Drive getting redone bloke not turned up
Discussion
Granted I am in the SE but when I price driveways they usually start around £80per m2, this is for a quality insured Ltd company to carry out the job. If you want a decent quality finish with no 'extras' I would budget around 6K-7K.
m3jappa is your man to listen to on here, he is accredited and having looked at his work it looks top notch.
m3jappa is your man to listen to on here, he is accredited and having looked at his work it looks top notch.
Did you or your builder sort planning permission for your drive?
After 2008 all new areas of drive are required to be of permeable construction, the area of grass dug up would class as new - doing it how it looks on your pictures then the builder needs to use MOT Type 3 (material with no fines, so water can drain through), special permeable blocks (that provide 6mm spacings between), granite chippings instead of sand (again to let water through).
Block paving using standard blocks, MOT type 1 and Sand are not classed as permeable, if the surface is non permeable then the council can allow it if there are other provisions for dealing with the water on site and not by directing it to storm water drains - like building in soak away crates underneath the drive and draining all water from none permeable blocks into them.
http://www.drivewayexpert.co.uk/new-regulations-fo...
http://www.pavingexpert.com/permeable04.htm
After 2008 all new areas of drive are required to be of permeable construction, the area of grass dug up would class as new - doing it how it looks on your pictures then the builder needs to use MOT Type 3 (material with no fines, so water can drain through), special permeable blocks (that provide 6mm spacings between), granite chippings instead of sand (again to let water through).
Block paving using standard blocks, MOT type 1 and Sand are not classed as permeable, if the surface is non permeable then the council can allow it if there are other provisions for dealing with the water on site and not by directing it to storm water drains - like building in soak away crates underneath the drive and draining all water from none permeable blocks into them.
http://www.drivewayexpert.co.uk/new-regulations-fo...
http://www.pavingexpert.com/permeable04.htm
wjwren said:
Would you bother with a money claim online at him? Il write a letter first and follow procedure etc but I can imagine his answer already.
The address he gave me he lives at, though he is not on the electoral roll there, it looks like his girlfriends house.
I'd write to him but as you ve said, you already know the answer. The address he gave me he lives at, though he is not on the electoral roll there, it looks like his girlfriends house.
This chap that's been round has said he's got to dig it off and basically restart the job.
Is he not planning on reusing some of the stone that's already down?
My drive was was ripped up and tarmac ed as we didn't want bricks but tarmac alone was 4 grand and a few kerb stones and a water grid thing at the bottom of the drive.
You need to be clear and firm with him. You've paid him money for what? A mess and it's not been even completed correctly. Spell it all out clearly. I'd be fuming at this stage. I had a Plumber who decided to show when he wanted and a 2 week job turned into 5 and counting. I told him no more money and goodbye.
wjwren said:
Would you bother with a money claim online at him? Il write a letter first and follow procedure etc but I can imagine his answer already.
The address he gave me he lives at, though he is not on the electoral roll there, it looks like his girlfriends house.
Wouldn't waste my time. Another workman has already said he's done a grands worth of work (5k vs 4k job). I'd just take the hit and move on. Even if you "win" you will struggle to get money from him. Life is too short. The address he gave me he lives at, though he is not on the electoral roll there, it looks like his girlfriends house.
photosnob said:
wjwren said:
Would you bother with a money claim online at him? Il write a letter first and follow procedure etc but I can imagine his answer already.
The address he gave me he lives at, though he is not on the electoral roll there, it looks like his girlfriends house.
Wouldn't waste my time. Another workman has already said he's done a grands worth of work (5k vs 4k job). I'd just take the hit and move on. Even if you "win" you will struggle to get money from him. Life is too short. The address he gave me he lives at, though he is not on the electoral roll there, it looks like his girlfriends house.
I don't think you will get a penny back so I would just chalk it up to experience.in fact you got off lightly as it could have been a real disaster if he finished / continued and you paid him even more money!!!!
But you might want to send him something like this?
Dear Mr Bodger
I have taken professional advice and have been advised that the standard of the works carried out by yourself to date are totally unacceptable and not to the required standards of construction.
In brief:
1. insufficient ground has been excavated to be able to achieve an eventual finished level of 150mm below DPC as per required standards
2. Hardcore fill for trafficked areas should be 150mm and you have only placed 75mm which again does not conform to required standards.
Given the above and your continued failures to attend site and progress the works in a professional manner I consider you to have breached our contract and have absolutely no faith in your abilities to complete the works in a professional and timely manner.
However as a gesture of good faith (without prejudice) I am happy to pay you for: (subject to sight of invoices / receipts)
a) The hire of the excavator. £150?
b) The cost of taking away excavated material. £250?
c) The cost of stone / hardcore delivered. £200
Total £600?
