Unhappy with new patio and steps

molsykins

I have just had patio and steps done. I’m upset at the finish and I need assurance it’s not just me! 

It’s very upsetting. The puzzling thing is that it simply does not correlate with their usual work. They are highly recommended in the area. We’ve written a letter and he said he’ll be back after new year to rectify. The only remedy I see is to take it all off and start again. The job over a significantly. In the last weeks two of it, it was only the young labourer on the job. As main guy had had to get started on new job. Therefore ultimately it has been hurried, rushed and the final detail completed by an unskilled person.

Mark_d

I can see why you're not entirely happy with the job but it's not terrible.  It sounds like the main guy is competent and would be able to tidy up the work.

You might not be able to get the job done perfectly, and it's unreasonable for them to take everything apart and start again, but hopefully once the tidy-up has been completed you can agree a partial refund.

TELLIT01

I agree that the work has not been done to a decent standard.  Wait until the boss has seen it and said what he intends to do to put it right.

molsykins

Mark_d said:

I can see why you're not entirely happy with the job but it's not terrible.  It sounds like the main guy is competent and would be able to tidy up the work.

You might not be able to get the job done perfectly, and it's unreasonable for them to take everything apart and start again, but hopefully once the tidy-up has been completed you can agree a partial refund.

I’m just not sure how the steps can be remedied without starting again. The joins are not the same all the way down, and slabs have been cut too small - hence such large 2-3 inch gaps to the wall on some. 

MeteredOut

OP,  you need to get clear in your head what remedy you want and what you would accept.

Want: All fixed to an acceptable standard? That is a big piece of work for the landscaper. But, if he has a good reputation locally, he might not want word getting out that he's now sub-contracting to less qualified/able people, so I'd push this.

Accept: Specific slabs/areas fixed, and perhaps some money back? Was there any material (slabs) left over so some could be lifted and re-laid?

Have you paid for the full job? Was this before it was finished, or after (which could be seen as accepting the job is complete to a satisfactory standard)

Given the quality of that visible finished, I'd also be wary as to whether those slabs have be laid correctly, or whether they might start lifting in a year or so.

MikeJXE

Shocking 

Careless with the cuts where paving meets the wall

Even used the wrong sand for jointing

molsykins

MikeJXE said:

Shocking 

Careless with the cuts where paving meets the wall

Even used the wrong sand for jointing

Hiya. It’s the state of the paving against wall
Which is where I can’t see it possible to remedy unless whole lot comes off.
the pointing on the patio I guess needs to be taken off and redone? What sand should it be? Currently it looks large grit stuff…

Doozergirl

Trying to cut to that curve is going to be a very difficult job. 

Whilst the joins could and should be readdressed - they look like the apprentice got let loose and the colour is wrong, imo, I have a feeling that you may need to manage your expectations on how perfect cuts can be on a curve like that.    

I do have high standards but I've paid stonemasons in the past to cut and polish what our tiler can't.  

ThisIsWeird

The gap between the bottom step and the patio is hard to understand - it's just hugely excessive by any possible standards. The other parts and curves and shaped grout are just very bad.
Cutting these curved step ends is a challenge, obviously, but the cove has actually managed that; the arcs are smooth, the cuts neatly finished, but they are just hugely 'out'. No excuse for inaccuracy - that's the easy part. Just make up and use a simple template.
As part of the making good, would colour-matching the grout to slate grey, or even a shade darker be useful?

stuart45

As TIW said, a ply template clamped to the slabs for a more accurate cut. When masonry units have large and irregular joints, a mortar colour closer to them is better. When they are cut accurately and the the joints are small and regular a contrasting mortar colour is better to show the quality of the work.

ThisIsWeird

stuart45 said:

As TIW said, a ply template clamped to the slabs for a more accurate cut. When masonry units have large and irregular joints, a mortar colour closer to them is better. When they are cut accurately and the the joints are small and regular a contrasting mortar colour is better to show the quality of the work.

Stu, if you tell us that's your work, I will have to go and change my pants.