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Message |
    
Me
Citizen
Username: 1972
Post Number: 22
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 9:31 pm: | 
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It's kind of hard to explain the problem, but I'll give it a try....
I'm having this landscape company (I'd rather not mention their name) put in a pavered patio in my backyard. They first put in a circle in the middle, then they put in the pavers on the sides, and now they are filling it in with pavers. Tonight I looked at it closely and noticed that they are not putting in the pavers in straight lines. When it turns out the lines are crooked, they just put in small pieces of pavers or just stone dust. That just looks very strange to me. I don't mind them filling up empty spaces on the sides with small pieces, but is it normal to fill up empty spaces in between lines in the middle of the patio with small pieces? I am not sure if I should mention something to them tomorrow and have them fix the problem or not say anything and have them finish the job and just assume this is the way it's supposed to look? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8652
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 9:33 pm: |
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Never hesitate to ask. Once it's done, it's very difficult to change it. Have them explain why they are doing it that way. Never assume that something is being done correctly. |
Me
Citizen
Username: 1972
Post Number: 23
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 9:37 pm: |
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Thanks, Greenetree. I asked them tonight why it looks like that and he said "well, we work with different lines and the area we're working in isn't a perfect square". I said "okay". But shouldn't they create a perfect square with the lines so everything will be straight? Isn't that why they're using the lines and levels and such? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8653
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 9:44 pm: |
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It's kind of hard to envision. Is it a square shaped patio with a circle in the middle? Is there any way for you to post a picture?
I think that it's normal to have a couple of places filled in, but not very much. Is it supposed to be a perfect square? If it's wrong, make them fix it now.
The basic rule of a square patio is the 3-4-5 triangle. I don't remember the specifics, but the corners are laid out geometrically and the pavers are laid from that corner on out. I'd think that they should be doing that and working around the circle when they get to it. They should be working from the most to the least visible corners so that the slivers & fillers are not as obvious.
Hopefully, someone who has more knowledge will weigh in here. Bottom line - you are probably paying a pretty penny and if it doesn't look right, you are going to be ticked every time you walk on it. Make sure you like what you are getting. Even if he is doing it "right" and you don't like it, consider paying to make it the way you like it. |
Me
Citizen
Username: 1972
Post Number: 24
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 9:49 pm: |
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Thanks again. It's not a square space, it's sort of a rectangle with one side put in with an angle ("round", don't know how to describe it) and the circle is in the middle. I am indeed paying a lot of money for this so I'm going to have them fix it tomorrow, rather than not liking it in the future. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8655
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 9:53 pm: |
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We have the same thing; an interlocking paver "rectangle" with two straight sides and a curve connecting them. But, no medallion in the middle. We do not have slivers and filler. They did a great job. |
Jersey_Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 1490
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 10:05 pm: |
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Probably, when you contracted for the job, you had a guy pretty high up come and make you promises about the quality of the work. Then you had some guys show up and start working. One of them is in charge. But, if you REALLY want it to look like you discussed it with the high-up-guy, you need to call him. Say that you're not really sure it's turning out the way you thought it would.
THAT guy gives a sh*t. Everyone else is just waiting for the job to be over. They will tell you what can't be done because it's "too much work." I've called the quote giver and handed the phone to the on-the-site guy, and everything was okay.
J.B. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8662
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 10:25 pm: |
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True enough. When we landscaped last year, I came home from work to find Stonehenge in my backyard where a garden was supposed to be. I called the foreman & told him to get rid of it (it was never in the plan).
The next day, I came home to find that Stonehenge had been filled in with topsoil. I called the foreman again. According to him, the workers told him that "the lady came out and said that she liked it and then she got in her car and drove away."
I didn't know/care who lied, but Stonehenge was definitely gone when I got home the next night. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2993
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 6:30 am: |
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If you're not sure, I'd make the big guy come and look. I wouldn't want to see bunch of filler in the obvious center area. I know this isn't like laying tile exactly where you work out from the center, but I agree with Jersey boy in that the gulf between the salesman/big guy and the workers can be rather large. |
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