Page 2 of 8
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:19 pm
by Pablo
Hi Dave, Firstly from the looks of that workmanship I would be looking to either pay them up and get rid of them or get them to make it good and refuse any payments until it is sorted.
1. Too many crosses and long joints and the joints are a bit wide.
2. Too many flags of the same size beside each other.
3. Flags should be laid with string lines and spirit levels. The variation in edge heights makes me wonder are they laying by eye although they could have sunk when walked on or because the mortar was saturated by washing etc. Have you walked on them when the mortar was still wet.
4. The flags that are too large should be cut to size before being laid and the cutting in should be done as you go too.
5.Check that the falls are good that bit by the fence looks like it's sloping towards the house although that may be intentional.
6.Get them to pull the weeds out by the fence before it's pointed and also clean thye old algae line on the wall.
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:32 pm
by msh paving
I'm with pablo on this one ,his comments are 100% correct,the slabs look badly stained with wet mortar,which will look very bed when dry,the pointing gap and depth is to small,looks like they were floating when laid as the mortar has pushed up the joints
the best answer is tell them to lift and start again doing it correctly and to a standard or lift it and leave the job alone,i would not pay them a penny for that standard,
it does not look good in the other pix far to much standing water,should have left the job till it stops raining and dries out
what was they going to point with?
hope iv not dishartend you to much,don't pay em a bean MSH 
Edited By msh paving on 1245267214
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:47 pm
by davelad
Hi Pablo,
Thanks for the info
They didn't have a spirit level, I heard one of them say as much and they didn't use any string lines, just a trowel and a giant rubber mallet.
I've not been any closer than when I took the photos and certainly not walked on it, and neither has the dog, I've kept her well clear. I haven't washed them, and neither did they - the flags are still dull and full of cement.
They haven't done any cutting at all, in fact they didn't have any kind of cutter with them today, just the whacker and the cement mixer, I think that probably explains that. To my untrained eye, it looks like hes just made a pigs ear of the spacing and it's caught up with him and forced those two flags to touch?
I'm not sure what you mean by falls?
Also, I have paid them 1/3 of the total price, and I will not be paying them any more until it's done properly. I could get rid, but then I'm back in at the deep end, trying to find a trustworthy firm. 
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:47 pm
by bodgeitandscarper
I thinks its breaching DPC as well. What a load of shite!!
I guess this guy was the cheapest!!
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:52 pm
by davelad
msh paving wrote:I'm with pablo on this one ,his comments are 100% correct,the slabs look badly stained with wet mortar,which will look very bed when dry,the pointing gap and depth is to small,looks like they were floating when laid as the mortar has pushed up the joints
the best answer is tell them to lift and start again doing it correctly and to a standard or lift it and leave the job alone,i would not pay them a penny for that standard,
it does not look good in the other pix far to much standing water,should have left the job till it stops raining and dries out
what was they going to point with?
hope iv not dishartend you to much,don't pay em a bean MSH
Hi mate,
No, you've not disheartened me, I'm just really grateful for the advice because it's clear to me now that they are a bunch of cowboys.
I'm not sure what they point with, what is it a choice of?...no doubt they'll be using dairylea or similar
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:52 pm
by davelad
bodgeitandscarper wrote:I thinks its breaching DPC as well. What a load of shite!!
I guess this guy was the cheapest!!
What is DPC please mate?
Edit: is it damp proof course? if so, no, that's about 2 rows of bricks above it, the black line that you may be able to see in the pics.
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:30 pm
by msh paving
Why have you given them 1/3. Never pay a small job like that in stage payments,if the can't fund a job off that size they should not be in buisness ,full payment on compleation ,dont fall for the buying materials that why we all have accounts MSH
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:47 pm
by DNgroundworks
They didnt have a spirit level or string lines?? what sort of outfit are they?
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:48 pm
by bodgeitandscarper
Im wrong!! the picture clearly shows the damp course at the correct height. Still looks shite though!!
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:52 pm
by davelad
Yes, it was for "materials".
To be honest, I asked all the people that I got quotes from and they all wanted a deposit like that for "materials" apart from one other ropey firm that insisted that i buy the materials from their supplier over the phone, needless to say I didn't do that, although now you've mentioned about the materials thing, I do feel a bit foolish.
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:58 pm
by DNgroundworks
I never ask for money up front, always supply a signed written quotation, specification and if on larger projects payment details etc etc.
I wouldnt pay any more until you are absolutley happy with the work, keep us posted....
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:12 pm
by davelad
Yes, I will keep you posted. It's ultimatum time tomorrow morning. Buck up or buck off
Thanks for the help everyone
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:14 pm
by williams
I always ask for payments, trust has to work both ways, too many dodgy people about imo.
Customers don't have to worry about me its me worrying about them lol.
And no level or lines?
And i thought my mixer was knackered lol.
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:21 pm
by DNgroundworks
Sorry i should of said on projects of that size i wouldnt ask for money:)
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:13 am
by Injured
Looking at the other pictures you have on photobucket I would insist he lifts them and start again. It looks to me like they havent a clue how to lay the stone to random. As has already been said there shouldnt be any crosses or long joints.
Also have they laid them using building sand and not grit sand?? To me it looks like brick laying mortar :rock: