Bad Block Paving Contractor

Rudie · 20 Mar 2017

Hi,

2 years ago we had our driveway block paved. We went through most of the local firms and recommended ones. We picked someone local who was recommend and offered a competitive price. We saw some of his previous jobs and they all looked fine.

The drive was completed in a week and we remember him saying that we have a clay base so he don't need to dig as deep. We paid in stages in cash. We have the invoices still which are in his name from the builder merchants. He said its guaranteed for 10 years.

2 years on and there are a couple of dips in the drive where the car normally sits. We have tried to contact him at least a couple times of a week without our calls being answered.

We know he is still working as we see his van (plain van no advertisement) on the roads. Has anyone else has this issue or come across this paver?

Andy Pope
0**** ******

He lives in the Walsall area of the West Midlands is as much as I know.

I suspect as this was cash in hand we don't have much of a case but just wanted to make others aware of bad workmanship. Driveway looks great when just laid but things can change a few years later.

russellsmiler · 20 Mar 2017

think its a bit out of order to put the contractors name and number up!!
you mention a couple of dips were the car sits, this in fairness is quite common on a driveway were the load is train tracked on the same line time after time, (depends how bad though).

Rudie · 20 Mar 2017

Hi I added the details as I don't want others to be caught out the same way?

Yeah almost have a train track effect on the drive now...

^woody^ · 20 Mar 2017

What makes you think that you have more than a standard 12 month defect period?

And what makes you think that the contractor is actually negligent and at fault?

John D v2.0 · 21 Mar 2017

To be honest who's going to pay to have their drive levelled every year, id expect more than a 12 month warranty on a drive! I'm guessing he saved money on digging out and buying in hard core, so the clay is just gradually moving aside.
When we did ours we put 100mm type 1 but most of that was needed anyway to build up the level.

^woody^ · 21 Mar 2017

John D v2.0 said:
id expect more than a 12 month warranty on a drive

How long would you expect? Two years, three, ten? How is this defined?

Rudie · 21 Mar 2017

Hi, I would expect at least 5 years. we normally park in the same place and would have thought this section would be the most toughened areas.
So am I right in thinking that all block paving will eventually subside over time no matter how much prep has gone into it?

London Mike 49 · 21 Mar 2017

When we had our driveway laid last year I was adamant that I wanted a standard of prep that would allow our cars to be parked in the same area without sinking. I took the specifications from paving expert residential driveway http://www.pavingexpert.com/blocks2.htm.
There are various specifications on the site to suit every type of situation, so my advice would be to lift up what is there and have it relaid to a standard you are happy with.

Mike

John D v2.0 · 21 Mar 2017

Yeah I agree with the pp, 5 years warranty would be expected on sinking, otherwise where is the incentive to do it right? Unless I told them it's for (edit: FOOT) traffic only I'd expect it to last 30 years plus without obvious sinking.
However looking at the general standards in our area, local contractors are not selling their services on the basis of the parts below ground! Maybe no one is prepared to pay that much.

Rudie · 21 Mar 2017

So basically if I can't get hold of the paver I will have to either repair the areas affected or get the whole lot redone?

London Mike 49 · 21 Mar 2017

Well, you most certainly will have to bite the bullet and at least do the affected area but my gut instinct is to have the whole lot relaid otherwise you will always think the rest of the drive will sink at some point in the future.
Cost wise between repair and replace will probably be little difference.

Good luck
Mike

^woody^ · 21 Mar 2017

Rudie said:
Hi, I would expect at least 5 years

Where does that come from? Its a random period of time. Unless you contracted for this period of time, then it has no legal basis. 12 months would be normal for any building contract.

Bear in mind that block paving is a "flexible paving" and is permitted to move up and down with the gound - which is natural movement.

And you dont state what you actually specified for this work. Did you specify for foot traffic, for light vehicular or heavy commercial? If you did not specify a use or a design then how do you know that the work is not up to the job?

And if you have the opportunity to park on other parts of the drive rather than in the exact same pace, then you could be held responisble for the rutting.

Bottom line is that in the absence of any specifiuc contract terms, then you need to prove that the drive was installed negligently.

Rudie · 21 Mar 2017

Hi, Yeah he knew that there would be 3 normal cars on there (not 4x4 etc). Understanding was this is a drive for parked cars.

^woody^ · 21 Mar 2017

Rudie said:
Hi, Yeah he knew that there would be 3 normal cars on there (not 4x4 etc). Understanding was this is a drive for parked cars.

It's not what he knew (or more correctly what you think he knew), but what you specified or he stated that he would do.

It's very important with domestic work that both parties are clear as to what is going to be done. You assume one thing, and he assumes another and when things happen, its hard to decided liability. Terms can be verbal, but they must be clear.

What would you say to the fact that you have caused it by parking your car there all the time?

Rudie · 21 Mar 2017

Hi. Isn't that what 80% of people do with driveways, park in the same place more or less?

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Bad Block Paving Contractor

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