Well, my own garden build is turning into an experience and a half!
Brickies - 4 called, three turned up to give quotes. Number of quotes received? None. Even after numerous phone calls, messages left and text messages sent. Another chap was recommended and quoted silly money. As a landscape designer I am aware of the going rate. Many, I'm sure, are not. Finally found someone who quoted a decent rate....but didn't do a very good job. So many bricks, so little mortar. Bricks with no mortar between them? In a retaining wall.
Electrician - The first guy quoted silly money, so contacted two more and got quotes from both at around one quarter of the first quote. Yes, that's 25% of the first quote. This was for labour only, as I'd bought the lights myself. It remains to be seen how good a job the chosen one does. His assistant did wreck my retic in three places when digging trenches, though.
Concrete - this is where things have got really messy. Luckily the area under the patio roof was polished by a different contractor from the one who laid the concrete. He did a good job. The concrete guy didn't. It's awful!
Faults in the laying?
1. There are no isolation joints. There is supposed to a gap between concrete slabs and any fixed structure like house walls. There aren't.
2. No control joints. There are supposed to be 25mm deep cuts in the concrete to control any cracking that might occur, There are none.
3. There are bald patches in the exposed aggregate where little if any of the aggregate shows through. Only concrete is visible.
4. There are areas where there is too much exposed aggregate and not enough concrete.
5. There are areas where the concrete has not been levelled properly, leaving dips where the sealant has puddled.
6. In ground lights not installed properly so light is not flush with the concrete surface.
And this from a recommended contractor who 'always does a good job'.
Patio roof - nice job done.
My recommendations - always get three quotes. Try to get recommendations from people who have had work done in the past....but even that doesn't always work.
I'd hate to build a house here in WA. Too stressful!
