Help Please - has my mums garden been done by cowboys? The works looks and feels sub par to me

[GTriesHard]

Approx 20m sq of grass removed, some brick borders laid (8m), and gravel and pavers to replace the grass. Done at my mums 2 weeks ago and 4 loose pavers already, and the border isn’t close to level. Plus on lifting the pavers theres no sand underneath, and looks like not even close to enough concrete? I’d have thought close to 100mm sand/type 1, not just membrane down and 5mm of sand? Any comments welcome? Was £4K!!

 

[Mr Rusty]

You know, and everyone else knows these guys rode in with spurs and stetsons. Are they a company with any sort of reputation? if so there is a chance of going after them.

The route to chase will be written notice to come and rectify job not fit for purpose with deadline. Then get some new quotes to make good, then letter before action to chase for damages equal to rectification, then small claims court. But, it's all a waste of time if they have disappeared and/or are just chancers.

As you say, any paving job needs a well prepared sub-base - that's where a good chunk of the effort goes.

 

[penkenna]

Our patio is 60 plus years old, the slabs are laid on dabs of mortar direct to earth, they have not been a problem. Just chop off the mortar and replace at each corner and in the middle to prevent tipping. I’d be surprised if you could get someone back. It doesn't look too bad overall. If you can get some money back so much the better.

 

[FlyByNight]

Our patio is 60 plus years old, the slabs are laid on dabs of mortar direct to earth, they have not been a problem. Just chop off the mortar and replace at each corner and in the middle to prevent tipping. I’d be surprised if you could get someone back. It doesn't look too bad overall. If you can get some money back so much the better.

It looks awful and mortar on membrane - it will never stay still.

 

[Mr Rusty]

Our patio is 60 plus years old, the slabs are laid on dabs of mortar direct to earth, they have not been a problem. Just chop off the mortar and replace at each corner and in the middle to prevent tipping

Possibly true, but unlikely, and it wouldn't be so bad if the patio had been laid by a mate for free. BUT £4K was paid. That's high top dollar for 20sqm and for that the customer deserves a patio laid to established standards. Going rate for properly laid medium priced materials is ~£120 in the NW (I know because I've just had a job done and got 3 quotes from good companies). Prob a bit more in SE.

It doesn't look too bad overall.

What? the top surface? it'll look OK whether properly laid or not initially. A significant % of the cost of a project is preparing and laying the sub-base, and these cowboys have run off with the saving. Not only that, the slabs look inexpensive and the gaps between filled with gravel are huge. I doubt the material costs exceeded £20/sqm.

Having said all that, I suspect going after them is a waste of time. Best bet is to lift it all, dig it out, wack down some MOT and relay the materials.

 

[GTriesHard]

Thanks for your comments guys. Given it’s paid for I have limited options. I’m doing my best to get them back out