Show me pictures of your patio!
Discussion
Andehh said:
hmm, that's a tricky one there! I'd be interested in hearing the full story & where it is going if you find the itme to put a thread of your own up...
In short, we contracted him to do a patio, garage and driveway, paid an initial deposit, and then staged payments based on progress against the build programme. Initially it was all labour charges for the dig out, but we were paying for materials based on his receipts. Turns out that he wasn't actually ordering our materials, and as all the slabs, bricks and aggregates were due delivery last week, it all came to light then. In real terms we are down about £8k in materials, but given that the wall may have to come down, now, all the time and materials that went into that will also be a tangible cost.
He also claimed that he had building control sign off at each stage - he had filed an application, but no visits had been made.
We've contacted 3 other customers who he has done the same to in recent weeks, and it seems that the portfolio of work we saw and recommendations were from his fathers business where he was previously a labourer. I've spoken to his family and stirred up a storm there - our insurers are taking the case on with our legal protection policy, but he has implicated himself and his fellow director enough on other issues for them to be personally liable - he told a previous customer he was insolvent last month, yet continued to take money of us and another customer. Wrongful trading has been banded about, but the consumer laws also seem to be far reaching and can hold directors liable. I've also had his vehicles repossessed, and have been speaking to his suppliers to whom he also owes a lot of money.
We did so much checking on this guy prior, tried to pay in stages based on progress, I even credit checked him but he has had 3 CCJ's registered against him in the last 2 months - his feedback on MyBuilder was falsified and they are looking into that aspect too.
It's till early days though, and all a bit raw - we have a lot to sort out both in the garden and with holding him accountable in some way or another.
Cheeky b'stard has now invited us to apply for a winding up petition - what's the point in that if the company has nothing for us to recoup?
Had our main patio, where this is taken from, redone last month, and a new patio added between the garage and shed. The new patio is in the shade, when the old one is in full sunlight.
New path and patio by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
New path and patio by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
S11Steve said:
In short, we contracted him to do a patio, garage and driveway, paid an initial deposit, and then staged payments based on progress against the build programme. Initially it was all labour charges for the dig out, but we were paying for materials based on his receipts.
Turns out that he wasn't actually ordering our materials, and as all the slabs, bricks and aggregates were due delivery last week, it all came to light then. In real terms we are down about £8k in materials, but given that the wall may have to come down, now, all the time and materials that went into that will also be a tangible cost.
He also claimed that he had building control sign off at each stage - he had filed an application, but no visits had been made.
We've contacted 3 other customers who he has done the same to in recent weeks, and it seems that the portfolio of work we saw and recommendations were from his fathers business where he was previously a labourer. I've spoken to his family and stirred up a storm there - our insurers are taking the case on with our legal protection policy, but he has implicated himself and his fellow director enough on other issues for them to be personally liable - he told a previous customer he was insolvent last month, yet continued to take money of us and another customer. Wrongful trading has been banded about, but the consumer laws also seem to be far reaching and can hold directors liable. I've also had his vehicles repossessed, and have been speaking to his suppliers to whom he also owes a lot of money.
We did so much checking on this guy prior, tried to pay in stages based on progress, I even credit checked him but he has had 3 CCJ's registered against him in the last 2 months - his feedback on MyBuilder was falsified and they are looking into that aspect too.
It's till early days though, and all a bit raw - we have a lot to sort out both in the garden and with holding him accountable in some way or another.
Cheeky b'stard has now invited us to apply for a winding up petition - what's the point in that if the company has nothing for us to recoup?
That's a sad story and you must be fuming! If there are a lot of people after his money I suspect you need to brace yourself for the fact that you are unlikely to get anything back as you will be last in line. Sorry to hear your tale. Turns out that he wasn't actually ordering our materials, and as all the slabs, bricks and aggregates were due delivery last week, it all came to light then. In real terms we are down about £8k in materials, but given that the wall may have to come down, now, all the time and materials that went into that will also be a tangible cost.
He also claimed that he had building control sign off at each stage - he had filed an application, but no visits had been made.
We've contacted 3 other customers who he has done the same to in recent weeks, and it seems that the portfolio of work we saw and recommendations were from his fathers business where he was previously a labourer. I've spoken to his family and stirred up a storm there - our insurers are taking the case on with our legal protection policy, but he has implicated himself and his fellow director enough on other issues for them to be personally liable - he told a previous customer he was insolvent last month, yet continued to take money of us and another customer. Wrongful trading has been banded about, but the consumer laws also seem to be far reaching and can hold directors liable. I've also had his vehicles repossessed, and have been speaking to his suppliers to whom he also owes a lot of money.
We did so much checking on this guy prior, tried to pay in stages based on progress, I even credit checked him but he has had 3 CCJ's registered against him in the last 2 months - his feedback on MyBuilder was falsified and they are looking into that aspect too.
