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.

Oh my Lord. You couldn't make this up 🤦

Slightly concerned about the dark damp patches appearing. Could have been raining , but just check with your builder if he did 'dot and dab'. He will know what this means. Ask this in writing though! As if he says no, and he did, you would have legal recourse.
Our neighbours had a new patio laid and had constant odd damp patches appearing on the slabs. Their builders had used the dot and dab method to lay the slabs which caused moisture to rise to the surface and it constantly looked patchy and wet in parts. Worth checking this as a lot do it and its wrong. Otherwise its looking a lot better x

@WinterVibes its been teaming with rain today, I did watch him lay the slabs and definitely didn't dot and dab and he painted the back of them with some sort of liquid stuff.

The builder doing our driveway had time off because:

. His rabbit was ill and he didn't want to leave it on its own
. He had to take the rabbit to the vet
. He had to take the rabbit to a different vet because he didn't trust the first one
. He had to go to the library to research rabbit ailments because he didn't trust the second vet
. He hadn't had much sleep because the rabbit was now sleeping in the same bed as him
. The rabbit was about to take its last breath and he wanted to be there
. His rabbit died and he was in mourning

When he finally came back to work, he spent a good couple of hours showing me videos of his rabbit in happier times.

@Nows 🤣🤣🤣 builders must do a module at college on ridiculous reasons why they don't turn up.

I know - I couldn't help but admire his dedication and commitment to avoid doing our driveway!

I learnt the hard way never to leave the builders in my house doing works.

When I had my shutters fitted, they were really slapdash, and no attention to detail, which I considered unreasonable given they were going to cost the best part of £3,300. I wasn't home for when they were fitted, as I was at work.

I raised concerns immediately, and contractor kept saying he was coming back every couple of days. This was back in March, and I've not seen him since. Luckily I had held back £400, so took that as compensation for his incompetence.

I haven't paid in full yet and also have his whacker plate machine in my shed . Why are they so bloody incompetent?

I absolutely hate the majority of tradespeople. I have seriously considered retraining and setting myself up as someone who (a) answers the phone (b) arrives when they've arranged to (c) does a good job (d) tidies up afterwards. I think I could make a killing.

So far, we've only found one decent tradesperson and that's a retired plumber who only does little jobs now. I don't mind paying a more expensive price for the right job to be done well, but I would like that option! Our plumber is an older gentleman who's from the era of doing a proper job.

I feel for you OP! I hope it gets finished properly, all your concerns are obviously valid.

I've had similar experiences and despite paying top £££ and getting recommendations I seem to get the shittest tradesmen.

I've now decided to do everything myself.

I laid a new bathroom vinyl floor this week, I honestly did a better job than the supposed professional I paid to do it - his attempt was so bad I took it up, bought a new floor (again) and did it! Thank goodness for YouTube!

@Trampley this one came recommended , it's put me off having anything else done tbh.

All the ones I've had come recommended too, yet they're shit, and I don't expect perfection or have high expectations, just want what I've asked for!

It's so bloody stressful, I really hope you get it sorted and are happy once they've finished. I echo not to part with another penny until you're happy.

The trouble is, they have all the power. All they have to do is a 'reasonable' job and you legally don't have a leg to stand on. You have to pay them and then try to get the money back. For example you'd be hard pressed to go to small claims court even for the wrong colour bricks, as it'd be 'reasonable' that any brick was provided.

I think they know they can get away with shit jobs and try it on. The generation of good, solid tradesmen that took pride in their work are dead and gone.

That slab score is ridiculous, what were they thinking??!

as a vet, unfortunately I can confirm that there are people who behave exactly like this (although the library visit is rather retro) - it’s not entirely impossible that this was all true …