We can rectify any problem you may have with your Garden / Driveway / Brickwork, here is an example of the problems one of our customer experienced with another block paving / groundwork company. We addressed the problems with a new professionally run project and now our new customer is delighted with their patio.
This is the text of the letter sent to the previous ground work company that shows the problems left after a major paving project went wrong.
I am sending these pictures of the grouting and paving. It is with a heavy heart and devastation of my expectations of the finished job to say the least. These photos show poor skills of grouting, discoloration in parts, missing grouting, grouting stuck on the slabs and even a space saver left which can be clearly seen.
I have included a slab to show the dried solution you put on but not washed off properly. I know you said you had another job to go to so don’t know why you tried to clean up in so little time. You were here maximum one hour as I was back from shopping within half an hour and you were gone. I have tried twice getting rid of this solution by scrubbing with water and a broom to no avail and this solution has stained the slabs over a wide area.
You were informed several slabs were moving when walking on them. None of these were re-cemented and I am concerned that they will cause a problem in the future.
Many of the slabs are hollow. I was assured that the slabs would be laid on a solid concrete base with the adhesive slurry necessary to stick the slabs solidly. I have also been informed by the manufacturer this spot and dab will cause a problem in the future and not using enough slurry to secure the slabs correctly.
There are many slabs chipped was told me it was the nature of the porcelain. However, I have in writing from the manufacturer and to quote his comments “porcelain is probably the strongest product out there and unless you are dropping heavy bricks on to the paving, there is no reason for them to chip.”
The difficult cuts have been done brilliantly, yet the easy to lay slabs are chipped. I have spent a lot of money on this job but it certainly doesn’t look like the glossy brochures featuring porcelain slabs.
I should be grateful if you could discuss this with me and how to rectify the problems. I have been very patient and waiting for this job to be finished for 11 months and would like some specific dates when you can actually come and finish this job. This has now become a nightmare and giving me sleepless nights
Please give me a definite date when you are going to finish my job. You have not replied to my last email asking you the same question.
The last time I saw you in the afternoon You looked at the poor grouting and agreed it had to be redone.
However, it is not only the grouting that is the problem. The rendering on the walls is so sandy it blows off in the wind or washes off in the rain. It absorbs all of the rain and is cracking in several places.
As mentioned before, many the slabs are hollow which you can hear when you walk on them. The grass has not been laid properly and it is wrinkled and moves if you walk on it. The drainpipe by the kitchen is not draining into the drain but cascading water straight on to the patio.
The smears on the slabs caused by putting neat cleaning solution directly on to the slabs when you came round on 26 July to clean up, are still as I reported. This cleaning solution should have been diluted by 9 parts to 1.
The lights are still lying in the garden and have not been secured. The water barrel is still detached.
You removed my gate and it is still not back making my property insecure which is not ideal as I live with my wife and child and the house is left empty during the day. You said you would get the pond frame made and I’m still waiting for that too. If these two last items are difficult to get done, perhaps you could return the gate and I will ask the local gate company to do the gate and make a frame.
I have spent all my savings on this job. What I thought was going to be a lovely professionally finished look, leaves a lot to be desired. The slabs were expensive and some wasted by having to re-do where they were loose. I am very worried that there are many more hollow. You discussed this job with me and assured me they would be put on a solid bed of concrete with the appropriate slurry adhesive.
I have chiselled away the excess concrete under the sleepers by the trellis as I wanted to plant some climbers before the winter.
The longer it has gone on is causing me much stress, anxiety and sleepless nights. It has been many months to do what was quoted a two-week job. Admittedly there were delays in the beginning with the delivery of the slabs.
I am really anxious that this job is finished as soon as possible. I would like a reply within 7 days as to when you intend to come and finish please. You know your schedule for the coming months and you can work out when you are able to finish this job.
Here is a report of the problems found
Works carried out in my garden at the above address
Site inspection of my garden following the ground works undertaken by your company. The Report is written by a professional Chartered Building Surveyor
Please consider the findings of and kindly reply in writing to me 21 days from today
Point 2.15 of this Expert Report refers to the full height metal side gate which you removed to make, off-site, some adjustments in order to reduce the bottom so the gate would move properly, as before the works, over the higher level of the newly fitted paving slabs. To date you have not returned the side gate, with or without the adjustments work being carried out. As previously requested please, as a matter of urgently, return the gate as a priority, The delay is causing me great anxiety. Not least because the security of my property is compromised with no lockable full height side gate.
As previously mentioned, you had agreed to have a metal pond cover made. As I have lost contact with you, please note arrangements are in place to have a pond cover made elsewhere.
However, I really do need to be brought up to date with the intended adjustments to the full-height side gate, and its whereabouts.
As you will recall, to help with the security of your tools, the equipment was always locked in my garage at the end of the day. After some ground work was carried out on I did not hear from you until I received a telephone call. At that time I was absent. Nevertheless that day I still arranged for you to gain quick access to the garage and your tools which enabled you to finish laying the side paving slabs up to where the newly adjusted side gate would be re-installed. When I returned in addition to your work laying the paving slabs, I found grouting works had also been done but not by yourselves; by a sub-contractor whom you had employed.
Sadly following that visit by your sub-contractor I discovered some of my personal property as stored in the garage had been disturbed. Additionally, equally importantly, a hammer and chisel had disappeared. These items belong to my neighbour who had stored it in my garage. I last saw them lying on the sand where the artificial grassed was to be laid. The loss of these items has been mentioned to you before verbally, when you were working in my garden.
You will undoubtedly recall you promised to replace the substantial lock which had secured my side gate. The lock on the side gate was sawed-off in order for you to gain access to the garden. Notably this breaking of the lock incident only occurred because you made another unscheduled visit to my property to undertake work; and not as requested a pre-arranged visit. Had I known you were coming I would have left the gate open.
