driveways and paving contractors

S

SNOWBALL

Guest
HI

Not sure if anyone can give good advice on this.Sisters driveway was done yestersday but when the guy was doing it the concrete set really fast and he could not not the print on it to look like cobblelock.She now has a large driveway which was meant to have a cobblelock effect and it is very red.She does not want to have it ripped up but it does look bad.

Any suggestions?
 
Re: printed concrere for driveway went horribly wrong

Snowball, sorry no advice but if it were me I would put up with having the driveway dug up and re-done. She agreed with the guy to have a cobblelock effect and he has not done this, it's not her fault that the concrete set faster. He should have been more aware of the heat y'day and allowed for this when laying the concrete. I can only imagine how she is feeling about the idea of more mayhem outside but if she's not happy in the long run she'll be better off getting it done now. Also it gives her an opportunity to change the colour too if she is not happy with the red.

Hope she gets it sorted one way or the other.
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

There would be a problem if she did not pay him as her husband works with the guy whos dad did it.I know she would not pay money to him if they did not know him.Just not paying him is not an option ,just thought there may be some remedy to save her from getting it done again.
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

It might be possible to leave the original botched job as it is and lay a three to four inch cement screed on top of it and imprint that properly, but it would need to be three to four inches, otherwise she'll get cracks later. The problem with that is her driveway will be higher than her lawn and maybe even the front door of her house depending on it's height from the ground. And that is not a good situation to be in.

There isn't any other remedy unfortunately. In my honest opinion the only realistic option is to rip it up and do it again, and the sooner that's done, the easier it will be to do it. If this guy is a friend of a friend, and she insists on paying him (she shouldn't, but it's her money), then surely it would be reasonable to expect him to extend a similar courtesy to her by re-doing the job?
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

SNOWBALL said:
There would be a problem if she did not pay him as her husband works with the guy whos dad did it.I know she would not pay money to him if they did not know him.Just not paying him is not an option ,just thought there may be some remedy to save her from getting it done again.
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she can always pay him when he does the job correctly......:confused:

sorry, i cant see why the fact her husband works with this guys son should alter the fact that this guy hasnt done what he was engaged to do.... time to grow a pair.!!

anyway.... why doesnt she just get him to tamp a smooth finish onto it. a fake cobblelock looks cheap and tacky.... IMHO.
A brushed finish with arrised edges would look better, having something try to look like something its not is pastiche.
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

IF he had done it right it would have looked like the speed ramps and that is what she wanted because there is notmaintenance with it.Cobblelock does have weeds growing up from it.The fake issue does not come in to it, i just wanted to know if there is some sort of remedy or does sse have to get the concrete ripped up.
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

Hi Snowball,

The same problem or very similar has happened to me the last few weeks. The guy put down the wrong pattern and now he says he can just go over it again with cement and reprint. He's actually due to do it this week but it may be next week if it rains today. I've paid the guy so holding back on the cash is not an option for me either.
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

SNOWBALL said:
Just not paying him is not an option ,just thought there may be some remedy to save her from getting it done again.
Click to expand...
He hasn't done the job properly so should not be paid in full.
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

im just looking for a remedy for it, lets forget the pay issue thanks Ducky let me know how it goes for you.How many inches of concrete do you have down and will that make your driveway very high?
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

I have enough driveway to fit about 6 cars so its quite a big space (not sure of the actual size) I asked him about the height of it and he has assured me it won't make that much difference. Not sure I actually believe him at this stage as I've ran into so many problems but I'll just have to wait and see how it goes. Also, he mentioned that he was putting in some expansion joints and then didn't do that either so I'm a bit worried about it cracking when new cement is placed over it again. My driveway was half grass, half existing concrete.

I did actually call another company to ask their advice on this and they said that they had no idea how he was going to do it properly without raising it about 4 inch's or digging up the existing concrete (which this guy will not do).
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

Ducky,

I'd seriously question him in more detail on how he intends to rectify your problem.

If he says it won't make that much difference to the height then I'd worry how he is going to get a relatively small layer of new concrete to bind properly to existing driveway?

Are you comfortable that this multi-layer will stand the test of time? I would have thought that it will be more susceptible to cracking ?

Maybe I am wrong on this but would worry that your driveway is going from the frying pan to the fire. He too should be prepared to redo the job completely regardless of the fact that you have already paid him.
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

Hi how much did this cost do you mind me asking? Was the guy a professional or someone handy?

It might be better to get a professional in incase a bad situtation is made worse?
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

yea its a nightmare for the sister he is suppose to be doing it next week so i will let you know.The driveway will be higher but she does not care as long as it looks right
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

Mine was done by a professional. Well he advertises as a professional anyway!!
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

cybermate said:
Ducky,

I'd seriously question him in more detail on how he intends to rectify your problem.

If he says it won't make that much difference to the height then I'd worry how he is going to get a relatively small layer of new concrete to bind properly to existing driveway?

Are you comfortable that this multi-layer will stand the test of time? I would have thought that it will be more susceptible to cracking ?

Maybe I am wrong on this but would worry that your driveway is going from the frying pan to the fire. He too should be prepared to redo the job completely regardless of the fact that you have already paid him.
Click to expand...

Hi Cybermate,

Well I have a signed contract from him which is the original booking form. I'm not sure what other comeback I have after this.

And yes, I am worried about cracking, my brother has mentioned that he thinks that'll happen down the line. Believe me, I've been through the mill with this guy, not easy to deal with.
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

maybe you should consult a solicitor and/or professional builder advice before authorising him to add this new layer.

I think if you allow him to do this you will have less comeback on your original agreement. I'd nearly settle for the wrong print rather than run the risk of a worse botch job that is of risk of cracking
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

Putting down concrete, you really have to be aware of how fast its going to dry, in order to get a finish on it. Its part of the skill in laying concrete. Anyone who doesn't do this, either has made a mistake or doesn't know what they are doing. I would also suggest anyone doing this type of job on a very hot day where the dying is unpredictable, unless they are really good, is taking a big risk in making a real mess of it. One that you can't bodge a fix with causing more problem. Levels, cracking etc.
 
Re: printed concrete for driveway went horribly wrong

Laying concrete is a real skill, especially in "adverse" weather (too hot and dry or too wet); you get one shot with concrete- if it doesn't go down right first time you take it up or scabble back the existing surface to take a new "screed"- the latter option only works if the levels are in your favour of course! I would never pay for a job which which was unsatisfactory- regardless of who did it.
 
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