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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:21 pm
by LJU
About 6 months ago I had my driveway laid in PIC. I followed all of the advice on here, got three quotes, checked previous work etc and settled on a local contractor to complete the work (he was actually the middle quote in terms of cost).
Now the driveway is looking patchy and in parts it is possible to see the small gravel in the concrete through the colour / pattern. I think at the time only one coat of sealer was applied and I was promised an extra coat later on. Before i speak to the contractor i'm just wondering if anybody on here can offer any advice. Would another coat of sealant fix it?
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:20 pm
by Ted
If the aggregate is a bit exposed it means it is too near the top of the slab. The contractor should have run a roller tamp (http://www.krafttool.com/assets/con_roller_tamp.jpg) over the slab prior to floating and imprinting. A roller tamp depresses the large aggregate and brings the cream (cement and fine aggregate) to the surface.
As the aggregate is fixed and held in place in the now cured slab you can't move it.
Let the contractor have a go with additional sealer (it should have two coats anyway). He could also try and add some colour and that might help disguise the problem but it probably won't be a long term solution and will need to be fixed/disguised again at some point.
Have you got a photo as that tends to speak a thousand words?
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:05 pm
by LJU
Thanks for the reply Ted.
They did use a Roller Tamp as I watched them laying it.
I'll take a photo tomorrow and upload it.
My main concern is if its a long term problem with it only being down 6 months.
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:38 pm
by LJU
Photos:
Photo 1 showing close up of area:
Photo 2 showing area
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:06 pm
by Ted
Well it isn't a long-term problem in terms of the capability of your drive to act as a driveway for cars. It is hopefully at least a 4" thick concrete slab that should last years and years.
What you have is an aesthetic problem.
I would post these photos on some or all of the following forums (below). These are US sites where PIC is very popular. You should get some responses as to what to consider or not consider from real pros. Then you will be well armed to speak to the contractor and should know what others think of this situation. BTW the sealer won't disguise this as the sealer is clear. I have seen some people lay coloured powder on the slab where it lacks colour and then place sealer on top but I have heard pros frown about this. So I would find a helpful chap on one of these US sites and get their advice.
http://www.decorative-concrete.net/forum/index.php
http://www.decorativeconcreteforums.com/forum.php
http://www.acidstain.com/
http://www.concreteresurfacingnetwork.com/contractortalk.htm
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:14 pm
by LJU
Thanks Ted.
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:01 am
by Tony McC
To my eye, that concrete doesn;t look as though it has any colour top. It's awful - who did it?? Name 'em and shame em!!
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:30 am
by Ted
You mean CSH (as in colour surface hardener) do you Tony?
LJU, CSH is the primary colour that the contractor floats into the slab prior to imprinting. The secondary clour is the release agent which prevents the mats from sticking to the concrete and goes into the lowest parts of the imprint.
I have seen (and worked) with contractors who do not use the recommended amount of CSH as scrimping on this outlay reduces their costs and adds to their profits (in the short term at least). What they often do where there is a lack of colour is drop a bit of colour on top of the now cured slab and then apply sealer over this to hold it in place. However, IMO, this will prevent the sealer from adhering to the slab as well as it should and as the sealer wears down the colour will be lost. The colour needed to be floated into the slab BEFORE imprinting.
Tony, do you not think that that aggregate should be more depressed though? The cream should have been bought to the surface so it should just be a grey area (ie, lack of clour) rather than this exposed aggregate look???
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:42 am
by Tony McC
Yep - there's too much coarse agg at the surface, and not enough fat, but that appearance is summat I normally see when the contractor has added extra water, either before it's poured from the wagon or stirred into the top 20mm or so to "aid" imprinting of concrete that's started to harden.
The lack of colour, as you say, is another indicator of a cowboy job. The colour top/surface hardener is the pricey element and the first to be sacrificed when looking for corners to be cut. If any further proof were needed, teh fact that only one coat of sealant was applied just reinforces my opinion that this is a shoddy job and the contractor responsible should be 'outed'.
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:27 pm
by LJU
Thanks for the advice so far on this. I am now at a stage where I need to take this further, more than likely to the small claims court. I am prepared to 'name and shame' after this but don't want to do it before hand, but will do via email to anyone within South Yorkshire looking for a contractor to make sure they don't end up with this one. To take this to court I will more than likely need an expert 'witness' to say how much of a bodge it is - Is there such a thing? and if so any local to South Yorkshire? All expenses etc will be paid.
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:20 pm
by Ted
Michael Gerard (www.michael-gerard.co.uk) is very good and probably more than capable, but pricey. He is based in Market Harborough.
Have a look at this site too: http://www.adjudication.org/
Otherwise look in Yellow Pages locally. But be careful of using someone too local in case there are ties to the contractor. A man like Gerard has clout whereas someone with a mere FRICS or summat after his name doesn't carry the same weight.
Good luck.
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:45 pm
by LJU
Thanks Ted.
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:00 pm
by Ted
TBH, I would look for someone who is a member of the CIOB; this is a good, well recognised institute to be a member of.
RICS isn't the greatest qualification. Apologies to any RICS guys on these boards.
A Fellow member is normally the most qualified...
A man like Gerard is probably overly qualified and pricey in this case, but I would pay for a man who will whack that contcrator with a big lump of concrete evidence rather than some half-ass adviser...
If you are on a winner, a man like Gerard will pay for himself...
Sadly, I can't take any responsibility, having not seen the work in person. This is just my advice.
Personally, I tend to hit construction "professionals" with the hardest hitting thing available....
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:50 am
by Ted
You may want to look at this site too (see below).
Town & Country Driveways are a PIC firm with national coverage and have been on the BBC's Watchdog a couple of times.
They were successfully taken to court recently I understand. I believe CMB, a poster on the forum below, was the man who successfully sued them.
CMB may be helpful if you send him a message....
http://www.clik2complaints.co.uk/modules....8c3a9eb
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 4:19 pm
by LJU
Some interesting reading there Ted, many thanks