It's till early days though, and all a bit raw - we have a lot to sort out both in the garden and with holding him accountable in some way or another.
Cheeky b'stard has now invited us to apply for a winding up petition - what's the point in that if the company has nothing for us to recoup?
JM
S11Steve said:
In short, we contracted him to do a patio, garage and driveway, paid an initial deposit, and then staged payments based on progress against the build programme. Initially it was all labour charges for the dig out, but we were paying for materials based on his receipts.
Turns out that he wasn't actually ordering our materials, and as all the slabs, bricks and aggregates were due delivery last week, it all came to light then. In real terms we are down about £8k in materials, but given that the wall may have to come down, now, all the time and materials that went into that will also be a tangible cost.
He also claimed that he had building control sign off at each stage - he had filed an application, but no visits had been made.
We've contacted 3 other customers who he has done the same to in recent weeks, and it seems that the portfolio of work we saw and recommendations were from his fathers business where he was previously a labourer. I've spoken to his family and stirred up a storm there - our insurers are taking the case on with our legal protection policy, but he has implicated himself and his fellow director enough on other issues for them to be personally liable - he told a previous customer he was insolvent last month, yet continued to take money of us and another customer. Wrongful trading has been banded about, but the consumer laws also seem to be far reaching and can hold directors liable. I've also had his vehicles repossessed, and have been speaking to his suppliers to whom he also owes a lot of money.
We did so much checking on this guy prior, tried to pay in stages based on progress, I even credit checked him but he has had 3 CCJ's registered against him in the last 2 months - his feedback on MyBuilder was falsified and they are looking into that aspect too.
It's till early days though, and all a bit raw - we have a lot to sort out both in the garden and with holding him accountable in some way or another.
Cheeky b'stard has now invited us to apply for a winding up petition - what's the point in that if the company has nothing for us to recoup?
Steve this sounds terrible, I work for a contractor and this looks bad for the industry as a whole! Have you spoken to the council? Building control should come out and inspect the works carried out. Turns out that he wasn't actually ordering our materials, and as all the slabs, bricks and aggregates were due delivery last week, it all came to light then. In real terms we are down about £8k in materials, but given that the wall may have to come down, now, all the time and materials that went into that will also be a tangible cost.
He also claimed that he had building control sign off at each stage - he had filed an application, but no visits had been made.
We've contacted 3 other customers who he has done the same to in recent weeks, and it seems that the portfolio of work we saw and recommendations were from his fathers business where he was previously a labourer. I've spoken to his family and stirred up a storm there - our insurers are taking the case on with our legal protection policy, but he has implicated himself and his fellow director enough on other issues for them to be personally liable - he told a previous customer he was insolvent last month, yet continued to take money of us and another customer. Wrongful trading has been banded about, but the consumer laws also seem to be far reaching and can hold directors liable. I've also had his vehicles repossessed, and have been speaking to his suppliers to whom he also owes a lot of money.
We did so much checking on this guy prior, tried to pay in stages based on progress, I even credit checked him but he has had 3 CCJ's registered against him in the last 2 months - his feedback on MyBuilder was falsified and they are looking into that aspect too.
It's till early days though, and all a bit raw - we have a lot to sort out both in the garden and with holding him accountable in some way or another.
Cheeky b'stard has now invited us to apply for a winding up petition - what's the point in that if the company has nothing for us to recoup?
You would be surprised how many people get caught out by these cowboys! Next time pay a respected local firm that's been around 10+ years with a physical office.
joshcowin said:
Steve this sounds terrible, I work for a contractor and this looks bad for the industry as a whole! Have you spoken to the council? Building control should come out and inspect the works carried out.
You would be surprised how many people get caught out by these cowboys! Next time pay a respected local firm that's been around 10+ years with a physical office.
Building Control have been out since, and although the retaining wall was not part of the planning app or through the building control application, they are checking to see if it still comes under Part A control. We've got a strucural engineer coming on Monday to assess it, but also to calculate the concrete garage raft.You would be surprised how many people get caught out by these cowboys! Next time pay a respected local firm that's been around 10+ years with a physical office.
As above, we did as much checking on this guy as we could - visiting his other works, but it now seems that despite his claims he has been in the trade for 10 years, most of that was as a labourer/foreman for his fathers former business, rather than his own projects. He's had a number of CCJs since he started our our job, and after speaking to HMRC and insolvency service, they are looking at the case now as well.
S11Steve said:
Building Control have been out since, and although the retaining wall was not part of the planning app or through the building control application, they are checking to see if it still comes under Part A control. We've got a strucural engineer coming on Monday to assess it,
It's not likely to pass at the moment but there are plenty of options available: build piers and install drainage behind the wall to strengthen and reduce pressure; build gabions behind the wall to strengthen and reduce pressure; mass concrete behind the wall to strengthen; etc. I'd guess piers and drainage but design hand railing now as well, esp. the base fixings. Struct Eng can help with all of this.S11Steve said:
Building Control have been out since, and although the retaining wall was not part of the planning app or through the building control application, they are checking to see if it still comes under Part A control. We've got a strucural engineer coming on Monday to assess it, but also to calculate the concrete garage raft.
