Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 10:51 pm
Hi - I have/am having similar issues as those described by Rugbydan1977. In short, Contractor 1 was unprofessional and did poor quality work, so we went our separate ways (lots of rubbish left all over property, over-filled skip on road, unfinished patio etc.). Contractor 2 started ok but has become unprofessional, has seemingly lost interest and I am concerned about his work on the patio (we have not paid him anything yet unlike the first lot).
Contractor 2 started off sounding good and was highly critical of the work that had been started on the patio. He pointed out various issues and explained that he should not be able to lift the slabs up off the bedding by hand, which he could.
The slabs were lifted up, undamaged, and put to one side, the bedding was removed. Some days later, one of his men started laying slabs back down, he used a line, spirit levels and a wet mix. The next day, the slabs he laid were solid. The team didn't come back when they said they would.
The guy that laid the slabs was no longer available so the head guy of Contractor 2 (who we were dealing with) came over for an hour to lay some more. The mix he used was completely different, dry and reddish, the slabs were laid down and tapped in but the bedding was quite dry. Some areas actually were wet, had gaps underneath and have set solid, other areas are dry and we can lift the slabs out by hand. He used more water for these areas that are now solid, but he stopped asking for it and carried on with a drier mix. So there are essentially three different bed types under half a modest sized patio.
So he has left the slabs in the same condition he found them when he was so critical - the slabs can be lifted by hand.
I am so frustrated that we seem to be being taken advantage of again and I don't have any trust left in him to finish the job correctly.
So here's my question: Is this a recognized technique to lay slabs on this drier, sandier bed, leaving the slabs loose? He said he would add water later which would allow the cement to bind it. I don't like how it is panning out but it would be useful to know if this does sound poor or whether he may have a particular method that produces good results. If I know, it will help with the difficult conversations ahead, especially when we ask him to explain why the work has been done in such a way so far.
Apologies for the lengthy explanation, but this is the much edited version of recent events and I'm really tired of it, upset, poorer and my daughter is still without a safe garden to enjoy this summer. Just don't want to be taken advantage of again and want my garden back.
Contractor 2 started off sounding good and was highly critical of the work that had been started on the patio. He pointed out various issues and explained that he should not be able to lift the slabs up off the bedding by hand, which he could.
The slabs were lifted up, undamaged, and put to one side, the bedding was removed. Some days later, one of his men started laying slabs back down, he used a line, spirit levels and a wet mix. The next day, the slabs he laid were solid. The team didn't come back when they said they would.
The guy that laid the slabs was no longer available so the head guy of Contractor 2 (who we were dealing with) came over for an hour to lay some more. The mix he used was completely different, dry and reddish, the slabs were laid down and tapped in but the bedding was quite dry. Some areas actually were wet, had gaps underneath and have set solid, other areas are dry and we can lift the slabs out by hand. He used more water for these areas that are now solid, but he stopped asking for it and carried on with a drier mix. So there are essentially three different bed types under half a modest sized patio.
So he has left the slabs in the same condition he found them when he was so critical - the slabs can be lifted by hand.
I am so frustrated that we seem to be being taken advantage of again and I don't have any trust left in him to finish the job correctly.
So here's my question: Is this a recognized technique to lay slabs on this drier, sandier bed, leaving the slabs loose? He said he would add water later which would allow the cement to bind it. I don't like how it is panning out but it would be useful to know if this does sound poor or whether he may have a particular method that produces good results. If I know, it will help with the difficult conversations ahead, especially when we ask him to explain why the work has been done in such a way so far.
Apologies for the lengthy explanation, but this is the much edited version of recent events and I'm really tired of it, upset, poorer and my daughter is still without a safe garden to enjoy this summer. Just don't want to be taken advantage of again and want my garden back.
