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Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 1:05 pm
by WhatshouldIdo
I'll add some photos when I can but I'd really appreciate your help with some serious issues I have with the paving a contractor has laid for me.
The jointing compound geofix has been used and most of the patio is cracking. The 'soakaway' on my driveway has filled up with soil. The slabs rock. The layout looks amateur. The edging looks unfinished.
I've raised these points with photos to the contractor who's asked for an independent inspector's report. So I have 2 questions please. First is am I being unreasonable to complain about the standard of work? You'll only be able to answer that once I upload the photos! Second is where do I start to get an independent report? Also should I be expected to and how much might it cost? All in it's a £14k job with £3k outstanding and I've been told it'll cost £9k to fix the problems (by 2 new contractors) Many thanks for your advice.
https://postimg.org/image/mdunlnc9d/
https://postimg.org/image/9wwdfjs35/
https://postimg.org/image/grxe772ap/
I can upload more if required.
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 2:27 pm
by Tom - Westminster Stone
Regarding the pointing, as discussed on here geofix isn't the best product on the market, but it looks like the compound hasn't been compacted into the joints using a pointing tool, how many of the flagstones rock? How many square metres do you have laid?
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 7:32 pm
by dig dug dan
More photos required of the other problem areas. That geofix will all have to come out and be redone with something like easijoint, or weatherpoint.
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 8:22 am
by KeburDave
Geofix is a terrible product had loads of issues with it many years back and will never touch it again, good news is it is that bad you shouldn't have any trouble removing it!!! Need to show more photos to get an overall picture of the job. If the contractor is a member of a trade association like the APL or Bali they will have a complaints procedure to go through and will send out an independent arbitrator/assessor. What paving manufacturer was it? If it was an approved installer like Marshalls Registered or Bradstone Assured they come with workmanship guarantees.
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 11:25 am
by Tony McC
I earn my living assessing paving and preparing court-ready independent reports.
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:12 pm
by WhatshouldIdo
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:34 pm
by WhatshouldIdo
My path is 13m/sq and my patio is 38m/sq including an additional path which isn't affected as he used something else to do that when I queried the rubbish finish on the patio. Probably half a dozen rock but more are becoming rocky as I examine them. Some were rocky within 48 hours of completion.
I believe it's Brett Canterbury (Old Cotswold and Slate Grey) but I can't be 100% sure as I asked him to order Marshalls but he didn't and lied to me saying he had. So I had to take photos and show our local building supply company who guessed it was Brett. Yes this really did happen. He then claimed it was because he wanted to save me money but then invoiced me extra for them. I've not paid that and he's not happy...
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 8:30 pm
by WhatshouldIdo
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 8:42 pm
by dig dug dan
In their defence, how did you know they were rocking unless you walked on them?
I do get fed up with customers who walk all over the slabs despite telling them to keep off for three days.
the pictures dont tell a bad story, its just the jointing that needs addressing from what I can see
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 10:07 pm
by WhatshouldIdo
Because it's 2 months later and more are rocking now. The one within 48 hours was because a huge crack appeared and I got him over to have a look. That's when we walked on it and I spotted it rocked. He tried to smooth the edging over of the Geofix but it was clear to me it was worse that over spill of product. Everbuild have seen photos and concluded it was applicator error rather than product error.
Shall I upload photos of the 'soakaway' full of soil? Would that help with building the full picture? That's my other major concern as that makes my driveway contrary to planning regs.
He did try and blame me for walking on them which I was prepared to accept except one bad area is in a corner which I deliberately didn't walk on because it's near soil and my kids would have played in the soil if I hadn't blocked it off. And the bit of the path at the front which is worst is where it goes from slope to level. Again I made sure not to walk on that bit for over a week as I'd taken heed from the patio issues. So I would have agreed with you but for those 2 areas with bad cracking.
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 8:18 am
by seanandruby
Yes photos of s'kaway and any shite work would be good. Did you take before and after photos of s'kaway?
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 1:02 pm
by KeburDave
I am pretty certain Brett Canterbury paving has tapered, riven edges so you but the paving up and it leaves an even joint at the top, we used to manufacture and sell a similar slab years ago and had a lot of problems with Geofix, they have since put on their tubs that it cannot be used on slabs with a tapered edge as water sits in the joints and the Geofix invariably crumbles cracks and breaks up!!! If the Canterbury Brett does has a tapered edge which I am pretty sure it has, he has effectively used a jointing product that is not suitable for that style of paving.
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 1:55 pm
by lutonlagerlout
overall it looks a half decent job on the face of it
but rockers
and geofix
schoolboy errors I am afraid
LLL
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 3:29 pm
by WhatshouldIdo
Yes the slabs have tapered edges! That's why Everbuild said that Geofix shouldn't have been used. So their tubs say not to use with tapered edges then? Might need to get a photo of that on the tub then to prove he didn't use it correctly. He won't take the word of the Everbuild technical department. It's already crumbling, cracking and breaking up after only a couple of months.
I'll upload the soakaway photos once I'm back on WiFi.