Hello. I am looking for some help please. I had a new concrete slab poured about a month ago, and flagstone installed on top of it. There is a stone that is already completely loose, and cracks around several of the stones. There are also cracks along the edge where it meets the house. I have found several stones that sound hollow like there is nothing underneath them. I am rather upset about this as we paid a large sum of money to have this patio and cover built. The contractor is coming over today to look at it. Is it at all normal that it should be doing this already, or is it a sign of poor installation? What questions should I ask him?
Thanks for any help!!
Kim
New flagstone cracking??
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London Stone Paving
- Posts: 2199
- Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 1:07 pm
- Location: Surrey
- Contact:
Hi Kim
Sorry to say it sounds like a poor quality installation to me. You certainly should not be experiencing problems of this magnitude at such an early stage of the patios life.
It also sounds like the paving has been laid upon spots or dabs of mortar. This is where the contractor will lay the stones upon 5 spots of sand/cement mix (one under each corner and one in the middle). Paving should always be laid on a full bed of mix. The reason it sounds hollow is probably becasue there is nothing under there.
1. Have you paid the full amount over to the contractor?
2. How big is the area?
3. What is the paving material?
In an ideal world you should be asking the contractor to relay the lot however in all liklihood they will say no. You should try and get some kind of written guarantee from the contractor which will hopefully cover you against any future defects.
Sorry cant offer any further help but it does sound like you will either have to get the defects fixed and try and get a guarantee against future defects
or
Try and get the lot relaid by the same contractor (unlikely)
or
Get it done again at your own cost
If you need any further help get in touch
Regards
Steve London Stone
steven@londonstone.com
Sorry to say it sounds like a poor quality installation to me. You certainly should not be experiencing problems of this magnitude at such an early stage of the patios life.
It also sounds like the paving has been laid upon spots or dabs of mortar. This is where the contractor will lay the stones upon 5 spots of sand/cement mix (one under each corner and one in the middle). Paving should always be laid on a full bed of mix. The reason it sounds hollow is probably becasue there is nothing under there.
1. Have you paid the full amount over to the contractor?
2. How big is the area?
3. What is the paving material?
In an ideal world you should be asking the contractor to relay the lot however in all liklihood they will say no. You should try and get some kind of written guarantee from the contractor which will hopefully cover you against any future defects.
Sorry cant offer any further help but it does sound like you will either have to get the defects fixed and try and get a guarantee against future defects
or
Try and get the lot relaid by the same contractor (unlikely)
or
Get it done again at your own cost
If you need any further help get in touch
Regards
Steve London Stone
steven@londonstone.com
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kiper
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed May 19, 2010 1:57 pm
- Location: Dallas
Thank you so much Steve for your reply. I was afraid that was what I was going to hear! Yes, the full amount (unfortunately) has been paid. It is a 20x20 area with curved edges. I'm not certain on the paving material, but I believe he said it is Oklahoma flagstone. It is dark, almost black in color.
There were a couple of stones that came loose a few days after installation that they "repaired". One of those stones is already off, and there is no mortar on the bottom of it. I will ask him when he comes if it was installed on a full bed of mortar, but I have a feeling it was not. I also had an outdoor stone bar built and the walls are made from the same stone. There are already a couple of small cracks in the mortar. I just can't see how that could be good. In the contract it says there is a 2 year warranty on workmanship and materials. I would think this would fall under that, but I know they will try to get off with repairing it as cheap as they can.
There were a couple of stones that came loose a few days after installation that they "repaired". One of those stones is already off, and there is no mortar on the bottom of it. I will ask him when he comes if it was installed on a full bed of mortar, but I have a feeling it was not. I also had an outdoor stone bar built and the walls are made from the same stone. There are already a couple of small cracks in the mortar. I just can't see how that could be good. In the contract it says there is a 2 year warranty on workmanship and materials. I would think this would fall under that, but I know they will try to get off with repairing it as cheap as they can.