who laid a stone fireplace for us -  we knew it hadn't been done correctly and described to the owner how they'd done it.  He was very upset and re-did it for us.

My parents also had a small job done which finished a larger job - a different employee came out and didn't do a satisfactory job.  They asked the owner to come and look at it and he agreed and also added "Well, XXX who did that doesn't work for us anymore" so it obviously wasn't the first time his work was substandard.

If the owner does try to tell you that the work is satisfactory then you've got problems.

JJC1956

If these people can’t lay a bog standard patio, i would be extremely worried about their ability to landscape a garden, I think you need to nip this in the bud ASAP

Bradden

Just to pick up on this point

 "Note it says "Not recommended for feature patios" is this is why they are having issues?"

hese are sold as "utility" slabs for bin areasm under sheds etc etc.

hey are not recommended for feature patios as there can be considerable difference in colour and finish between packs. Whilst many use them happily (they are a cheaper style of slab)... suppliers do not recommend them for this use in order to avoid complaints.

twopenny

Just had mine done and that base doesn't look anything like what the builders did for me.

There isn't enough cement around a at the sides to support the weights it's going to take. The guy who did mine got the old new and different shaps to line up. Mind I had the space between the slabs which allowed for easing but they were all lined up.

Looks like a poor rush job and I wouldn't accept it.

Did they do a lot while you weren't looking? It's embarrassing to keep watching workmen but experience has taught me that if you don't it rarely goes as well as you'd like.

Had a problem with mines interpretion of the steps and the only time I left them alone came back to one huge step. Response 'that's not use to me in any way.' Aprentice said but it's done now. Builder said no problem and took it apart and redid really quickly.

I think we lay peeps underestimate just how quickly things can be rectified.

And don't go for different measurements. I've got 20yr old and measured the slabs many times at the builders merchants. A firkin difference between them if that.

TELLIT01

stuart45 said:

Strange that they made this mistake. It could be that the new slabs are a very slightly different size, and that it's an accumulated fault. As they are butt jointed there is no room for adjustment in the joints. However, I'm not making excuses for them, they need to get round any issues like that.

That was my immediate thought too.  If the new slabs are marginally smaller than the old, the gaps could be increased slightly to compensate, but if they are slightly larger I don't see how they 'get round the issue' without lifting and relaying all the existing slabs.

The different levels and the potential trip hazard is not acceptable and does need to be corrected.  Hopefully nobody in the household has walked on the slabs before they were fully set.