Opinions on my contractor

bankrupted · Post: # 89094Post **bankrupted** Sat Apr 13, 2013 1:02 pm

Guys, just looking for some professional opinions on some work I have had done.

I have had a large(ish) area blocked paved. I did the base myself over a year ago, but circumstances meant I couldn't finish the block laying. The base was constructed to spec defined on this site and after a year of driving on and off not a single rut.

I couldn't face the huge task of block paving it myself, so employed a local contractor. He did a few down the road and I must say they look very good. Anyway he gave me a quote which I was happy with as I knew what I had to pay for materials etc, hire of equipment and during the quote he said he lays the edge brick on the sand and then haunches then with cement, said it was better as if the drive sinks a little the edge bricks say level.

I thought nothing off it and he implied it was the new sort of way to do it. Now reading this site again I can see that absolutely no-one is saying this is acceptable.

His haunch is 4 inches wide and in essence buts up against my concrete kick boards of the fencing. In general any vehicle traffic is not going to drive over the edge and will be 2 ~3 block widths away when you drive up the drive. But to be honest after I saw what he did I am not really impressed.

Just wanted thoughts from the professionals. Have I really been done!!!

Sat Apr 13, 2013 1:22 pm

the haunch is a cheap and nasty way of doing it
myself and most others on here use
1 a kerb
2 edgings
3 a wall
the haunch is the territory of the pikeys and bodgers
have you got any photos you could upload and post here?
cheers LLL

bankrupted · Post: # 89097Post **bankrupted** Sat Apr 13, 2013 1:44 pm

Yes, I'll upload some in a day or 2. He's coming back to finish some work first.

Post: # 89098Post **Dave_L** Sat Apr 13, 2013 1:49 pm

What edge construction was detailed on the pre-contract specification?

bankrupted · Post: # 89099Post **bankrupted** Sat Apr 13, 2013 2:27 pm

The issue is not what was specified, verbally he stated how the edges would be done, I took him at face value that it was an acceptable construction method. (I read up on edge construction after he had completed the work)

It's just that having seen his work a few doors down, having a score of 9.8 on checktrade and having done a reasonable job on the drive, I find it a bit odd that laying the edge block on the sand level and then simply haunching is such a no no and the sign of poor workmanship.

bankrupted · Post: # 89100Post **bankrupted** Sat Apr 13, 2013 3:05 pm

Actually here are some pics.

First is the haunching for a small flower bed I have

Second is an exposed side area yet to be gravelled

Third is the edge after gravelling.

I am still waiting for the silica sand to be wacked in when it gets dry.

Quality of the work I am pleased with, just slightly concerned that edge construction has rasied alarm bells.

Post: # 89101Post **msh paving** Sat Apr 13, 2013 3:38 pm

the cuts in the last pic. are to small know as darts,cuts in middle pic not correct as well, read this page from main site, the work looks good apart from this
cutting in details

MSH

local patios and driveway · Sat Apr 13, 2013 4:24 pm

personally i wouldnt worry about the darts, its wrong technically but ive yet to see a dart sink and it looks so much better than the other method of cutting. that is only my opinion. as for the haunching, its pointless and prone to failure. but it looks ok for now. seems to me though that you were told this method and agreed, but in the same breath are not an expert and didnt know any better. personally i prefer to bed all edges on my subbase albeit lower than the main section, this then illiminates any issue with the middle possibly sinking (it shouldnt anyway) as the whole area could in theory settle the same amount.

in this case you paid your money, took your choice, were happy with the work previously done, were told the spec too.

Sat Apr 13, 2013 4:41 pm

its not the best and not the worst
looks like he used a splitter
obviously needs sanding
he has done what he said he would so thats that really
time to be picky is on the specification
its a fair job from where i sit and the haunch although not ideal is sufficient
LLL

Carberry · Post: # 89106Post **Carberry** Sat Apr 13, 2013 5:01 pm

Crap finish on the concrete haunch. It isn't ideal but it should stop any spread because it butts up against the concrete board.

Post: # 89109Post **seanandruby** Sat Apr 13, 2013 6:12 pm

As stated the time to pick your contractor up about the issues would of been in the verbal exchange. I would of expected to see the radius bit of edge laid on concrete and haunched a bit. Also i prefer in board cutting to the darts but it's not a biggy in this case.
The finish in the haunching is really messy, so i don't reckon you would of agreed to that beforehand, maybe ask him to put that right. Other than that i think you have a fair job.

r896neo · Post: # 89124Post **r896neo** Sun Apr 14, 2013 12:57 pm

Its going to be some job if and when you need to get into what i assume is a manhole with the recessed cover in the last photo.

Personally I don't have a problem with laying a free edge with no kerb but obviously only use it on paths which border turf or flower beds.

I lay the last block on concrete and haunch onto that concrete while its still wet to try and tie them in together.

I'd be interested to hear what others reckon to this practise?

Simon

dig dug dan · Post: # 89128Post **dig dug dan** Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:24 pm

Its not concrete haunching, but washed river sand and cement, so not the right job imo

Sun Apr 14, 2013 5:14 pm

r896neo wrote:Its going to be some job if and when you need to get into what i assume is a manhole with the recessed cover in the last photo.

Personally I don't have a problem with laying a free edge with no kerb but obviously only use it on paths which border turf or flower beds.

I lay the last block on concrete and haunch onto that concrete while its still wet to try and tie them in together.

I'd be interested to hear what others reckon to this practise?

Simon

its alright on paths,but what tends to happen is that the middle blocks sink a little over time
not a fan of haunching but on the budget jobs if done right its ok
LLL

bankrupted · Post: # 89130Post **bankrupted** Sun Apr 14, 2013 5:28 pm

Actually, it's slightly worse than those pictures reveal. The haunching in the second picture has a reasonable amount of cement in it. Nevertheless it's just sharp sand and cement.

The haunching around the flower bed is an even weaker mixture of the same, but the rest of the edging (around 90% of it) has again an even weaker mixture. I reckon it's being mixed to around 8 sharp or more to 1 cement. It has no strength whatsoever, I can simply break it apart by hitting it with a blunt item 2 days later. Also it most places I reckon only a third of the height of the block is haunched. They simply didn't put enough mortar down ( I am not going to use the work concrete, because it F****ng well isn't)

Anyway I have told him I am seriously not happy. I am going to get all the edging haunch dug out and re-haunced with concrete.

One other question. What do you think of the quality of workmanship when the haunching material, is simply sharp sand and cement?