As above, we did as much checking on this guy as we could - visiting his other works, but it now seems that despite his claims he has been in the trade for 10 years, most of that was as a labourer/foreman for his fathers former business, rather than his own projects. He's had a number of CCJs since he started our our job, and after speaking to HMRC and insolvency service, they are looking at the case now as well.
I am not having a pop, just when you appoint the next contractor ensure they are an established firm, not a one man band not a project manager. As above, we did as much checking on this guy as we could - visiting his other works, but it now seems that despite his claims he has been in the trade for 10 years, most of that was as a labourer/foreman for his fathers former business, rather than his own projects. He's had a number of CCJs since he started our our job, and after speaking to HMRC and insolvency service, they are looking at the case now as well.
I am sorry for your woes if you need any further help let me know, maybe start a thread!?
joshcowin said:
I am not having a pop, just when you appoint the next contractor ensure they are an established firm, not a one man band not a project manager.
I am sorry for your woes if you need any further help let me know, maybe start a thread!?
No offence taken - it has knocked us, especially given how much back checking we did prior to this. Everything he told us was a slight variation on the truth, to the extent that when I did background checks, the story stood up. His fathers business had been trading 35 years and went into voluntary liquidation in 2015, with our cowboy and his brother taking over the contracts and assets - allegedly. I am sorry for your woes if you need any further help let me know, maybe start a thread!?
There is a lot more that I don't really want to divulge in public at the moment, there may be criminal implications that I don't want to potentially jeopardise.
I take no credit or blame for this 1970s patio we inherited. Plain, boring concrete all round. I just pressure wash it. Hence the missing mortar.
"Patio Magic" is praised elsewhere but only for green algae, not for ground-in dirt.
The decking in the middle is there, I suspect, because the slabs get most use there and have sunk.
Why the 4 red slabs are there I have no idea.
The whole thing needs a lot of work doing to it, most of which is beyond me at my age and finding reliable, skilled tradesmen around here is hit and miss.
"Patio Magic" is praised elsewhere but only for green algae, not for ground-in dirt.
The decking in the middle is there, I suspect, because the slabs get most use there and have sunk.
Why the 4 red slabs are there I have no idea.
The whole thing needs a lot of work doing to it, most of which is beyond me at my age and finding reliable, skilled tradesmen around here is hit and miss.
driverrob said:
I take no credit or blame for this 1970s patio we inherited. Plain, boring concrete all round. I just pressure wash it. Hence the missing mortar.
"Patio Magic" is praised elsewhere but only for green algae, not for ground-in dirt.
The decking in the middle is there, I suspect, because the slabs get most use there and have sunk.
Why the 4 red slabs are there I have no idea.
The whole thing needs a lot of work doing to it, most of which is beyond me at my age and finding reliable, skilled tradesmen around here is hit and miss.
It's not a disaster, decent size, different levels, weathered, with character, as it should be. All you need is a few more pots and planters, plus a little imagination with planting to add some colour. "Patio Magic" is praised elsewhere but only for green algae, not for ground-in dirt.
The decking in the middle is there, I suspect, because the slabs get most use there and have sunk.
Why the 4 red slabs are there I have no idea.
The whole thing needs a lot of work doing to it, most of which is beyond me at my age and finding reliable, skilled tradesmen around here is hit and miss.
Edited by PositronicRay on Tuesday 27th June 22:12
Before:
A bit ragged and worn, raccoons were beginning to peel back the turf in search of grubs, so we opted to pave it instead, maybe 150 sq ft in total, leaving the borders for planting:
total cost was somewhere around 4500 cad inc all the materials, labour and removal of old concrete etc.
A bit ragged and worn, raccoons were beginning to peel back the turf in search of grubs, so we opted to pave it instead, maybe 150 sq ft in total, leaving the borders for planting:
total cost was somewhere around 4500 cad inc all the materials, labour and removal of old concrete etc.
wibble cb said:
Before:
A bit ragged and worn, raccoons were beginning to peel back the turf in search of grubs, so we opted to pave it instead, maybe 150 sq ft in total, leaving the borders for planting:
total cost was somewhere around 4500 cad inc all the materials, labour and removal of old concrete etc.
I like that, decent use of the space. A bit ragged and worn, raccoons were beginning to peel back the turf in search of grubs, so we opted to pave it instead, maybe 150 sq ft in total, leaving the borders for planting:
total cost was somewhere around 4500 cad inc all the materials, labour and removal of old concrete etc.
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