Some of my work - Www.localpatiosanddriveways.co.uk

[local patios and driveway]

thought i would show you all what we are doing at the moment. all very standard fare driveway job, large patio round the back too, supposed to be finished in two weeks and here we are at the end of week three!! nightmare, but i wont rush my work. think its obvious im fighting for space though. let me know if the pics havnt worked
Dan

[irishpaving]

You looking for an honest opinion or general one ???

[local patios and driveway]

you can be honest chap.

[GB_Groundworks]

i'm no paver but those darts look dodgy rd the recessed trays and the slips on the arc

like i say im no paver but i know a man who is and he says:-

http://www.pavingexpert.com/blockcut.htm

see How to Cut-in section

Rule 1 - Ideally, all cut blocks should have at least 3 uncut edges. This is not always possible, notably when the orientation of the cuts is shifted through 90°
Rule 2 - Each cut should be not less than one-third of a block, unless there is no other way of piecing-in.



Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1280705563

[mickg]

No drainage channels and the driveway is falling towards the road ?

I know we all operate in different ways but the pavement straight facing the new driveway looks like its not had a brush near it for days which for me is just not acceptable, if you left my pavement like that for one day I would stop the job until its been removed.......no honest I am being serious, you can do the best job ever but leaving that type of mess on a pavement is unacceptable as we are not working on building sites we are working on someone home plus the fact your walking all that dirt onto a brand new driveway

and why is the spoil still on the job piled up on the front lawn, that should be the first item to be removed, i take it your using the grab wagon which will mean as the wagon picks up a scoop it will spill the fines and small stone all over the brand new driveway when he swings the grab round which is making work cleaning it up

regarding cuts Giles is correct in what he is saying, I don't always follow that rule as I lay a lot of the tumbled style of paving but it is the correct way of laying the 200mm x 100mm standard block paving

5 edge blocks up from the ally straight edge leaning on the fence the light coloured block is not in line with the other blocks and it looks like a dogs hind leg

a driveway of that size we would of screeded all the laying sand off at the same time and laid it in one, like I already said we are all different but to finish that driveway you have to install the step riser, mix semi dry for the step its self and you have new laid paving which if you or someone on the job is not a clean and tidy worker will end being all over the face of the new driveway

Why is the mixer still there when your going to have to drag those metal wheels over the new paving to get it out, for me there is a process and if you stick to that process the job looks neat and tidy and it comes together correctly

sorry to be blunt but that is not how I can work or operate and if that was one of my jobs and you was doing it I would stop the job until it had been made tidy, we don't leave every night until everything has been made tidy and safe

they don't look like safety footwear

PS....next time don't post photos of a job in progress unless its perfect, move the cups off the window cill as make sure the kiln dried sand is brushed in...oh and get rid of the radio, you cant work swift and efficiently if your distracted by a radio

I am off to work now to my clean and tidy job I left on Saturday evening and look forward to seeing your reply as I return this evening..have a nice day

[seanandruby]

and you call me ' a nasty bugger' irish?

[local patios and driveway]

well sounds like everyone in the north got out of bed on the wrong side today, i will have a go at defending my work.

No drainage channels and the driveway is falling towards the road ?
we are replacing an existing driveway, am i wrong in thinking its not a requirement legally?

I know we all operate in different ways but the pavement straight facing the new driveway looks like its not had a brush near it for days which for me is just not acceptable, if you left my pavement like that for one day I would stop the job until its been removed.......no honest I am being serious, you can do the best job ever but leaving that type of mess on a pavement is unacceptable as we are not working on building sites we are working on someone home plus the fact your walking all that dirt onto a brand new driveway
actually this IS a building site, the house hasnt had occupants for a year, but we sweep up every evening before we leave, you are only assuming we dont.....

and why is the spoil still on the job piled up on the front lawn, that should be the first item to be removed, i take it your using the grab wagon which will mean as the wagon picks up a scoop it will spill the fines and small stone all over the brand new driveway when he swings the grab round which is making work cleaning it up
yes its not ideal, i would have prefered the room too but every job is diffrent and with this one ive grabbed away no less then 9 grabs! im genuinely so tight on the budget i needed to ensure i get a full load away, and lets not forget its a driveway not a carpet, it can be cleaned in moments.

regarding cuts Giles is correct in what he is saying, I don't always follow that rule as I lay a lot of the tumbled style of paving but it is the correct way of laying the 200mm x 100mm standard block paving
yeah i know the darts are not good but they are unavoidable with herringbone here due to the width of the driveway.