The purpose of writing now with the recent Expert Report and the enclosures, is to allow you ample opportunity to reply in writing outlining your prompt remedial action.
Further to my recent visit to your property I am pleased to report as follows.
1.0 BACKGROUND, INSTRUCTIONS AND INSPECTION
1.1 You engaged a contractor to carry out paving and other landscaping works to your rear garden and side passage. The works were delayed for various
reasons, but they were eventually completed. You are unhappy with many aspects of the works carried out, and although you have complained to the contractor this has not produced a satisfactory outcome so far. You therefore instructed me to inspect the works and to prepare a report on my findings, with a view to taking your complaint further.
1.2 I visited the property during dry and bright weather, when I inspected the works carried out, and my findings are as follows.
2.0 FINDINGS OF THE INSPECTION
2.1 The side passage and the majority of the rear garden has been laid with porcelain slabs, together with an area laid with artificial lawn. The rear garden also has several features which predate the works, including planted borders and dividers, some of which are raised, a raised fish pond, and a pergola.
2.2 The paving has been laid approximately 100 mm higher than the previous ground level, but you have not experienced any problems with drainage of the paving in wet weather, and you consider that the levels and falls are satisfactory. During my inspection I noted that many (perhaps up to 30%) of the paving slabs sound hollow underfoot and/or when tapped with a metal tool.
2.3 You pointed out that many of the slabs have small chips in the edges, which were evident at the time of my inspection.
2.4 The grouting to the joints between the slabs is cracked, missing and discoloured to a fair extent, which detracts from the appearance of the paving.
2.5 The concrete/slurry mix on which the paving slabs are laid has oozed out at the sides in places before hardening, rather than the surplus material being removed and the edges finished neatly, and this detracts from the appearance of the plant beds.
2.6 Adjacent to the pergola a thin gap in the paving has been filled using a cut piece of the paving, but this appears to have been laid upside down, so that it does not match the surrounding paving.
2.7 Also you pointed out that in the side passage the cemented infill between the paving and the bungalow is very crumbly, and the surface has become eroded and uneven from normal brushing.
2.8 During my inspection you stated that the contractor used a cleaning agent in conjunction with a pressure washer to wash the paving down once it had been completed. However, you believe the contractor did not use the cleaning agent in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and I was able to see smears/ marks on the paving, which
detracts from its appearance. However, I consider it likely that the smears will gradually become less and less apparent over time.
2.9 There is a step outside the kitchen which is paved with matching slabs, and which is rendered around the edges. The render appears to be too sandy, and in one place it has cracked and fallen away. The paving slabs oversail the sides of the step, but not the front edge, which detracts from the appearance of the step and which could contribute to
deterioration of the render over time.
2.10 Close to the step is a gully which was renewed by the contractor in conjunction with the paving works. The gully receives the discharge from a rainwater pipe and a waste pipe. You advised me that rainwater discharging from the downpipe misses the gully, and although it was dry at the time of my inspection water was dripping from the downpipe
onto the paving adjacent to the gully, which indicates that your complaint is justified.
2.11 The retaining walls to the raised plant beds and the fish pond were not part of the works, except that new brick copings were provided, and the sides of the retaining walls were rendered. However, the render mix appears to have been too sandy, and the render is porous, cracked, and crumbly in places. Not only this but the surface is not trowelled
smooth, and the existing overflow to the fish pond has been rendered over.
2.12 Due to the paving level being higher than the previous ground level the pergola now has limited headroom, which I measured to be as low as 1.73 metres in places. This is insufficient headroom for many people, and I therefore consider it to be an unsatisfactory situation.
2.13 During my inspection you pointed out that the artificial turf had been laid on a sand bed, apparently without any anti-weed matting. Not only this, but it has not been properly laid and pegged into position, with the result that ridges and rucking are visible to the surface.
2.14 You are unhappy with the quality of the trellis which the contractors provided to separate off the rear end of the garden adjacent to the garage. During my inspection I noted that this is constructed using rough sawn timbers, giving it a utilitarian appearance rather than being an attractive feature.
2.15 Finally, you pointed out that the contractors removed your side gate in order to trim it so that it opens clear of the new paving, but this has not been put back.
3.0 COMMENTS, INCLUDING REMEDIAL WORKS
3.1 Unfortunately the defects to the paving are so extensive that I cannot see any way to remedy the situation short of taking up all the paving and relaying new and / or any undamaged paving slabs.
3.2 With regard to the rainwater pipe and gully, it might be possible to adapt and extend the bottom of the downpipe so that rainwater discharges into the gully without splashing on the surrounding paving. Another option might be for the gully to be lowered slightly, and a cement ‘dishing’ could then be provided around it to divert the rainwater into the gully.
3.3 The render to the low retaining walls, the step outside the kitchen, and to the fish pond, will need to be hacked off and renewed with a more suitable mix containing a higher percentage of cement powder.
3.4 The artificial turf should be taken up and relaid in accordance with the supplier’s recommendations, and the trellis could be renewed with a better quality trellis.
3.5 The pergola needs to be raised higher, which could possibly be achieved by taking it out and refitting the posts on new concrete bases with metal post holders.
4.0 OTHER ISSUES
4.1 Since my visit you mentioned that, “The contractor removed 3 garden lighting posts which have been left lying in the garden, one light still with a piece of paving stone attached. My rainwater barrel was also detached last September and as it was leaking I purchased another. This has also not been replaced as the grouting was only done recently and when it rains, water cascades onto the paving stones.”
4.2 I have not verified the above matters, but they are further indicators to support your claim that the work was not carried out and completed satisfactorily.
