Nice new driveway, but bad looking step - Nice new driveway, but bad looking step

[eldy123]

Hi

I've just had a new driveway installed via a Marshall's registered installer and received a invoice to pay remaining amount (1/2) on their understanding that all the work is now completed.

However we have raised our concerns with them that we do not like the look of the front door step. It doesn't fit in with the rest of block paved driveway in terms of visual look and the quality of slab used. It looks any eyesore.

We originally specified a block paved step to replace the existing step when he visited but later said the step is part of the foundation of the house and should not be broken so they just put paving slabs on the existing concrete step top and sides.

We have complained to him and he has asked us to look at Marshalls brochure to see what step we would like installed (which is a cheek as he ended up using Bradstone block paving claiming we did not specify marshals even though we found him via the Marshall website find an installer link ) and he will provide a quote for the work

We have found a nice stone we like (fairstone versuro step) but really dont want to pay additional for the labour considering the work they did on the step was not much (we were quoted £95 per sqm which is on the high end but happy to pay because of his expertise and reputation and he is marshalls registered). We would be happy to pay additional for this step as it is quite expensive.

It seems there are other issues, we have been told by our neighbours, like the end of the driveway being cemented and not tarmaced (so it will break at some point when car drives over it, it already appears to be cracking) and the block paving attached to the house being filled with sand rather than being cemented. The Aco drain joins have not been siliconed. We will be telling him this in our reply to his invoice.

The installer does not seem to be keen on coming here but his workers have sent him photo's of the step that has been installed.

What i'd like to know is should we withold payment until this is all fixed, and how much. We have already paid 1/2 of the quote.

[seanandruby]

Post some photos' so the lads can see what you are on about.

[eldy123]

Photo of the step

[digerjones]

To me it doesn't look like a top quality job. The step isn't very aesthetically pleasing. Looks like lots of slivers meeting the aco drain. More pictures please

[eldy123]

[eldy123]

sorry for the large photo's.

Is his point about the step being part of the house foundation valid or is he trying to fob me off?

He did agree to block pave stepping before work was commenced so strange he did not mention it then.

[msh paving]

he has gone from a header to stretcher course around the door areas behind the aco, which looks bad against the rest of the headers, aco drain does not need silicone in the joints as they have connecting nibs,the step is very poor design, even if there is concrete part of the footing it could be cut out with any issues just a bit more work,lots of small cuts around the gully pot he could have done better around the cable tv duct work and gully
as he is a marshalls approved contractor take the issues up with marshalls, the cement at driveway conection to foot path he should have put a edge kerb there to be a edge to the council slabs,
in a ideal job the aco would be 1 block away from the wall to allow a better finish and he would then set aco to work whole blocks and half cuts, MSH

[seanandruby]

The step should be same distance either side of doorway, i wouldn't of had a rip like that agaonst the wall, i would of had either one slab wife or 4 but even sized wide. The joints are shite. The slips in the paving are bad, the detail around fully atrocious as is the haunching at start of drive threshold. The air vent looks to be compromised. not good m8

[GB_Groundworks]

That's dog rough

The steps especially, joints not aligned and those little slips! And off centre of not be paying for that.

as they've used brad stone but through marshals register be interesting.



Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1466283593

[eldy123]

Thanks everyone for looking at this.

Yes there is an airbrick above the step that has been mostly covered by the slab they installed

The airbrick next to the step is half covered but this was agreed so that my driveway could be made level with my neighbour when they come to do their driveway in the future.

As he can't be bothered coming here to even look at the drive in full (he just left the work to his workers) i'm going to email him exactly the same photos i've posted on this site, copy and paste all your comments in the email, and ask him to reply to the comments and reassess how much of the quote to pay off at this stage.

If necessary i'll contact both Marshalls and Bradstones as he is actually registered installer with both of them for their opinions.

What about my question about withhold the remaining half of the quote due until this is all fixed. How should this best be dealt with?

Also what about the sand between the gap of the driveway and my house. Should this not be cemented instead?

[msh paving]

put it in writing your not paying the balance till finished to your satisfaction , he has no comeback then MSH

[eldy123]

Hi, he has come back to me and is happy to meet. He has asked me to clarify my complaint as to what I am not happy with "and not the opinion of others as that would be more constructive"

So I have summarised below. Does this sound right?

1. Poorly installed door step - Please can paving slabs installed be removed, the old concrete step be cut, made same distance either side of doorway, ensure air vent is not compromised. We would like the following step to be installed (autumn bronze)
http://www.marshalls.co.uk/homeown....e-steps
Please can you make a drawing of the step that you would propose to install. We do not want to pay labour charges for this installation as no real work was done on the existing step, as per the comments. We will pay for the step but no the labour as this would have been already charged under your original quote.
2. The Aco drain should have been placed 1 block away from the house wall to allow a better finish and ducting to cable tv/gulley area which would look a lot more tidier that it is now. The Aco drain installed at the step also has dried concrete in it.
3. The block paving area in front of the double garage doors has been laid poorly. It is full of small cuts around the gully pot and incorrectly laid as it does not match the header/stretcher course of the main block paving layout on the driveway.
4. There is no edge kerb at driveway connection to council slabs. It has been cemented which is liable to crack when driven over. It also looks atrocious.
5. The space between driveway and house has been filled with sand. Please confirm if cement should have been used instead?

Thanks for your help on this. Hopefully my final post will be one with a photo of a nice door step!

[digerjones]

Yes let's hope so.

[eldy123]

I've had a chat with one of the block paving company this installer is registered with and shown them the same photo's.

They cannot comment on the aco drain as it does not belong to them.

The concrete step may be part of the foundation as it is known for houses to have it as part of foundation. If broken it may be difficult to put a new step there if it cannot be fully cut. I need to speak to the installer as to why he did not mention this when he agreed to put a block paving step there.

They also say the edge kerb to the council slabs is not necessary as it is common for it to be cemented like that. It needs to be in quote if one is required.

However with regards to the slips done near my doors they will refer it to their technical department as there may be issues with that.

They will send a summary report through tomorrow.

[ilovesettsonmondays]

You should ask Marshalls how they got onto their scheme doing work like that .