Attack of the bodgers - Patio problems

[SteveO73]

Hi, after reading this site and looking at my patio that was built a couple of months ago I can see that I’ve suffered at the hands of some bodgers (friend of a friend’s company). I’ve had 80 m2 of Indian sandstone laid and the previous nasty concrete slabs that were uneven taken up.

It seems that they have done no preparation of the sub-base so I imagine that the slabs will shift like the previous ones (think it’s just builders sand underneath), in some parts they broke up the original slabs to put underneath. The slabs 22mm calibrated (Raj Green from Prices Paving) have been spot laid and in some areas the spots were about 2 inches tall…. 25% of the slabs are now very slightly moving and 75% of them feel hollow. The grouting that they have used has understandably disappeared down the huge voids under the slabs, and they have used sand that seems to have small bits of grit and stone in for the grouting that looks messy (think it’s concreting sand?) and the joints that vary from an inch to nearly nothing.

Anyways it looks like I’m going to need the patio re done, ground dug up for a proper substrate and the stuff laid properly. Any ideas how much this will set me back?

Also there is no drain installed but a 4 inch strip of gravel to act as a soakaway in front of the 5ft retaining wall which drops down to the garden, is that an ok alternative to a proper drain?

Cheers

Steve

[London Stone Paving]

As an estimate for your part of the country I would have thought you would be looking in the region of £70-£100 per m2 all in for Indian sandstone.

The "drainage" solution they have put in could result in large amounts of water building up behind the wall so this would need looking at aswell. A good contractor will be able to advise on this.

No chance of getting thee guys back or at least trying to get any money back? (although, would you want them back?). All the best with it

Steve

[SteveO73]

Thanks Steve, I hope to get them to look at it but to be honest I can't see them doing a proper job just re-bodging what they've done. So will prob have to hunt for a good contractor.
Would that cost include the slabs? There's no staining on the current ones so fairly confident they can be re-used.


S

[London Stone Paving]

Sorry, if you can re-use the flags, it will come in around £20 a metre cheaper than I said in my OP.

If you are looking for a contractor, try Avalon Landscapes. Mick is a Brew Cabin regular. He is based in Birmingham

[London Stone Paving]

Here is a link to Mick website:

http://www.avalonlandscapesltd.com

[SteveO73]

Thank you

[SteveO73]

Actually looks like I'll have to go with the first price range you have me, the 5 spots have started appearing on the slabs. Feel sick, thats £7k of the in-laws money gone down the drain.