Pic driveway nearly done

[Inapickle]

I'm getting my driveway done in pic and after reading your website I'm getting more and more worried I'v made a terrible mistake. They just finished the imprinting today, done in 2 halves, first bit done yesterday. They plan to wash it off tomorrow and apply sealant, plus cut the joints. My worry is shouldn't they allow some time for it to cure? And what if it rains? I think they're rushing to get it finished because I wouldn't pay them anything until the job is finished. Thanks for any advice.

[bobbi o]

obviously curing time will take a lot longer at this time of year,so you should definetly hold off as long as possible until your 100% satisfied that the job has been done correctly- i would say until you have driven on it for a few days.
theres so much chat on here about dodgy pic jobs,that i'm sure you realise theres a high chance you could be another unsatisfied customer,it would probably be a good idea to get a second opinion before you sign the job off.

[Ted]

I wouldn't seal it for at least 24hrs, particularly in this weather, but opinions vary greatly on this issue. Also, there are some sealers that claim to cure the concrete and seal it but I have only read about these, never used them. Maybe they have a fancy sealer from America? It is good that they are cutting the control joints in tomorrow though; these need to be done asap. PIC is quick to install and that is one of its advantages over other types of paving. My advice is that you want to keep off it as much as possible before it is sealed though, although walking to your door is obviously fine. The sealer protects the concrete and helps bring out the colour. One of the biggest complaints regarding PIC is that the sealer lifts as not enough release agent was taken up. The release agent should only appear in the joints and cracks. The higher parts of the pattern should be the colour of the colour hardener (primary colour). Many contractors rush the cleaning of the job and leave too much release agent on the slab. The sealer can't adhere to the release agent and you get flaky sealer problem which is not a nice look. Anyway, they should struggle to seal it before late afternoon as they need to wash the slab and then wait for it to dry before sealing it. BTW, I am surprised they took the job on with no payment for the work until completion. I have met too many customers whop simply don't like to pay for building work to ever work for someone who was not prepared to pay in installments as the work is done.

[lutonlagerlout]

I have met too many customers whop simply don't like to pay for building work

you and me both ted,why is it that people say sweet feck all when you are doing the work.
then the minute you are finished their mate who is an expert on whatever you are doing turns up and crucifies the job?
one plonker turned up and asked me why i had laid the slabs upside down
(indian sandstone)
i said" if you know so much, why didn't you do the job mate?"
to which he replied "i am so good, i am always busy" (obviously not too busy ,that he couldnt drive around snagging other peoples work) so i said "p*** off and be busy somewhere else then"
we had to get the rep out to explain to the customer that we had laid the flags the right way up ,but the nosey parker had delayed ouir money for a week grrr
also a lot of rogue traders type programmes advise paying nothing till the job is done
must be a lot of ppl not getting any work done,we always ask for 25% when materials etc turn up on site,if this is not forthcoming we removed the materials etc
cheers LLL

[MatthewWakeman]

it's all about trust we dont take payment untill the job has been finished it's a good selling point although i have to say we have come un stuck once or twice. Nothing worse when the customer is sat on 5k and sudenly the planters in the wrong place or i thought this or that was included.. bite tounge and think happy thoughts while carrying out the extra's for free

regards

matthew
drivewaycompany.co.uk

[lutonlagerlout]

i take it you havent been knocked for 27k then matthew???
a good friend of mine was, and it sent him under,
hes back working for other ppl now and living in a rented house

doing a big job for rich clients,and they stalled,stalled,stalled
then the guy comes out as the work was nearing completion and says "i am bankrupt".
funny enough his business reopened the next day with his wife as proprieter and 1 letter swapped in the name
but my poor mate had to swallow the lot.
its wasnt just my mate,there were kitchen fitters,granite floor ppl etc. loads got knocked for about 100k in total
the decorator bashed the bloke up and got 9 months in prison,
so
in short
yes i do want instalments
its a horrible feeling when you are overexposed financially and the client starts talking about "cash flow" problems
the biggest tarmacing firm in luton "crowleys" insist on payment up front and in full,and they get it
nothing wrong with money up front as long as you dont run off with it
cheers LLL

[Stuarty]

The firm i work for take installments, that are always agreed to tie in with the works being phased. You have to always think of yourself, and the lads that work with you. Your client may look trustworthy and respectable but anyone can be easily fooled.

I know a couple of lads that ended up in a position similar to your mate, LLL, that also had to fold the business. They have managed to land on their feet now though. But the last 2 years were just pure torture for them.

Cash on completion on smaller jobs only in my book.

[Inapickle]

Thanks guys. I got them to delay the wash and seal for 24 hrs, so here's hoping.

Re payment.. I was just going by what I've heard about not paying until job done, but knowing he'd shelled out on materials, labour, etc. I did feel bad so relented and paid 3k of the 5k, rest on completion.

Great site BTW!!

[Stuarty]

Good communication between client and contractor helps, aslong as everyone knows where they stand everything usually runs fine

[Sir Bagalot]

I once knew of a Brickie that did lots of work at the personal home of someone who had a habit of not paying. He presented his £2K bill and waited... and waited... and then waited a bit more. The owner started talking about the wall not been straight etc etc

He realised he wasn't going to get paid and challenged the bloke who basically told him to Get Lost, but those weren't the two words he used.

Suing him was a no no as he had heard too many stories about this bloke.

One night he visited the house with a sledge-hammer and took down every part of the wall

[Dave_L]

Payment up front!

[lutonlagerlout]

thing to remember in these situations is that you dont get time for criminal damage,but you do for assault
as bo and luke duke used to say "we hurt property,not folks " (dukes of hazard ,circa 1983)
in short, from my little black book of dirty tricks,bucket of crete down the IC is a real bummer to put right,also i hear that nitromorse is a very effective stripper if you want to get all the paint off your motor vehicle,right back to the metal
anyone else heard of any alternative methods of payback?
like i said earlier though,if you use stage payments you can avoid being overexposed,and so hopefully it waont come to this

regards LLL

[Stuarty]

A little cheeky one is writing messages on lawns. With glyphosate. Usually isnt noticable untill 10 - 14 days after application. Or turning up to the non-payers and taking the chainsaw to their nice new deck they aint wanting to pay for.

Best one was when we arrived at 7.30 with a 3CX and a 16 tonner ready to rip out the drive that they tried to shirk out of paying for. It was highly amusing when they came scuttling out of their house half dressed.

As the boss says "That material belongs to me untill they pay for it, and i can do what i like with it"

[seanandruby]

the dept collector, equaliser, persuader also known as the pick axe handle works everytime :;):

[TarmacLady]

Stuarty, that's the best method I've heard of yet -- after the usual methods fail, of course.

Our rules are different here, and a contractor who wants the lot up front is a flashing red neon sign of a cowboy who's not to be trusted...god knows there's enough lawyers around to make anyone afraid of doing a runner.

Suing to collect payment is easier, too, from what I've seen you all tell.