Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 10:21 pm
Hello - am hoping to get some expert advice, and apologise in advance for my lack of technical knowledge/vocabulary. Am hoping that someone can comprehend.
I had a patio put down three and a half years ago - around October time. It is formed with slabs laid on top of what was originally there - concrete. From what I understand, each slab was laid using a dabbing (?) method - and by that I mean a dollop of something in each corner, with a further dollop in the centre. The cracks/joins were then grouted with something. When finished, I was pleased with it. It looked lovely, and was nice and flat.
However, after about 9 months, I started to notice weeds and moss growing through many of the joins, and now, two years later, one-third of the mortar stuff that had been used to 'grout' the joins has come out, and in some places leaving quite wide gaps. Furthermore, some of the slabs have become wobbly.
I contacted the original contractor who said that the weather will have been responsible, and thus what has happened is to be expected. However, this new patio was laid beyond an existing patio that was laid circa 20 years ago. That one is still perfect, no cracks at all in the joins, no weeds or moss. Clearly both have been subjected to the same weather conditions!
Contractor says that he will come out and undertake repairs - i.e. refill the gaps, but I will have to pay for it. I would just like a bit of advice so that I can sound a bit informed when he comes.
I hope all of that has made some sense and that someone can assist. I am more into cake-making than slab laying! :p
I had a patio put down three and a half years ago - around October time. It is formed with slabs laid on top of what was originally there - concrete. From what I understand, each slab was laid using a dabbing (?) method - and by that I mean a dollop of something in each corner, with a further dollop in the centre. The cracks/joins were then grouted with something. When finished, I was pleased with it. It looked lovely, and was nice and flat.
However, after about 9 months, I started to notice weeds and moss growing through many of the joins, and now, two years later, one-third of the mortar stuff that had been used to 'grout' the joins has come out, and in some places leaving quite wide gaps. Furthermore, some of the slabs have become wobbly.
I contacted the original contractor who said that the weather will have been responsible, and thus what has happened is to be expected. However, this new patio was laid beyond an existing patio that was laid circa 20 years ago. That one is still perfect, no cracks at all in the joins, no weeds or moss. Clearly both have been subjected to the same weather conditions!
Contractor says that he will come out and undertake repairs - i.e. refill the gaps, but I will have to pay for it. I would just like a bit of advice so that I can sound a bit informed when he comes.
I hope all of that has made some sense and that someone can assist. I am more into cake-making than slab laying! :p
