Getting a new driveway?

[Ivor Windybottom]

Honestly, a lot of perfectly good trades would run away from that list of demands or just provide a really high quote to either make you go elsewhere or cover what they would see as the high risk of you demanding more when the bill's due.

It's tricky - I'm of the mindset that I find out about a subject and want to understand what's involved. But I often bite my tongue and play the dumb homeowner rather than being the smartarse who's going to tell them how to do their job.

Having said that, I did ask someone if the underground tank they were quoting to fit would be installed according to the manufacturer's spec, fully encased in concrete. He had a tantrum, said he'd been doing it for x years, I didn't know what I was on about bla bla bla. I was very glad for him to storm off in a huff.

Just ask them what they'll be doing and how, then quietly compare this to decide who to go with.

 

[noseall]

I sent this email to a tradesman

Fastest way to see busy tradesmen run a mile.

 

[^woody^]

As always, it's not what you say but how you say it.

There is nothing wrong with providing a specification of your requirements to firms to get quotes.

 

[nameisme]

Had another quote today. Prices between 3-5k.
Ticked most boxes apart from
X No insurance backed guarantee (7 year guarantee just on faith alone)

Said he had PL insurance but haven't seen the documents.

 

[jj4091]

Had another quote today. Prices between 3-5k.
Ticked most boxes apart from
X No insurance backed guarantee (7 year guarantee just on faith alone)

Said he had PL insurance but haven't seen the documents.

If that is your only stumblig block I would have thought that you could always take out your own policy.

 

[noseall]

Had another quote today. Prices between 3-5k.
Ticked most boxes apart from
X No insurance backed guarantee (7 year guarantee just on faith alone)

Said he had PL insurance but haven't seen the documents.

I'm thinking you are putting too much faith in the guarantee and not enough into getting a reliable, recommended and proven installer.

 

[noseall]

As always, it's not what you say but how you say it.
There is nothing wrong with providing a specification of your requirements to firms to get quotes.

Can you imagine the reaction to those BS numbers? Will a busy, skilful, reliable trustworthy (but ignorant to British Standards codes) take the email on board or run a mile?
I do agree that PL insurance is essential, and proving it is easy enough, I'm not feeling this demand for BS codes is going to be enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. It will have the opposite effect.

 

[nameisme]

Can you imagine the reaction to those BS numbers? Will a busy, skilful, reliable trustworthy (but ignorant to British Standards codes) take the email on board or run a mile?
I do agree that PL insurance is essential, and proving it is easy enough, I'm not feeling this demand for BS codes is going to be enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. It will have the opposite effect.

Thanks. The only thing I am asking for now I have decided is to see the PL insurance and a receipt of the type of permible tarmac or permible resin used as a condition of payment. The BS codes theres no paper to prove that so not asking that and the other stuff just going by faith only as none of them have Insurance backed guarantees and just by seeing if they seem to sound like they know what they are doing and what they will do really.
Think that's fair enough.?

 

[noseall]

Think that's fair enough.?

Local - reliable - recommended.

 

[nameisme]

Local - reliable - recommended.

Yes that's what I am hoping for.

The last company I spoke to when they came out said they would be happy to do the job and I said yes I am happy also and I just said can I see the PL insurance and see the receipt of the type of permable tarmac used as condition of payment (as some good advice I got here) when he came out and he said no problem but then got a email saying this

"It was a pleasure chatting to you the other day but after discussions with my business partner we have decided to not take on any more domestic projects for the foreseeable future as we have got too much commercial work on just now."

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I'll translate his reply for you...

"After my business partner and I had a chat about all your demands we decided you're very likely to create problems for us so we'd be better off not doing your job and working elsewhere instead."

It's good to be careful, but you're just flagging yourself as being a potential pain in the rear.

 

[^woody^]

Can you imagine the reaction to those BS numbers? Will a busy, skilful, reliable trustworthy (but ignorant to British Standards codes) take the email on board or run a mile?
I do agree that PL insurance is essential, and proving it is easy enough, I'm not feeling this demand for BS codes is going to be enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. It will have the opposite effect.

The BS references were made in the context of the post about internet reviews.

However, whilst phoning Mick & Co up and opening with "Good Morning, I'd like a new drive laid in accordance with BS 598-987" is probably not the most endearing conversation opener, a homeowner has to have some reference as to what he wants and how things should be done - not just for the purpose of getting the work done in the first place, but also for the setting of a standard for if things go wrong, so that both parties are clear as to what standard of work should be/should have been done for the price paid.

A customer has to have some standard measure of what is being quoted for so as to be able to compare quotes. Whether that is what BS or EN standards are to apply, how many mm of hardcore base or how many cups of tea are to be made is up to the customer, but he needs something as a reference.

 

[yorksbuilder]

Noseall have given you advice, seems sensible to follow it.
Alternatively, you could DIY it if you want it done exactly as you wish, and then you know what has been put in. Thats what I would do when I do my driveway. Then everything is on you!

 

[noseall]

but he needs something as a reference.

I always find "...minimum 100mm compacted MOT Type1..." usually works for me.

 

[cdbe]

Try Checkatrade - plenty of BS there.