Patio (with pictures)

[Miljah]

This is my patio. The pavers are all wonky and need taking up and relaying on a concrete base. I am also getting a curve cut out f one edge to increase the size of an existing garden bed (where the BBQ is), and the lawn edge/patio edge made wider with a border of longways laid bricks which I have. In addition, I am getting a new path laid across the lawn (picture in second post) and the old yellow paver path removed, the path will be more bricks (again, supplied by me).

Finally, 1 tonne of garden soil delivered.

Job will take 5-6 days, the quote is £1400.

Is that reasonable?

Bloody bargain

The path that will be taken up and replaced with inlaid bricks on a diagonal across the lawn, making the left hand bed bigger (same bed where the Bbq is on last set of pictures.

I think it's okay, DH is wavering BUT it's hard getting quotes as most people want to lay new fancy stone pavers etc.

I want the brick path to look like this

Seems a bit cheap to me, I'd be weary. Are they a reputable company? Check them out online.

I'm surprised it's being laid on a concrete base. For drainage it's bestthe foundations are dug out, and it's some form of compacted aggregate/hard core top by a sand bed.

And I think that's very cheap. And quick. Particularly as new foundations will need to be laid for the path.

I'd be worried you've got a bit of a cowboy in there, and it's not going to be done correctly. How many men will be on the job for them to do all that in a week?

Sorry looking further, there is something wrong here. The jointing (mortar) alone would be roughly two to three days works for two men. Unless it's a huge team, I don't see how this can be done so quickly. And I don't understand why it's being laid on a concrete bed. The foundations for the path alone would take another couple of days.

To do this right, I'd say that's about two to three weeks work for two men.

Suspiciously cheap, I'd get a few more quotes.

I've just had my patios and path redone op. It took between two and four men six weeks. But they are huge. But I have a sense of what's involved. For the job you've listed you should be looking at at least seven grand, likely more.

So they need to grind out existing mortar.
Remove the existing stone.
Escavate the current base
Dig out the foundations.
Lay the new base, ideally with compacted aggregate or similar and likely concrete edging.
Relay the stone on its sand bed.
Joint rhe stone.

Then they need to dig up the existing path.
Dig out the foundations for the new one.
Lay the new path.
Mortar between the bricks.

It's a huge job. That will take significant machinery, from diggers on.

And if it's not done properly the problems you're going to have in a year or two can't be under estimated,

Even if they do use a concrete base, the angles need to be then built in and sloped enough so the patio drains away from the house and into the garden ,,not ideal for it to run off and cause muddy surrounds, but if they did take that route it's going to take them piping in the concrete as there will be so much required,

All in I don't see how this can be done for 1400 quid and in a few days, a few days is feasible with a big team, but the men need to be paid and it's going to cost more than 1400 quid.

Overall I think your husband is right to be wary, don't do this unless you know you've got a reputable company doing it, and get a few quotes in.

I think I got one aspect wrong- they're mortaring the slabs in place, as opposed to setting them on concrete. I don't want gaps where weeds can grow.

So all they are doing is re jointing the patio and laying a new path? Then yes that sounds reasonable.

I don't understand though. If they are all wonky why are you having them rejointed in situ? That's a significant waste of money. It will just break up again, and latest by year end when the frost gets in, but likely in the summer as the base is the issue if it's wonky.

I can see how laying a concrete base would cost ££ so I apologise for that confusion!

Concrete base? That doesn't seem right. The way you avoid weeds growing up is a deep enough foundation.

That all seems very cheap as a pp said. Have you had any more quotes?

Bluntness What we want is for the slabs to be taken up, cleaned of any old mortar (much has broken off anyway)- the issue is, really, that the underlying aggregate/sand has been compressed, washed away making the pavers wonky. The revealed base to be re-levelled and added to with new aggregate, stamped flat, then the pavers re-layed on that, presumably on a layer of sand?- then new mortar to be put in place between the pavers to 'seal' it.

A curve will be cut through possibly 5 pavers.

He will need to lay foundations for the bricks for both the new path (see photo above) and the edging of the patio (which will look like one side of this photo, against the lawn) to make the bit alongside the lavender wider.

Thanks for your valuable input!

I drew you a nice diagram but MN only allows 6 images a day . So I'll post that tomorrow.

Ok, I'm only going on what I've just been through but that then seems very quick and cheap still.

I think you need a few quotes. I'd be worried about that.

They still need to take a grinder and grind out existing mortar,- two men could do this in a day,
Lift all the slabs.- two men for a morning,
Clean them - likely another half days work for two men
Relevel the base- I think this would be approx two to three days work for two men
Relay the slabs , on a sand bed. Likely two days work for two men. Laying stone work isn't quick. It's a sand bed, but like a mortar type one to stop them moving.
Rejoint. Two days work, two men,
The edging needs to be on a concrete base, so they need to dig the foundations, then put the concrete in, as the bricks sit on top of the concrete, the aggregate in the middle of it.
The cutting isn't a big deal as it's just five stones or so.

Then the path, on top of this. But this time inc digging out foundations, laying the base, laying rhe stone, then doing the jointing.

I'd honestly get a few quotes. I would worry this is too quick and too cheap. And too quick and too cheap normally indicates shoddy workmanship as opposed to getting a good deal.

Thanks very much! That's very useful, especially the time frames.

I would agree that a badly done job is worse than no job!

Am just struggling to get actual people to come and quote!!

Yes, it's a night mare to get people to quote. Fortunately we knew a company and had used them for other work. But a friend of ours in another location has had a terrible time of it.

There is a website, I can't recall the name, and you put in your postcode and the job and trades people say if they will quote. Someone will recall it's name.

The whole getting quotes is a total pain in the butt.

However done correctlyit will look lovely and last for ages.

Definitely need hard core and sand under paving of any sort.

Yes, I think the patio was properly laid initially, but use, weather (especially the feet of rain that fell 4 winters ago!) plus the odd mole, mouse and rat have undermined the base materials so the top became unstable and wobbly, breaking the mortar thus allowing more rain etc in.

There should be a good wait of weeks, even months for a good company to do work. Anyone that can start straight away should be avoided one unless they come very recommended.

I think the website that @bluntness was talking about is called Bark (not sure if .com or .co.uk) that's a really good suggestion.

@DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen that's absolutely not true.

**IME