Help ! Builder has cocked up - pictures

[Doneuplikeakipper]

I'm having a new patio and path done in my garden but I'm so upset with what has been done today.
I was out all day until late, so didn't see the builder. I was having the path edged in the same bricks as the wall around the patio but had a quick look when I got home (it was dark) and the edging is a totally different colour. I was meant to have 2 steps up to the grass but only have one which is too high.
I've already parted with £4k , what can I do? I think the owner of the company, who just drops the builder off and then disappears, is going to give me a load of bull as to why it's like this.

@Wendysfriend yes good idea, better than my sharpie solution!

The step needs to be redone. It would drive me crazy looking at that. Scoring the slab would make it weaker.

@goingtotown I've just come home and found this ffs

What has happened there?

I suggested as per a pp's idea that he scored the slab on the left to make it symmetrical. I did not ask him to score it down the middle to make it look even worse.

I even sent him a picture with where I wanted the score to go.

FFS. What is wrong with him?

He's just called me and asked if I've seen the step 🙄 They're coming back Monday to fix it. He said he's going to lay 2 slabs so that the join is in the middle. I remain sceptical.

@Wendysfriend @minipie
I don't know whether to laugh or cry! How could he misunderstand 'symmetrical'

Broken down van is a popular one in my experience. They seem to be so unlucky don't they?🤔

OP my eyes are hurting. As my old man says if you want a job done properly do it yourself.

@TheThingIsYeah I seriously think I could have done a better job myself.

Omg, seriously are you sure they're builders ? 😂 sorry to laugh as I'm sure you're crying, but a monkey could do better.

I think the worst thing is, it's money from your Dad and it's special money and you want it right and you want to feel you haven't wasted it.

I think you need to stand over them while working. You are going to have to speak with the main man and tell him he's wasting his time and the bloke he obviously dragged in off the street doing a shit job and stressing you out.

One thing is for sure, you'll hopefully get a better step. I dreading though to think how they'll cover on the fronts of the steps, I've seen qualified people fuck this up. 😓

Oh yes, and I'd be rich if I had a pound for every tradesman's van that had 'broken down' over the years

At what point do you stand back, look at your work and think, yep, that’s fixed?

So true.
The man who was going to fit my shower couldn’t get to me on the scheduled day as he was ill, or his van had broken down , or he was called away to a dying relative - some such bollocks. He then posted photos proudly on Facebook of the job he’d done that day!

Ugh tradesmen and their lack of care and skill...and their stupid fucking lies. Cannot bear having to deal with them.

@Wendysfriend what do you mean ' I dreading though to think how they'll cover on the fronts of the steps, I've seen qualified people fuck this up'

Apart from fixing the slabs on the steps and washing everything down, he said he's finished- please don't tell me there's more they should do 😩

The front part of the step, is he not filling that in ? There's gaps and a sharp edge on the front of the steps. In your 1st pic it was done/filled in before it was taken out. Sorry I thought it wasn't finished 😊

@Wendysfriend this is a front on picture, the red bricks are a 'feature'

@Doneuplikeakipper

jesus, my dog could do a better job!

im sorry you've had such a crap time, that's about my luck with getting jobs done!

id be giving them this week to get it done properly, to your satisfaction & saying if it isn't you want a full refund!

Sorry must have been the angle of the photo, yes it's finished 😅

This is what I saw

I'm so upset, I know it's only a garden and hardly life or death but it's been so difficult losing my dad that I just wanted something nice done.
I'm probably a bit emotional about it , the builder knew this was being done with the money dad left me and I feel it's an insult to him.

@Wendysfriend phew !

Oh god the extra line down the middle !! FFS 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ hope he sorts it, there’s no way to argue that’s not a cock up.

Oh god yeah, I totally understand, it's a big enough job and stressful at the best of times, and you wanted something to show for money and have nice memories using it and I was in the same position as you, not the garden but the house and when my dad died and left me money I researched workers, reviews everything I didn't want to waste the money and the guy I got to do the work was an idiot, it was a big job, it broke soon after and he ruined my house. I cry every time I look at what he did. I wasted the money and it will cost more to fix .

The slabs are really lovely, same taste as mine. I hope you have many years enjoying them. When you're in your garden you can raise a glass to your kind, lovely Dad x