VIL Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 I am currently having my driveway done and so far have been unhappy with some of the work. The contractor I went with has done loads of driveways in the area and comes recommended. I did my homework and went to see a few that did look great as a finished article and even spoke to some of the home owners who said he was very good. However, there are some aspects of his work which I am unhappy with and cause me concern. Basically the driveway was not dug out deep enough, the quality of the sub-base is not type 1 but simply builders rubble and to make this firmer he has added concrete to the mix which I undertand is very bad practice. Has anyone else had poor experiences with work like this? Can anyone advise on what I should do! He also put the price of the job up by £400.00 from what we had first agreed. Whenever I approach him on this he get frustrated with me and simply says he has been doing this work for 25 years and I should trust him and leave him to get on with it! Knowing only a little about driveway construction I dont feel I can argue against him but my gut feeling is I am getting ripped off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcol Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 its not a pikey with a scabby dog is it? The normal practice for the "Rogue Traders" of the driveway world to just dig the top down about a few inches fill full of rubble them put a layer of tarmac on about a thick as a spread of marmite, you need at least 4-6 inches of tarmac/concrete and a good solid base, well thats what i was told anyway and they should be digging between 9 and 12 inches deep so the base can "settle" As for the extra £400 ALARM BELLS SUDDENLY APPEAR as this is a typical pikey "scam", he may not be a pikey but dont know many driveway merchants who arnt, especially if he claims to have done a load "in the area" basically they will tell you there is more tarmac/concrete than there really is and in about a year it will need doing again as it will have subsided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markus99 Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 did he give you any explaination as to why he was putting the price up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Has he used a whacker plate to compact the base material? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwilkinson Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Have you tried contacting trading standards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbasupra Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 maybe worth pm'ing jamiep im sure he would be able to offer some advise as he did in another thread about a driveway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz1 Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 what depth has he dug out to, what kind of drive is it? tarmac/block paving/concrete, what has he used for compacting the crushed concrete, is the drive for just your car or is there heavier vehicles going to use it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 He also put the price of the job up by £400.00 from what we had first agreed. Whenever I approach him on this he get frustrated with me and simply says he has been doing this work for 25 years and I should trust him and leave him to get on with it! At the end of the job pay him the agreed fee without the extra over £400 and when he questions you, just say "I've been paying for things for 25 years, trust me!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathew Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 At the end of the job pay him the agreed fee without the extra over £400 and when he questions you, just say "I've been paying for things for 25 years, trust me!" :d i liked that one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignum Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Sack him now before its to late, i had to do just that about 5 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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