The Brew Cabin

Apologies if this type of question has already been covered in previous posts but a quick scan has not highlighted the issue:

having seen that block paving price quotes appear to refer to sq m, and after admiring some of the patterns formed with standard blocks in the Marshall's catalogue, would I be expecting to pay more for the contractor to lay down a specified pattern??

I wasn't thinking specifically of an optional circle or hex set but more the use of square bricks laid in a diamond pattern with lots of halved squares (corner to corner to form triangles) to create straight edges, etc. Although the brick coverage will be approximately the same I do appreciate that the number of bricks that would need to be split is a consideration. How is this calculated in a routine domestic drive price?

Best regards for an enlightening site. Incidentally, I have noticed when dropping your site name into a conversation with contractors the effect can be quite amusing: ranging from bluster to caution!

Mike MMM

There's no fixed formula to determine how kmuch any particular project would cost based on the number of cuts required. What happens is that the contractor or the pricing agent guesstimates how many working days or what sort of coverage rate would be possible when laying the required design.

If we say, for argument's sake, that a standard drive would cost 1,000 quid for a basic 90º herringbone, then a contractor may well ask for 1,200 quid for a 45º herringbone, and so could look for something around 1,500-2,000 for a more complicated design.

The only way to price this is to work on a time basis. If I reckon the extra cutting will cost me an extra day's labour, then I might add the cost of a gang for the day, plus running costs, and quite probably, a few bob for extra to compensate for the headaches that invariably occur with non-standard layouts.

I know what you mean about the reaction from various contractors when my website, or even my name, is mentioned. Those with web access and a keen sense of pride and professionalism are usually pleased to hear you've read up on the subject and are aware of what's what, while those with lower standards like to make the claim that I talk out of my arse and know nothing about actual site conditions. There's also a lot of contractors that are blithely unaware of my site, but pretend to know all about it in case their lack of familiarity with the site is perceived as lack of expertise, which may or may not be the case.

I regularly chat to several hundred contractors spread throughout these islands, from John O'Groats to Land's End, from Co. Kerry to Co. Kent, and the vast majority of them are really pleased that someone is documenting what is and what isn't acceptable, and simultaneously providing both themselves and their clients with an impartial reference source for the more unusual pavement designs.

I also know of a small number of "contractors" that have promised to cave-in my skull, kick seven shade of summat out of me, break my legs, and even the promise to bite off my dangly bits and spit them into my wife's face, and all because I exposed to their clients just how bloody crap they are at this trade, and that they are parasites, trading on the good name of those contractors who have a real sense of integrity, genuine skills, and honest pride in their work.

I must be doing summat right, then! ;)

Thanks for the guidance Tony - it will be a big help.

Mike MMM