So an update...
We offered for the builder to come back and rectify the work or give us a refund if he doesn't think he can do it within the bounds of the original quote and our contract. He's deflected all of that and not addressed it directly and only responded with "confusion" as to why we didn't tell him during the process and is accusing us having no intention of paying in the first place. He wants someone on his terms to come and give a "second opinion" too. I don't think that's necessary as a non-expert can tell the work is crap. If he needs someone else to tell him that he's obviously not one.
We're trying not to address those directly - as we employed him as an "expert" and expect him to do the work right the first time without our intervention, and also we intend to only pay when the work is completed to a reasonable skill and care and to a reasonable timescale... as set out in both the contract/terms and the law.
We've then resubmit to him our complaint with the required works to see if he acknowledges them. He's responding at the last minute to our deadlines (14 days for the initial response) and ignoring our texts (we're just acknowledging receipt of his letters, and asking to phone him at a certain time to sort this quicker).
In the meantime I've had to clear the gravel and sand from my drain... which was flooding (surprise!) after rain. Took photos as evidence first and there's a good 10 handfuls of gravel down each drain. They're not freely flowing but will probably clog with sand again as that washed from the patio.
Also had to clear some gravel from where the back gate was - as he's raised the level of the top where the path met the gate the gate now catches on the gravel that ends up on there and can't be opened properly.
The patio has continued to sink and degrade, some of the inner "retaining" wall blocks are now loose. This has allowed me to check them out. They are lightweight. Also the sand between the joints and beneath the slabs remains damp and is now going green with grossness. Not fit for purpose.
Anyway... we'll see how this goes. I'm definitely thinking of writing a blog or post for new people having works done, what to look out for with builders and the type of quality you should be looking for even for basic work.
We offered for the builder to come back and rectify the work or give us a refund if he doesn't think he can do it within the bounds of the original quote and our contract. He's deflected all of that and not addressed it directly and only responded with "confusion" as to why we didn't tell him during the process and is accusing us having no intention of paying in the first place. He wants someone on his terms to come and give a "second opinion" too. I don't think that's necessary as a non-expert can tell the work is crap. If he needs someone else to tell him that he's obviously not one.
We're trying not to address those directly - as we employed him as an "expert" and expect him to do the work right the first time without our intervention, and also we intend to only pay when the work is completed to a reasonable skill and care and to a reasonable timescale... as set out in both the contract/terms and the law.
We've then resubmit to him our complaint with the required works to see if he acknowledges them. He's responding at the last minute to our deadlines (14 days for the initial response) and ignoring our texts (we're just acknowledging receipt of his letters, and asking to phone him at a certain time to sort this quicker).
In the meantime I've had to clear the gravel and sand from my drain... which was flooding (surprise!) after rain. Took photos as evidence first and there's a good 10 handfuls of gravel down each drain. They're not freely flowing but will probably clog with sand again as that washed from the patio.
Also had to clear some gravel from where the back gate was - as he's raised the level of the top where the path met the gate the gate now catches on the gravel that ends up on there and can't be opened properly.
The patio has continued to sink and degrade, some of the inner "retaining" wall blocks are now loose. This has allowed me to check them out. They are lightweight. Also the sand between the joints and beneath the slabs remains damp and is now going green with grossness. Not fit for purpose.
Anyway... we'll see how this goes. I'm definitely thinking of writing a blog or post for new people having works done, what to look out for with builders and the type of quality you should be looking for even for basic work.
