[Kev Martin]

Just had a very heated discussion with the builder who laid the patio.

Basically he is saying that he used a brushed in pointing system that according to thier instructions should'nt be power washed. Which to be honest sounds very plausible, he is saying we should have investigated the pointing before commencing the work to make sure it was suitable for powerwashing

But the pointing looks nothing like it did after we finished the job,when we finished the job looked fantastic, now it looks completely different,  it look like its all been scraped out, if I was of a suspicious nature I would think he has gone around and scraped it out to show the client how badly it has been effected by us cleaning it.

He did say......" why be so bothered, you have insurance"  until this piont I was quite civil but I just told them I was accepting no liability for any damage and they could take any action they liked ( he had already threatened me with the trading standards )

Mike

If this is the case then it is very simple to rectify.  You just mix the sand and cement together and then add water until it becomes like an apple crumble mixture.  Sweep it into the joints with a soft brush then pull a piece of hose pipe bought to fit the grout joint e.g.(garden hose , gas hose pipe) down the grout joints which draws the water to the surface and creates a smooth new joint.  It takes virtually no time, there is no cleanup or mess and it certainly would cost nowhere near £2K.  I could certainly sort 60M2 in less than a couple of hours.  The trick is to add the water slowly and keep mixing till it's like crumble and don't get it too wet

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics Ltd

[drive surgeon]

Mike we have had this before years ago. We take photos of everything now before the job on our phones. We have had people trying to sue us for blocked drains which hadn't been ever cleaned out, sand washing out of blocks after heavy rain, etc etc. usually Jews or solicitors or people who think they are better than you. We laughed in their faces because we told them we have photos to prove they are wrong so they don't have a leg to stand on.  Pointing will always come out unless its brand new or spot on stuff which lasts. Most pointing we see if rubbish.  Some horrible people out there who will moan or try to get compo for anything now. Always take photos before you do Jobs to cover yourself.

[drive surgeon]

Mike that's a load of cods wallop.  The only way you can clean Indian stone or paving professionally is to power wash it!   So for them to say it shouldn't be power washed is a joke. Ask them "so how do you clean it then?"....    The pointing was obviously not a good job by the builder and now he is trying to blame you for his poor workmanship as if good pointing is used it will not come out unless very old.  You best fight this all the way as we would tell them to get lost. If you receive a solicitors letter then explain the pointing was a joke and windows always get splashed due to the nature of the job.  Ask the customer what evidence they have that the pointing wasn't shot before you got there! 

[Mike Halliday]

The problem is the customer is not happy so called the builder, he is now portraying himself as the 'helpful, friendly  builder' against the 'big, bad powerwasher' who has damaged her patio.

He is telling her everything she wants to hear, she does'nt realise what he is saying is not unbiased, the only other option about who is to blame for the problem is him and no way has he even hinted at that.

His only get out is,..... i did it

[Herve garrot]

she's now asking for £2000 !!!!! if I were you I wouldn't  know whether to cry or laugh out loud.

[Roger Oakley]

Mike,

Been watching this one for a while, what product did the builder use to point the patio? as there are some products out there that are complete s**t, off the top of my head I can't think of any that state "don't use a pressure washer to clean"
The other thing you say is it was so dirty you could't see the pointing, so when was this patio laid or re-pointed for it to get that dirty?

[G O Cleaning]

Pass it onto your insurance it won't go any further as the guy has used a diy pointing product.

The only fault that can be levied at yourself is you failed to recognise it. As it's always possible to scrap away debris in order to view pointing. Once you started clean ideally should of shown custy to see if they wanted you to continue then this situ would of been avoided.

Contact trading stds yourself explain situ report builder for using diy product

Did you say it's 60m if so how the he'll does he justify £2000! 

[Kenny83]

I always try to make the customer happy, but if they don't listen or are unreasonable (as they are here) then I would, or should I say wouldn't do anything, apart from say, 'take me to court' as you are in the right Mike and have nothing to worry about, so let the customer do all the running about, you just wait for the summons, highlighting an alleged £2k job that could be done for around 400 to 600. And also highlighting that the pointing has not been damaged by you, as you are a professional and have been doing this for x amount of years, day in day out... pointing was very old or badly laid... fact.
 I would love to hear the outcome.
 

[Kev Martin]

[quote authorbest ve surgeon link=topic=174052.msg1482276#msg1482276 date=1377864205]
Mike that's a load of cods wallop.  The only way you can clean Indian stone or paving professionally is to power wash it!   So for them to say it shouldn't be power washed is a joke. Ask them "so how do you clean it then?"....    The pointing was obviously not a good job by the builder and now he is trying to blame you for his poor workmanship as if good pointing is used it will not come out unless very old.  You best fight this all the way as we would tell them to get lost. If you receive a solicitors letter then explain the pointing was a joke and windows always get splashed due to the nature of the job.  Ask the customer what evidence they have that the pointing wasn't shot before you got there! 
[/quote]

Actually having tried both methods side by side We found the best way to clean Indian sandstone is with a Mono Rotary fitted with a soft to medium brush and a Wet Vac not with a power washer or an FSC

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics Ltd

[drive surgeon]

fair point kev but im guessing most pressure washing companies will use an fsc. and im sure the woman wouldnt know your method 

[Griffus]

Sounds like a few genuine issues with the initial quote / job.

Always advise that there's a risk of loose mortar blowing out, though care will e taken to avoid there can be no guarantees.

Windows, and anything else made dirty by the PW should be cleaned and left as they were prior to the visit.

This one has obviously gone pear shaped and you should have passed on to your insurance a while back. Do it now and move on.

One to take a few lessons from.

[Roger Oakley]

Mike,

Has this issue gone anywhere or is it still being argued?

[Mike Halliday]

Don't know, in lanzerote topping up my tan

I left it in their court telling them I was not admitting any liability for any damage to the patio and they could take what ever action they see fit.

My only concern is they start slagging me off to anyone who will listen, especially the builder who came across as a bit of a git and owns a well known company here in my small home town.