newly laid paving, some issues

[kaktus]

Gents,

I paid a landscaper to partially pave my garden and 6 months later I'm having some issues with it but not sure if a) needs rectifying b) how to do it. Landscaper was notified and wants no part of rectifying and has since ignored my request for his team to fix it.

Problem:
*At least 1 paving slab moves up if standing on either corner
*4 or 5 paving slabs sound hollow or tinny when walking on them as if they've detached from the cement subbase beneath
*Where the patio has been laid and paving slabs are adjoining, the mortar or material between them is easily removed with even my finger or my garden hose - might be nothing more than sharp sand or a very very weak sharp sand / cement mix.

I don't have the tools/skills to lift and re-set the paving slabs which are either rocking or hollow sounding but should I at least attempt to rake out whatever it is he's put between the paving slabs and fill with cement or something stronger? Im concerned that where the pointing is failing it will allow water inside and under the slabs and eventually cause more damage so want to "seal" it properly so to speak.

Pictures:

 

[tom_e]

How did you pay? If it was by CC or Visa debit I'd be looking to do a chargeback if he's even refusing to come and have a look.

 

[kaktus]

How did you pay? If it was by CC or Visa debit I'd be looking to do a chargeback if he's even refusing to come and have a look.

It's unwise given that he knows where I live, he's clearly unethical and could very easily cause my bigger problems down the line. I've already altered my feedback on Mybuilder and it's a pretty damning feedback so that will hurt his business enough.

Question is, what to do about the situation? I could rake out the material between the adjoining slabs and mix my own cement/sharp sand/lime mortar in something like a 6:1:1 ratio and just do it myself but does it need it? I'm wondering if he didn't put that material there for a reason. I could just fill it with more sharp sand I suppose?

 

[Kaka]

How was the bed laid? Was it a full bed, or **** on each corner?

http://www.pavingexpert.com/layflag1.htm#spot

 

[Kaka]

The starred out word I'm guessing is a competitor.

 

[kaktus]

Laid on a full bed, 250mm deep trench filled with cement. I suspect it's one of several possible issues:

1. too dry or too wet cement, didn't adhere properly to the slabs
2. seemingly full bed but perhaps not so in some areas
3. ground was not compacted and no hardcore was laid

I suspect...

 

[Adam]

That's slightly short sighted on his part. Surely a mornings work to fix and not tarnish his feedback/reputation?

 

[kaktus]

That's slightly short sighted on his part. Surely a mornings work to fix and not tarnish his feedback/reputation?

In my experience most builders are like that though - they lack the education to understand the difference between short term gains and long term consequences. He'll understand when he bids for more work and people either ignore his bids or question his competency after the feedback.

I think the worst part of it was that I was very kind with him, even gave him a little bonus for finishing on time and made sure him and his guys were well fed each day etc. His first response and I mean literally his first response was "6 months go by and you didn't notice anything? It's been tampered with"

Ridiculous man.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

It's unwise given that he knows where I live, he's clearly unethical and could very easily cause my bigger problems down the line. I've already altered my feedback on Mybuilder and it's a pretty damning feedback so that will hurt his business enough.

Question is, what to do about the situation? I could rake out the material between the adjoining slabs and mix my own cement/sharp sand/lime mortar in something like a 6:1:1 ratio and just do it myself but does it need it? I'm wondering if he didn't put that material there for a reason. I could just fill it with more sharp sand I suppose?

I'm with the above if you paid via card then charge back.
He's ignoring to rectify issues so soon after works carries out I'd also speak threading standards.

Then use the money to have someone fix the shoddy work

 

[Iron-man]

the slabs sounding hollow would suggest they have been laid on a bed of sand which has maybe washed away in some part. No expert though

 

[R.O.S.S.I]

It's unwise given that he knows where I live, he's clearly unethical and could very easily cause my bigger problems down the line. I've already altered my feedback on Mybuilder and it's a pretty damning feedback so that will hurt his business enough.

How did you change feedback you left on MyBuilder? I had some work done by a roofer which was OK from the offset but quickly materialised that the fault he was supposed to have fixed he hadn't. MyBuilder would only let me remove the feedback, not change it.

 

[kaktus]

How did you change feedback you left on MyBuilder? I had some work done by a roofer which was OK from the offset but quickly materialised that the fault he was supposed to have fixed he hadn't. MyBuilder would only let me remove the feedback, not change it.

I emailed them and then got a call from someone in their 'customer relations' team and I explained the tradesman's behavior and refusal to rectify. I told them that by not allowing me to publish the true account of his work and his follow up they would be deceiving future customers and I would make it clear through other social forums that Mybuilder was effectively sanctioning dodgy tradesmen. They reset the 'Leave Feedback' option about an hour later and I re-submitted the feedback.

They're pretty scummy tbh and they get their fees from the tradesmen so they look after them before they look after us.

 

[R.O.S.S.I]

I emailed them and then got a call from someone in their 'customer relations' team and I explained the tradesman's behavior and refusal to rectify. I told them that by not allowing me to publish the true account of his work and his follow up they would be deceiving future customers and I would make it clear through other social forums that Mybuilder was effectively sanctioning dodgy tradesmen. They reset the 'Leave Feedback' option about an hour later and I re-submitted the feedback.

They're pretty scummy tbh and they get their fees from the tradesmen so they look after them before they look after us.

No way. I might get back onto them then, they point blank refused to let me change my feedback, only remove it when I wanted to change it.