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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:21 pm
by Tonestastic
I am looking to have a 50m2 patio laid, using Mango sandstone from Rock Unique .
I have already come across one particularly friendly cowboy who would love to do it for me, but I would prefer someone who has laid one of these things before!
Does anyone know of anyone in my area who is reputable and would take on a job af that size?
Many thanks
Tony
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:15 pm
by T J Builders
we are available to carry out your work.examples of sandstone and york paving laid by us can be viewed in the dulwich area upon request.
regards,tony and joe.
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 9:43 am
by Tonestastic
I take it no-one has heard of T&J - given they registered just to reply to my post 
Can anyone recommend anyone in the SE London / Kent area? I am really struggling to get recommendations locally, and do not want to go 'cold' with someone I have never heard of.
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:30 am
by Tony McC
This isn't really a 'Find-a-Tradesman' website, and I go to a lot of trouble to prevent it becoming one, as the websites that offer that sort of service always seem to be fee-based rather than recommendation-based.
If property-owners want to give a write-up for some contractor they have used, then I'm happy for that to appear in this forum, but I remove every single one of the unsolicted 'touting for work' messages that are posted. I left TJ's post because it isn't unsolicited (if that isn't a double negative!), and was a genuine reply to your request.
Given that no-one in that London wants to put forward any names, all I can suggest is that you follow the advice given on the Finding a Contractor page of the main website.
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 9:30 pm
by Tonestastic
I have asked these people to give me a quote - any positive comments / horror stories?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:39 pm
by Ted
Based in W7, they are hardly very southeast London-based.
I have PM'd you a contact.
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:18 am
by lutonlagerlout
hmmmm something fishy here???
LLL
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:33 pm
by Tonestastic
lutonlagerlout wrote:hmmmm something fishy here???
LLL
why?
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:01 pm
by lutonlagerlout
why do you need someone in south london if you live in w7?
i dont suppose it matters it just seems like a long gap from your opening post
cheers
LLL
(another tony ,lot of us about lol)
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:33 pm
by Ted
LLL - I meant those REP Paving folk who there is a link to above. They are from W7 whilst the OP appears to be a sarf londoner.
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 1:17 am
by lutonlagerlout
doh stoopid me
i know lads in north lahndan but they dont generally like crossing the "water"
still its a 20 month gap from the opening post
cheers LLL
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 6:12 pm
by Tonestastic
lutonlagerlout wrote:still its a 20 month gap from the opening post
sadly that is a reflection on how long it takes me to get anything done... house bought in 2001 and still loads to sort
slow (but not fishy!)
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:21 pm
by lutonlagerlout
our longest lag between pricing and starting a job was 6 years,when he came back the price had to go up 25 % due to increased cost
i priced a drive 2 months ago and the fella was keen to start,i drove past saturday and nothing has happened still
such is life
LLL
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:37 am
by Tony McC
I had an enquiry from a property in the village where I live...large-ish drive, roughly 400m², to be sett-paved using reclaimed "Hovis Loaf" gritstone setts with pitch jointing. First priced it in 1991, and it became an annual event for the property owner to call me each spring and enquire if I'd reduced my "unrealistic" price at all. The last time I spoke to him would be 2001 or 2002, just before my owld fellah retired, but I drive past at least once a week and it's still not been done.
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:03 pm
by Tonestastic
hehe, even getting it priced means that something IS happening in my book :p Most things just echo around between my ears and never see the light of day...
I have three companies in mind to ask for quotes. One is a recommendation from Ted, and two I have found on the net. Both the ones I have found are Brett approved installers, and one is also a member of Interlay. I suppose that a personal recommendation is the best option, but I do like to know that they are members of respected associations, so clearly I have some choices to make, once the quotes come through.
In the meantime the guy from REP has just been around and measured up and is going to let me have a quote in the post today/tomorrow. He seemed kosher, friendly and professional, (he is Brett approved and an Interlay member - both check out on the respective websites), he left me a Marshalls catalogue, and told me the following:
- the slabs would be "stuck" down (when I asked him what method he would use to lay them and if they would be laid on a sand bed) and will need to be pointed (therefore you can jet wash them). wasn't sure what he meant by "stuck", I probably asked the wrong question when I said sand bed?
- said that sandstone comes in packs of around 14-15m2 (or was it yards? can't remember) and they don't break the packs, therefore not bought by the metre
- the sandstone all comes out of the same hole/quarry, therefore you can pay extra for branded eg Marshalls etc but can get exactly the same product much cheaper (but you don't get the 10 yr guarantee)
Any comments or questions I should be asking once the quote arrives?