Yep it's at the rear of the property.
Well I doubt Persimmon use that on their driveways as I've never seen that happen.
Concrete driveway advice (pics included)
- Thread starter LeeUK
- Start date
Yep it's at the rear of the property.
Well I doubt Persimmon use that on their driveways as I've never seen that happen.
Well it's just been 2 guys, the guy who came to quote - the gaffer and another chap. Tiny pile of yellow dolomite and the metal rebar grid which is actually quite thin, and about 3 hours work if that.
The property is a 100 year old terrace house with a soft garden at the front and a concrete back yard. It would have always had a concrete or hard surface back yard since it was built and the back yard originally housed the outside toilet and coal house. Same with every other house in the street. Most houses in the street now have a variety of extensions built, garages, driveways, etc. All hard surface and no drain at the edge. Just their normal household drains for waste water and gutters from the roof.
Now because I have decided to replace some of the old knackered concrete like-for-like, I have to start putting in new drains in case I cause a flood?
Basically instead of paying reputable tradesmen £1100 for a £1100 job, I'm paying cowboys £700 for a £400 tops job.
Oh and I've just had it confirmed that they are indeed travellers. Looked at the gaffers FB profile and he's at a funeral, the type traveller type have, over the top. Then while checking out the profile of the deceased and other tagged people, they all appear to come from Ireland.
Thanks for the info. I'm going to make sure it's at the correct depth first and I've told him that the concrete is not coming until I've inspected the ground and happy with it.
He's getting no more money from me so if he tries to bounce the job half way through the pour then I'm quite willing to tell him to pack up and leave. Same if the rest of the dig out depth isn't correct. I've no problem paying fair expense to get rid of him if that is the case.
Yeah I know what you mean, they were trying that trick yesterday when they were here for like an hour.
They have been this morning and have dug a bit more out, compacted it with a machine, chucked some of that yellow stuff down and compacted it a bit more and have took most of the waste away. Still some in the barrow they have left. They say they are going to do some finishing touches tomorrow morning like cut that old washing line pipe next to the man hole cover down and cut a straight line where it meets the old surface on the top right of the photo and trim that flag stone down where the little water meter chamber is on the pavement. Again, they only did 2 hours work and I don't know why they couldn't have done these jobs now while they were here! Then it's supposed to be ready for the concrete after that. The ground looks deeper but don't think it's 100mm deep.
I doubt they would come back, probably wouldn't answer the phone even. Frankly I wouldn't want them back!
if they finish it and get paid
no matter what happened afterwards
he wouldnt see them in the future lol
not called bodgeit and scarper for nothing
I doubt they would come back, probably wouldn't answer the phone even. Frankly I wouldn't want them back!
Yep they have left it like that but to be honest the old concrete surface in the yard was in such a bad state that someone could have tripped over that too if they ventured off the public footpath.
I suppose paying cheap I'm getting a cheap job even though I didn't ask for a cheap job.
I suppose paying cheap I'm getting a cheap job even though I didn't ask for a cheap job.
The idea of only getting the bottom done was because that was the worse and the other two areas of the yard had obviously been done in the past and were still good. All this area was going to be used for was parking car on. I already have a private south facing front garden but the way the street is, there is no road access at the front just a footpath that looks over onto a park.
The concrete is down now and while they spent about 3 hours getting it poured and level I admit it isn't 100% perfect but it does make the yard and indeed the rear elevation of the property look 100% better compared to what was there before. Will also look better once I finish painting the walls in Sandtex Plymouth Grey.
I agree that anyone can park as there is no dropped kerb but I will be looking into that soon at some point. If the council were to come and take random action they would have to do the same with nearly every other property in the street.
If it lasts a few years then fine, maybe then I'll look at getting the whole yard done but I'll be really careful on who I employ to do it!
The concrete is down now and while they spent about 3 hours getting it poured and level I admit it isn't 100% perfect but it does make the yard and indeed the rear elevation of the property look 100% better compared to what was there before. Will also look better once I finish painting the walls in Sandtex Plymouth Grey.
I agree that anyone can park as there is no dropped kerb but I will be looking into that soon at some point. If the council were to come and take random action they would have to do the same with nearly every other property in the street.
If it lasts a few years then fine, maybe then I'll look at getting the whole yard done but I'll be really careful on who I employ to do it!
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Any chance of pics of the finished area once its cured
It was poured yesterday so dry enough to walk on now but I haven't been out to take pics yet but here is a pic after they had finished laying it yesterday:
Happy as I can be but nothing more I can do about it now. Happy that I have a 'tidy' yard and that I won't be tripping over uneven surface, getting my shoes dirty, and controlling weed growth.
Yes I've had people park in front blocking me in when they could see my car was in there in the past. Ironic thing is they are friends/family of neighbours who are in the same situation, back yard driveways/garages with no dropped kerb.
EDIT: Did you get your kerb done? If you don't mind what was the ballpark figure?
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I don't have any paperwork and not sure if any was handed over to the cowboys doing it. Nothing was handed over before the pouring started but I went indoors before they finished. It was delivered by a company called 3 C Services Ltd and it had like different hoppers on the back of the truck and I assume it was mixed as it came out and not like a ready mix truck. I did notice however that the first few barrow loads were very watery.
They didn't tie it in with the old concrete with rebar rods but not sure how important that is.
What I thought I might have had a problem with was the payment but they seemed happy when I mentioned bank transfer. Which I thought was unusual for traveller types. He messaged me his bank details last night but I haven't paid yet. I might do it after this cup of tea or I might do it tomorrow.
They didn't tie it in with the old concrete with rebar rods but not sure how important that is.
What I thought I might have had a problem with was the payment but they seemed happy when I mentioned bank transfer. Which I thought was unusual for traveller types. He messaged me his bank details last night but I haven't paid yet. I might do it after this cup of tea or I might do it tomorrow.
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Falls slightly to the pavement.
It was some random personal TSB account in someone's name which I found out to be one of his sons after doing a little research. Although I entered their trading name as the payee on my banking, whether that makes a difference or if it bounces back for being the wrong account name?
Thanks, think I read somewhere that some approved council contractors charge £150 per kerb which seems cheap. I'd need 5 and a half dropped.