DVS Hardscaper
07-11-2007, 07:30 PM
This kind of stuff makes my blood boil.
Someone can call me every name in the book, and it will not affect my heart rate.
But when I see work not being done properly - you'd think someone just shot one of my loved ones.
This week we are similtaniously doing 2 jobs on the same street. And a few houses away another contractor is doing a patio. This othr contractor does a lot of work in that community and is somewhat of a large company. I have seen their finished work and it has always looked decent.
But today, I saw their work in PROGRESS, and I saw something disturbing.
They were installing the gravel base. Now depending on the size of the plate tamper, an aggregate base must be compacted in 2 to 4 inch lifts. the bigger the tamper - the larger the lifts acceptable. the smaller the tamper - the smaller the lifts. Their tamper was visible, and it was bigger than ours - but only very SLIGHTLY larger.
Today they had 5-6 inches of base down, and it had NOT been compacted ONCE. With the tamper that I saw they have, there is NO WAY this patio will last 3 years.
And the sad thing is - their client will see the pretty pavers down in a nice pattern, and will be happy with the work as they don't know better. (yes, I discuss our compaction process when I initially meet with a client).
This is a fine example of how other contractors can shave down costs, thus offer an inviting price.
It's poor workmanship. And it's gonna fail.
I wanted to capture a picture, but it was impossible as their 4 man crew was right there.
Someone can call me every name in the book, and it will not affect my heart rate.
But when I see work not being done properly - you'd think someone just shot one of my loved ones.
This week we are similtaniously doing 2 jobs on the same street. And a few houses away another contractor is doing a patio. This othr contractor does a lot of work in that community and is somewhat of a large company. I have seen their finished work and it has always looked decent.
But today, I saw their work in PROGRESS, and I saw something disturbing.
They were installing the gravel base. Now depending on the size of the plate tamper, an aggregate base must be compacted in 2 to 4 inch lifts. the bigger the tamper - the larger the lifts acceptable. the smaller the tamper - the smaller the lifts. Their tamper was visible, and it was bigger than ours - but only very SLIGHTLY larger.
Today they had 5-6 inches of base down, and it had NOT been compacted ONCE. With the tamper that I saw they have, there is NO WAY this patio will last 3 years.
And the sad thing is - their client will see the pretty pavers down in a nice pattern, and will be happy with the work as they don't know better. (yes, I discuss our compaction process when I initially meet with a client).
This is a fine example of how other contractors can shave down costs, thus offer an inviting price.
It's poor workmanship. And it's gonna fail.
I wanted to capture a picture, but it was impossible as their 4 man crew was right there.