5 edge blocks up from the ally straight edge leaning on the fence the light coloured block is not in line with the other blocks and it looks like a dogs hind leg
yeah but with the method i use i cut in, it makes no diffrence they are placed there as a guide, when i slot in the charcoals everything is then held in place correctly. just like the rest are

a driveway of that size we would of screeded all the laying sand off at the same time and laid it in one, like I already said we are all different but to finish that driveway you have to install the step riser, mix semi dry for the step its self and you have new laid paving which if you or someone on the job is not a clean and tidy worker will end being all over the face of the new driveway
annoyingly the ony reason the riser isnt completed is that those stones are now discontinued! i use them from stock and now i struggled to find any more at the weekend, all i can find are the frogged blocks, yet another set back for this job. i do all the detailed work in general and so there wont be any mess. not ideal but i cant have two of us standing around because a step is half finished

Why is the mixer still there when your going to have to drag those metal wheels over the new paving to get it out, for me there is a process and if you stick to that process the job looks neat and tidy and it comes together correctly
where else could it be? i cant mix on the driveway and theres no other place left that isnt paved or slabbed or a big pile of clay.... tight site.

sorry to be blunt but that is not how I can work or operate and if that was one of my jobs and you was doing it I would stop the job until it had been made tidy, we don't leave every night until everything has been made tidy and safe
thats fine, but i dont have the time to worry about a coke bottle here or a cup there, im too busy working rather than standing around making sure my boys are doing the shake and vac

they don't look like safety footwear
its not

PS....next time don't post photos of a job in progress unless its perfect, move the cups off the window cill as make sure the kiln dried sand is brushed in...oh and get rid of the radio, you cant work swift and efficiently if your distracted by a radio
rubbish, the radio is the best tool on the site, keeps the lads content. dont forget bloack paving is boring

I am off to work now to my clean and tidy job I left on Saturday evening and look forward to seeing your reply as I return this evening..have a nice day
there ya go, ive had a go at replying im off to make sure this job looks even better than it was going to in the first place because if its not spot on and you lot attack me again i think i might actually cry a little bit........


.....and i dont want to get tears on the driveway, it might stain.

[GB_Groundworks]

i think you've missed a few points there, if you look at that link you can loose the darts by reworking the pattern no matter how wide the drive is,

as for what mickg said regarding the mixer(not seen one with metal wheels for a while) i think he meant get all teh wet work done first edgers and steps then get rid of the mixer and then screed and lay the blocks so no risk of staining like on teh photo of the recessed tray.

remember this site is pavingexpert, as for your 9 grab wagons seems alot 120 odd tons for a small driveway like that, or did the builders leave a load of crap to clean up. what you paying for your grabs about £180 for 16 tons.

as for the cups and the trainers think he was just meaning about having a professional mentality, wouldnt get on my site with trainers on, dont need a lad with a crushed foot

[mickg]

>>>>we are replacing an existing driveway, am i wrong in thinking its not a requirement legally?

paving expert guide to block paving front gardens since October 1st 2008

All paving and surfacing, whether it's new work, replacement, or extension, is subject to the new legislation, so even if you're only replacing your existing flags with a bit of block paving, the work will have to be installed in accordance with the new regulations.

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>>>>where else could it be? i cant mix on the driveway and theres no other place left

if the big pile was not on the lawn area then that's where I would make my base camp

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>>>>rubbish, the radio is the best tool on the site, keeps the lads content. dont forget bloack paving is boring

its your livelihood how on earth can you say its boring, I am on my 30th year and still get a buzz every day because every day is different and I still enjoy it

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safety boots, ear defenders, mask and gloves if you wear them are a very important part of your kit, it only takes one block to break a toe whilst wearing trainers, I wore trainer for years too but not anymore

are you aware the HSE can call on your job any time they are passing and stop the job there and then ?

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>>>>and i dont want to get tears on the driveway, it might stain
not as much as all that shite on the pavement when you walk it onto "BRAND NEW PAVING"

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>>>>having a professional mentality
that is absolute paramount at all times no matter where you are working

[msh paving]

The cut's are are absolute rubbish, you need to read the main site about small dart's,they will pop out in no time, there is no reason for small bit's, interpave state all cuts should be no smaller than a 1\3 of a block
training shoes are a no no no how no way,tread on a nail or drop wacker plate on feet thats your lot if you employ the other guys you are just as much to blame as them HSE will chase you and them MSH

[ilovesettsonmondays]

i like the roof .it looks good to me ???

[cookiewales]

i like the roof .it looks good to me ???

that made me laugh :p :p

[rab1]

to be honest mate, i personally wouldn't want my drive done like that. when perssimon homes built these house the drives were laid like that if you payed for the upgrade. most off them now have ruts etc and the small darts have turned to dust, but the paving contractor was paid sweet fxxx all for each drive he did.

[ilovesettsonmondays]

very true rab .i did price work for years .building site was worst place to try and make money.prices always too tight .due to groundwork company taking his cut ,then you third in line .always earnt much better money on roads .reason being you are second in line for payment and much more money involved for contractor off road scheme than off a house building scheme

[lutonlagerlout]

not too much to say that hasnt already been said,other than its best to post pictures of completed jobs :;):
generally i wont do inboard cutting round recessed covers as it looks crap and emphasises something you are trying to hide

however there is no reason for it not to be done on the rest of the drive

we would cut 50 blocks in half before we start laying the area so that we have some ready
the good thing with inboard cutting is that it is far easier to cut 30 mm of a block than trying to cut 170 mm off a block

I hate seeing muck piled up on jobs, but I do appreciate in these straightened times,that some jobs are budget with a capital B

show us the finished job dan
LLL