Is my new patio ruined??? - Spot bedding marks.

[McGinty]

I've recently had an Indian sandstone patio laid. About a week after it was finished, what looks like damp marks started to appear on most flags. They resemble the five side of a dice, one dot in each corner and one in the middle.

Reading on the web I am assuming this is down to "spot bedding"?

Now is there anything that can be done short off ripping up £1200 of new patio and starting again?

The chap that laid them is a family friend of a work colleague, so no paper work was provided in the form of a formal quote eft, so I doubt asking him to sort it out will be an option.

Thanks in advance.
McGinty.

[bodgeitandscarper]

Do you want the bad news or the bad news? Get the guy back , as it needs a full bed! Spot bed is useless, it won't last long!

I've seen loads of crap jobs around where I live but people keep paying and a year down the line they look terrible. You need to ask to look at previous work and not work done last week as anything looks good when first laid!

[McGinty]

Are the existing flags reusable do you know, or will they have to be replaced?

[London Stone Paving]

Sorry to say but in my experience the stone will need to be replaced. The marks will fade over time but its doubtful if you will ever get rid of them.

The mortar spots act as a wick and pull through highly concentrated cementitous material which unfortunately has permanently altered the composition of the stone

[McGinty]

Thanks for the reply. Will a wet look sealer make any difference at all?

[London Stone Paving]

I take it you are considering keeping the existing patio and then sealing to try and reduce the impact of the marks? It may reduce the marks a bit but they would be still visible. I suppose you could do a test patch to see the results. Whatever happens you are compromising on the finish. The other issue is that spot bedding is pretty much doomed to failure and could easily start breaking up in as little as 12 months so you may end up just throwing good money after bad. Bad times unfortunately

[McGinty]

It was something I was considering yes. But your right why compromise on the finish. That's a kick in the plums that, Less then 3 weeks after it was laid it's fluffed.

[McGinty]

If I can work out how to post some images would you be able to have a look and tell me what you think?? It would be very much appreciated.

[bodgeitandscarper]

It's a relay job no pictures needed.

[McGinty]

It's a relay job no pictures needed.

[DNgroundworks]

Bodge is right,

You have nothing to loose by ringing the guy up and telling him the patios no good?

Could always re-direct him here for a little education.

Im just redoing a patio that someone has made an epic mess of, flags upside down, 1 inch joints, backfall....the works, full bed though! Ive told my client not to pay the cowboys a penny.

[r896neo]

I have lifted plenty for relaying that had been spot bedded and the stone was fine to reuse on all of them.

Are the marks you see just dampness or is there a cement grey residue when they dry?

If the residue is there then as steve says it may never go. but if its just damp marks it will be fine once fully bedded properly.

[lutonlagerlout]

believe it or not i see and speak to people young and old all the time who swear that spot bedding is fine
after all tommy walsh endorses it
LLL

[McGinty]

I have lifted plenty for relaying that had been spot bedded and the stone was fine to reuse on all of them.

Are the marks you see just dampness or is there a cement grey residue when they dry?

If the residue is there then as steve says it may never go. but if its just damp marks it will be fine once fully bedded properly.

It's a mix of both, damp patches and a white-ish salt like residue over the top. Looks bloody awful.

[higgness]

believe it or not i see and speak to people young and old all the time who swear that spot bedding is fine
after all tommy walsh endorses it
LLL

Me too. I have had some rows over this, young and old.
Absolutely crazy.