Pavers failing to turn up but requesting money

[MazzaMaisie]

I’ve had a paver who was personally recommended start a job 11 weeks ago. I had previously had somebody do the job in the spring, but they didn’t do a good job. I have paid them cash so I had no come back anyway this guy started at 11 weeks ago. A few young lads came and pulled all the slabs up he had asked for 1300 pound upfront For the materials. He is reusing the slabs in the interim. He has hardly been here only the last few weeks he has laid six rows of eight tiles. There are about eight or nine rows left. He has had lots of different reasons excuses to not turn up. He has now asked for another 900 pound to pay wages Which means I will have given him nearly half the money I am on my own. I’m not sure what is normal. I know for a fact that the way that he has conducted himself is not normal! Twice I have told him just to pick his stuff up, but he has assured me time and time again that he will turn up, but when he does, it might be for a few hours. I have been very patient and understanding, but I’ve been more firm in latter weeks. How do you think I should proceed?

For clarity, I paid the first paver in the spring in cash. This guy I transferred the money by bank that is the initial 1300 pound I know I probably sound really dumb. I just think I’m very unlucky.

How much of the work is complete?

Six rows of about seven tiles have been laid down. Another eight or nine rows need to go down and then all the edging needs to be done.

Are you in possession of the slabs to finish the job ?

Absolutely not.

You should never pay for labour upfront. Id agree to pay for materials (ideally delivered to my house) or a deposit. That's it. You've been had. Twice.

Remind you have already paid him £1,300 which more than covers the work he's done so far. Any further payment will be on satisfactory completion.

Yes, when the first man did the job he purchased all the slabs. The slabs have simply been pulled up ready to be relayed. I am paying this man 4800 pounds to pull the tiles up and simply relay them so that the water does not gather the way it did. He initially said that the job would only take 5 to 7 days.

So labour only? Sounds expensive ! Don't give him any more money .

Years ago my mother got a painter in to do a couple of rooms. He gave my mother so many sob stories about needing to be paid early, including friends having accidents. She naively fell for it. Obviously he disappeared once she'd paid it all. His father was ashamed of him and came to finish the job without payment.

Thanks for your advice. I’ve got a 9 month old puppy which I got for my autistic daughter, not having access to garden for nearly 3 months has been difficult. I’m a single mum that works four days a week. My mum is around to look after my daughter and she tells me how many hours they have done that day so the days that they are turning up, they are here for maybe two hours one day they did about four hours. I have been fed up and asked them on two occasions just to pick up their things. I keep getting more excuses he even brought in another paver this week to speed things up he said, but then he did not turn up at all, and the new paver only came for a couple of hours here in there maybe six hours in total over the whole week. To be honest, I just want them to go now because I can’t see them ever finishing it and it is causing so much stress. Obviously the weather is on the turn now I even asked if they could work a Saturday as they had not been for many weeks and he said the lads don’t work Saturdays I know I’m probably rambling but I’m not sleeping so good at the moment with all.

Tell him you won't be paying him any more money until the job is complete.

You'll kick yourself if you give him more money OP.

I feel for you. It sounds very likely he isn't going to finish the job so, whatever you do, dont give him any more money.

I would start looking for someone else. See if they turn up sooner than this guy!

Did you get a range of quotes? I'm finding it hard to fathom paying nearly £5000 for someone to relay approximately 100 tiles.

No more money h til it’s finished.

Definitely not. And to be honest that price sounds extortionate given it's just labour, unless your patio is enormous.

Extortionate price!

And do not pay him a penny. No reputable firm would ask for anything upfront (except materials). I had a similar patio laid 2 years ago and all included it was 7000. Obviously prices do change....but not that much!

OP if you already own the slabs (paid through the Spring paver) what materials have you paid for that cost £1300?
Sand and cement to lay them would cost all of £100-£200 (that is being generous too depending on actually SQM)
You may have chosen some expensive edging perhaps or is that with the original materials too?
What about covering stones or is it just a simple cement fill between slabs?
What machinery are they using that could explain that cost?
Do not pay any more money.
Even at 5-7 days, the total you've been quoted seems high if you already owned the slabs.

Have you hired a specialist landscaping company or normal builders?

The photograph gives you a bit of a more of a better idea of the area I’m talking about. So the pavers themselves I have them. I did not have the cement sand all those black stones that are going to be used for the edges and he is using them Instead of a couple of the pavers to break up a bit. For info the pavers that you see stacked up at the bottom of the photograph that is where the house is so that is where the area ends that needs to be done once again thanks for your input everyone it is an area that I know so little about.