Pic patio & driveway

[cornishmaid]

Unfortunately I feel I've found this site too late! Would be grateful for people's views/comments on our situation.

Had work completed in June 08. The patio is the worst bit - it has such a slope that I'm sure when it's frosty I will go *ss over appetite! Up the side of the house water is collecting in large pools and mostly by the gas & electric meters. The downpipes from house and garage have been concreted. A washing line stake was put in by the groundworkers so you would have thought the concrete co. would have put level up to top of stake but no they've left quite a bit of exposed so looks completely cr*p. Also first day they laid concrete no signs were put up and the window cleaner came and so our patio as numerous footprints in it also. I feel the concrete company is at fault though as there was no way of knowing for the window cleaner. The concrete company feel there is nothing wrong with their workmanship and are not prepared to do anything. Given me a price to re-do bit but I am not prepared to pay anything else.

I am sure we have been ripped off. Got another local company (which I must say there are very few in Cornwall!) and his price is way lower considering they've got to break existing and start afresh. The quote by original concrete co. given does not give size of area and like a numpty we accepted price - total paid £7170 for separate driveway, another driveway by garage, front & side path and back patio with further small path to shed. I will get husband to take photos and post.

Unfortunately do not have legal cover on home insurance so will have to pay out to take to court. Don't think we should let them get away with it.

Would welcome people's views/comments on our predicament or indeed if you feel there's nothing that they have done wrong and we don't have a legitimate case.

Lorraine

[lutonlagerlout]

cant say much without pictures
window cleaner needs his backside kicking if you ask me,i have binned 3 this year.
they turn up, fanny around for 20 minutes, then want £20 for leaving the windows pretty much as when they arrived ???

its is normal practise to put some kind of barrier around fresh concrete though, and you would not expect any pools of water
also the thing with the clothes line you mentioned sound sounds really bad,as in incompetent and not conscientious .
piccies please
LLL

[simeonronacrete]

We may be able to offer a solution.

If you have a concrete base that is slippery, that can be coated with Ronadeck Fast Grip.

We can help you find a contractor that can price the work.

If you're interested give us a call.

Good luck.

[cornishmaid]

Here are some photos but we've noticed today on the drive and path to front door large cracks have appeared! Nightmare is getting worse! Also having trouble getting hold of someone to undertake a surveyors report. Did speak to someone from PIC but they couldn't do it as conflict of interest but gave name of John Linley (not sure of spelling). Has anyone heard of this guy and what his title is? Or if anyone knows of someone who could do a report (expert witness report) in Cornwall? Many thanks.

[cornishmaid]

More pics

[Dave_L]

In most of those photos I'm struggling to find anything wrong?

Clothes line post is terrible - and who did that pointing between the slabs?



Edited By Dave_L on 1223226608

[TheVictorianCobbleCo]

Number 1 - if you re-do the patio DON'T use PIC, at its best its horrible. No 2. The slope on the patio should be between 1 in 80 and at worst 1 in 40, if its worse than that then nail the installer on that as a major technicallity. No amount of treatment is going to assist confidence if you're standing off vertical. The cracks will be due to poor ground compaction, or too thin/weak concrete, or drying out too soon, or no expansion joints - a rough guide every 3 x 3metres. Is Picture 8 the expansion joint? Good Lord, and I worry about MY stds. As a last resort cut a flower pot in half and glue it round the clothes line post! Seriously, wish I could be of more help. Best of luck.

[cornishmaid]

Thanks for some comments although DaveL, I wish you could see it to say you don't think there's anything wrong with it. Ta VictorianCobbleco - if we do have it dug up we'll probably go for block paving. Someone else in our road has just had that done and it's looking fab, makes ours look even worse.

The water pooling is horrendous and cracks have now happened across middle of driveway and also from corner of house. I will put these photos on as well.

I would be interested to get Ted's comments as I understand he is resident expert on PIC - please Ted even if you think we're daft to try and pursue this.

I wish to get a report done - who is best an architect or surveyor?

Many thanks.

Lorraine

[Rich H]

Have you thought about contacting Trading Standards?

[yourgardenworks.co.uk]

I'm no expert on PIC, but that looks like a right bodge job, im stuck for words on this one, the price would probably be acceptable for a good job, but that looks like its been laid by a team of school kids on work experience. Trading standards is about the only comeback you will have, maybe Tony can give expert evidence on your behalf ?

[cornishmaid]

Here are some more photos of the cracking on the driveway. Any ideas anyone on whether to get architect or surveyors report? Spoke at length with Consumer Direct who work with Trading Standards and I've done everything they've said i.e. wrote to company with numerous letters. No joy so now only way is legal route if we wish to pursue hence why I wish to get an independent report and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[LJU]

You need to take the contractor to the small claims court to recover monies to correct the faults. The easiest way to do this is online at www.moneyclaim.gov.uk . You must make sure you send the contractor a Letter Before Action (LBA) giving him 7 days notice of what you intend to do. Send this recorded and keep the details. One thing I would suggest is make sure the contractor has the funds to refund you when you win, because if not it will be a waste if time and money for you.

[cornishmaid]

Thanks LJU. I've sent many letters to the company including a letter before action. I've been on the Companies House site and put in their company number - there is a proposal to strike off as they have not submitted any accounts (got to by 22/11/08) so although we wish to pursue don't know if they've got any money even if we win. Difficult as my husband still wants to get money back we paid.

Would still welcome comments/advice from Tony or Ted as to their thoughts and whether its worth getting an expert witness report before paying solicitors and if so whether we need to get surveyor or architect to do the report. HELP please. Thanks.

[msh paving]

HI,in my view you need a chartered engineer they are quilified to judge concrete standards and spec, and will give you the best report to show you problems. architect's have very little to do with concrete works they draw lines,

[Dave_L]

But you could be spending good money after bad, if you have no chance of recourse from the contractor.