Unhappy with tradesmans work - Your opinions please

[mch]

There has been no rain for the last 2 days and it has been VERY hot today but still there are wet patches of grout as shown here;



some examples of the poor grout (washing and blowing out, will just crumble with your finger)

[mch]

Oh and here's some pics of the edge showing the depth of the base (depth varies)









I hasten to add this has been down only approx 3 weeks

[dig dug dan]

You can see in that last picture, the slab has lifted, and the grass and weeds are starting to grow out from underneath! Its damning evidence.
Dare we ask how much you were charged?

[mch]

You can see in that last picture, the slab has lifted, and the grass and weeds are starting to grow out from underneath! Its damning evidence.
Dare we ask how much you were charged?

£4000
We supplied the slabs, we also dug and laid the trench and laid the 4" pipe to contain the electrics for the garden building as he refused.

We've had quotes that are higher now to relay (with us uplifting) but a good chunk of the extra is in excavating for the proper sub base, laying and compacting the sub base and supply and fit of drainage channel surrounding the building

[dig dug dan]

That's the problem, there is now more work to do to get it to how it should be. You have a case against the contractor, to no reason why you can't recoup that money

[David 1234]

Anyone who does this to you deserves everything they get.

From my wife - a solicitor. You’ll need to get an independent expert to compile a report. (Tony M may be able to advise on how to do this). Then take them to a small claims court. Getting judgment may only be the first step. Enforcing the judgment and getting paid is another matter. Thinking ahead if you know where they bank, the court can freeze the account and extract the money. Bailiffs can’t seize goods used for work so unlikely that would work. Good luck and don’t back down.

[mch]

What could be the cause of a white powdery substance starting to appear on some of the mortar joints, its almost chalky

[mch]

We've now been told by a landscaper who has installed these exact slabs before that the white staining that looks like water marking is due to a slurry/bond not being applied to the reverse of the slabs and that he will not take the job on unless the slabs are thrown and he fits new.

Is it correct that this staining is as he says near impossible to rectify? It seems such a shame when we paid good money for the slabs and everyone who we've had look at the patio has said the slabs are a good quality product...

He said that due to the slabs not being "sealed" on the reverse and the DPM being underneath that the slabs have now begun to absorb the salts etc from the sand/cement bed and simply washing them will not resolve.

[DNgroundworks]

This should help. https://www.pavingexpert.com/eff01

Id reuse the flags personally.

[Tony McC]

If it is reflective staining, then it's probably permanent staining and the best thinbg to do is lay new flags.

The whole job is wrong wrong wrong.

I don't want to say anything more in case I'm needed to prepare an independent assessment report.

[Whatamuppet66]

Newbie here, how did you get your photos on here without a link? Can’t work out how to do it!!

[Tony McC]

Unfortunately, the software won't allow photies unless they have a suitable link.

The new software may be different - we're not 100% sure yet - but until we get that uploaded at the end of this month, we're stuck with what we have.

[mch]

The photos were hosted elsewhere and that site provided "bb" forum suitable links