I will take some pictures if it shows the wavy look which is all over, and the missing sand about %80 of the pavers. The contractor send someone over my house and fixed few paver which did not follow the pattern, however he only put sand between few pavers and left, I contacted the contractor regarding this matter and have not heard from him, how long do I have to wait, it is two months now and the job is not finished yet. I can hire someone else to finish the job? do anyone knows any contractor in northern california whom can finish the job?
or I have to just deal with the same contractor and wait as long as he wants me to wait?
Thanks for replying and helping me
Two months?? Okay, seriously, if it's been dragging out this long and you and your contractor can't reach an agreement, it's time to bring in a third party. Go through your contract; you may be obligated contractually to start with arbitration, but at this point the best assistance you're going to get will be from an attorney.
And don't do anything- including bringing in a second company to finish the job- unless your lawyer says it's ok.
It sounds like every contractor in your area doesn't know how to do his job and obviously you didn't screen them well enough.
On the other hand, I'm with Voodoo on this one. I'd like to see the contract or talk to the contractor before I offer any more advice. How many different types of patios are contractors going to keep installing just to find out in the end it's not what you wanted or envisioned?
we had rain last week, I will take some pictures today, I don't think the wavy pavers will show, however, I would like you to see the sanding which was done again last week with different color sand, now I have some gray, some beige.
I have been through many contractors until I hired this company highly recommend, ad in TV at all times, very impressive sales person I did my research as much as possible having bad experience since Feb. 2008, I did not just jump in and hired someone, many interview and so on
As you all know first they promise the moon and the actual work is another story the work is not done by the owner, manager, or sales representative, it is done by none speaking English person, whom has a little experience of actual work and much experience of hiding the problems, I have studied everything about pavers, from foundation digging to sanding and sealing and watched them at all times and that made them angry and completely messed up, many occasion I had to stop them from further mistakes.
Would any one like their name so they can hear about other side of the story?
I like to explain my situation: at first I wanted stone patio, I hired a landscape designer and left everything to her, she brought her crew and I end up with patio full of cracked and broken stone, and she was no where to be found, as they find out I actually have eyes and can see the stones full of cracks, they had to take the stones out and leave. Than I hired another contractor, I still wanted Connecticut blue stone patio and walkways, mind you first one took the existing concrete out, this one started all over by building the concrete back and had the patio and walkways almost 8 inches higher than my back yard and realized with stone over it, that meant a platform patio at least 10 or more inches higher than my back yard. He agreed to take it out and leave. than I though how bad can it get, only concrete patio any one can do that...right? wrong, another contractor was hired, he used old base rock and could not do a broom finish (apparently was his first job) his father was the one I hired and saw his work prior to hiring. I end up with stained looking patio full of rust...It took almost 6 months and a lot of correspondence until I got most my money back, by than I was aware of many problems, so I decided pavers... many contractors have experience, a lot of people are getting pavers now days, so I started interviewing and screening many many contractors, after two months of checking and checking, I hired the present company, oh boy the none speaking English and none experience workers are very common in Northern California, as a matter of fact that's all you get no matter whom you hire.
I will be happy to give the name of the contractors to anyone whom like to hear the other side of the story...please let me know
Sorry but the non English speaking workers I have are some of the best stone workers I have met, I was also one of them.
I agree show some pics.
I have had many customers always say, can you comeback and fill the joints with sand cause there is none, I go there and all there is, the pavers in the border are not 100% full which is pretty common since the edging doesn't reach all the way to the top, now I have a line in all my contracts explaining this situation.
__________________
"Any husband making shape and color decisions has to show written consent from wife" no exceptions
At this point, I'm really not sure what you're looking for anymore. Now it seems that you're just constantly blowing off steam.
We all know your situation and I honestly do feel kinda bad for you to go through numerous patios but what are you asking for from this forum? I don't know if there's any different advice that can be given. It's up to you to find the right contractor in your area and make them write every single detail down in their estimate. Have them show you with a grade stake exactly where your patio level will be. Make sure the warranty is spelled out correctly.
I know there has to be competent paver contractors in your area. I'll gladly give you a quote to fly out there and install your patio but it will be quite pricey coming from the East Coast. However, in 17 years, we've only had 2 warranty issues ( hardscapes) so maybe it would be worth it.
It clearly sounds like some of those customers we have at one point dealt with, that reads and watches tv then they are experts on doing this, you have to stand back for a minute and try to understand the reason it's being so many people out there and none have being able to meet your expectations.
There's many people that ask for one thing and in their mind have a complete different idea, then when the job begging there it comes the changes, the complaints and so on.
I'm not saying this is the case but not having pictures of the work how can we believe this is as bad as you said it is.
I had a customer one time that said all the pavers were uneven that he could see all the shadows at night, well it was the stone texture he was seeing
One that swore my guys had the pitch towards the house I go there put the level and it wans't he still wasn't happy, he was looking a wall he perfectly build (his words) couple of season ago and our patio didn't looked right, well his wall was way off level we finished the job, poured water on it and then he finally believe it.
and the list goes on and on.
__________________
"Any husband making shape and color decisions has to show written consent from wife" no exceptions
1. Considering the grammar and phrasing in the posting, I question why you would object to someone who's first language isn't English. I really think someone is jerking our chain.
2. If not, you don't mention what you have been paying for these jobs.
It actually sounds like the contractors you have called out are the ones that so desperate for a job they will take on anything. We all know them. They are the ones advertising that they will remodel the bathroom or kitchen, build a garage, retaining wall, pergola and patio, wash the dog, mow and blow, or trim a tree. And they are experts at all of the above. They give free estimates and are the lowest bidder. If you took the lowest bid, you got what you deserved.