Please deduct these monies from those I have paid you ( £1200?) and refund the balance of (£600?) within 7 days of this letter. For the avoidance of doubt please be advised that I do not wish you to carry out any further works and reserve the right to take legal action should the monies not be repaid in full.
Yours Mr Pi.sdoff.
But you might want to send him something like this?
Dear Mr Bodger
I have taken professional advice and have been advised that the standard of the works carried out by yourself to date are totally unacceptable and not to the required standards of construction.
In brief:
1. insufficient ground has been excavated to be able to achieve an eventual finished level of 150mm below DPC as per required standards
2. Hardcore fill for trafficked areas should be 150mm and you have only placed 75mm which again does not conform to required standards.
Given the above and your continued failures to attend site and progress the works in a professional manner I consider you to have breached our contract and have absolutely no faith in your abilities to complete the works in a professional and timely manner.
However as a gesture of good faith (without prejudice) I am happy to pay you for: (subject to sight of invoices / receipts)
a) The hire of the excavator. £150?
b) The cost of taking away excavated material. £250?
c) The cost of stone / hardcore delivered. £200
Total £600?
Please deduct these monies from those I have paid you ( £1200?) and refund the balance of (£600?) within 7 days of this letter. For the avoidance of doubt please be advised that I do not wish you to carry out any further works and reserve the right to take legal action should the monies not be repaid in full.
Yours Mr Pi.sdoff.
Edited by alfie2244 on Friday 5th May 14:03
Edited by alfie2244 on Friday 5th May 14:06
Great letter alfie!!
He has just called me! I had a rant and said
You never turn up or let me know, countless excuses as to why you cant come, poor quality of work, sending the blocks to my house without even lettign me know they are on the way, let alone they are not even paid for! He said he had money issues and didnt know why i was annoyed as i had to have the blocks anyway. I said i gave you the money for the blocks 3 weeks ago and you said ud bought them and had an invoice - phone went quiet. He said maybe he could of communicated better with me. He said he had been fined £50 by the merchants for a wasted deliver, i said no you havent as ive just spoken to them and the manager said you havent been in contact at all let alone any talk of a fine. He said they dont "fine" people.
He said check my fb page out loads of good reviews on there, i said they are all your friends. Line went quiet again.
He said have a think about it.
10 mins went and i got this text
Just forget it we have no trust get someone else to finish your drive we have no trust so get someone else in.
so to sum up, the bloke is a tosser, total liar/shyster and crap at his job.
He has just called me! I had a rant and said
You never turn up or let me know, countless excuses as to why you cant come, poor quality of work, sending the blocks to my house without even lettign me know they are on the way, let alone they are not even paid for! He said he had money issues and didnt know why i was annoyed as i had to have the blocks anyway. I said i gave you the money for the blocks 3 weeks ago and you said ud bought them and had an invoice - phone went quiet. He said maybe he could of communicated better with me. He said he had been fined £50 by the merchants for a wasted deliver, i said no you havent as ive just spoken to them and the manager said you havent been in contact at all let alone any talk of a fine. He said they dont "fine" people.
He said check my fb page out loads of good reviews on there, i said they are all your friends. Line went quiet again.
He said have a think about it.
10 mins went and i got this text
Just forget it we have no trust get someone else to finish your drive we have no trust so get someone else in.
so to sum up, the bloke is a tosser, total liar/shyster and crap at his job.
Sa Calobra said:
You need to be clear and firm with him. You've paid him money for what? A mess and it's not been even completed correctly. Spell it all out clearly. I'd be fuming at this stage. I had a Plumber who decided to show when he wanted and a 2 week job turned into 5 and counting. I told him no more money and goodbye.
This had been suggested before but alas...I feel for you, thankfully I have family in the trade (no caravans involved) so they can clue me up on good & bad practices. Someone mentioned it earlier in the thread but I didn't see it mentioned again but I take it that the drop kerb paperwork with the local CC has all been done for the crossover? That and the building regs for the work as it is close to the property and you are also removing drainage area (grass). All these things came up on mine in my last house. I even had the building inspector round to check the works twice but one of those times was to approve an LDPM layer as it came above DPM.
No doubt you've looked but here you go just in case.
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/transport/staffsh...
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/transport/staffsh...
wjwren said:
No he hadnt consulted any building control including the kerb.
Round here if you want a dropped kerb, or to modify an existing one, there's a process to go through which is relatively painless but involves the county council's own contractors doing the kerb changes.Assuming your drive doesn't require planning permission from your district council (ignoring the dropped kerb) then as long as you can access it off your existing dropped kerb and it's suitably drained then I don't think there's an issue (AFAIK and I'm sure will be corrected if it's not!)
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