What’s wrong with this DRIVEWAY

[Driveway]

Yes the second company said it’s shocking he has been doing driveways for 30 years Diamond driveways He will write a report for me plus I need an extra one for trading standards
It’s not to do with what he charged it’s a shabby job cigarettes but every where some cement has more sand in it rather than more cement. He completed the job today and will post more photos shortly

 

[Driveway]

More photos

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Do you have any photos of before? What was the driveway beforehand? Did he compress the sub-base and add a binding layer (sand) before the pavers? Have a read through here to really grasp what should have been done: https://www.pavingexpert.com/bpvseq01 It's hard to say without you filing in the blanks as to how well the driveway will stand up long term. Some photos from further away would help rather than just close-ups.

 

[Driveway]

See how close the lawn is to path in front of front door Where my car is it met with next door neighbours boarder

 

[catlad]

I suspect they have just laid the new drive over the old!

 

[Koolpc]

Shocking!

 

[noseall]

I’d definitely be concerned with the lack of the soakaway, but you’ve obviously let them continue with the job.

The haunching looks strong enough to hold the drive. I’d suggest you build up the adjacent flowerbed with soil for aesthetic purposes.

Not a terrible job for £5.5k. You gets what you pay for.

Agree.
Looks to me like the original drive was way above the lawn also. Not sure how a soakaway would benefit, if it slopes towards the house and is collected by an original gully..?

 

[kingandy2nd]

Looking at the width of gaps in the sand between the blocks, they might be semi permeable pavers - that would mean a soakaway would not be needed. Do you know what blocks were used?

I am going largely against the grain here, but it does not look like a terrible or a cowboy job.

It certainly has quirks and the haunching is ugly, but it looks strong enough to me and can be hidden with soil. Let it harden for a couple of weeks and then hit it with a hammer to test if you like.

Your old drive was elevated too, but being tarmac you could have greater angles between the road and the house - just look how your neighbour’s drive dips sharply from the road - you can’t achieve those angles with a block drive (without a lot of time/money), it was always going to be a flatter driveway and thus more elevated toward the house.

The competitor will always rubbish other companies work. How much did they quote for the job originally?? I guarantee you’ll never get a written report from them about the other company’s work. Maybe a quote change /rework aspects, but not to put on record anything about the first company.

I presume you were happy to pay cash and save the VAT originally?

You’ve quickly gone nuclear with the contractor reporting them to HMRC and Trading Standards. You’ve now totally burnt your bridges with the contractor, and quite frankly you better hope they are a professional company (who’s owner’s houses do not have wheels) or you may have just caused yourself a world of problems.

That drive is absolutely fine and perfectly functional for the money you’ve paid for it, especially for London prices.

Pay them what you owe them and move on with your life.

 

[Driveway]

No he gave me quote and said it will be cash
I asked him to make same level as my neighbour but did not listen to me

They are standard Marshall pavers

I am now having to pay out extra to have a raised boarder using sleepers and steps

The previous driveway was much lower like some one mentioned on here probably did not take away all the hardcore then type 1 then sand then a grey mix screen then pavers has risen the driveway considerably

Let’s see what happens when it rains hard

CAB gave me advised and they are reporting to trading standards that’s my choice

 

[noseall]

I asked him to make same level as my neighbour but did not listen to me

His levels will be dictated by the road or footpath and the line to a determined level, against your house.

 

[kingandy2nd]

I think you’re just trying to get out of paying him with spurious complaints over minor issues.

You will get nowhere with trading standards with he said, she said.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I suspect they have just laid the new drive over the old!

The old, appear to be quite well laid concrete, which has been poorly tarmaced over the top. The old being raised higher than the surrounding soil area. The blocks, would seem to have been laid directly on top of the original concrete. Whether or not, that same process has gone all the way to the OP's door, covering the damp course, is unclear.

Breaking up that decent concrete, would have added to the bill, and been a shame, but if the OP wanted and specified the drive less high....

A reasonable job seems to have been made of laying the blocks, but whether it will last - depends on how well the haunching has been done.

 

[Charlie George]

The old, appear to be quite well laid concrete, which has been poorly tarmaced over the top. The old being raised higher than the surrounding soil area. The blocks, would seem to have been laid directly on top of the original concrete. Whether or not, that same process has gone all the way to the OP's door, covering the damp course, is unclear.

Breaking up that decent concrete, would have added to the bill, and been a shame, but if the OP wanted and specified the drive less high....

A reasonable job seems to have been made of laying the blocks, but whether it will last - depends on how well the haunching has been done.

The existing drive was broken up and MOT put down (photos on another thread) it also looks ok with DPC level, i agree with Noseall and Kingandy about the slope and workmanship, some of the detail is a bit ropey,but for half the cost of a Marshalls approved installer they have a functioning drive worth what they paid.