Useful Advice from Poor Projects
These photographs clearly illustrate the various comments and recommendations made elsewhere in this book, as being examples of bad practice. None of these projects were cheap/budget schemes, all constructed by landscape contractors in the UK, and subject to Court’s Claims.
Useless Practice Number One
The contractor neglected to install a geotextile membrane under the sub-base, which substantially sank into the soft soil, causing a void under the paved patio. The slabs started to settle and loosen, with the result that they all de-bonded. The hunting knife presents a graphic illustration of the poor-quality workmanship.
Useless Practice Number Two
Spot the defects. An illustration in how not to build a garden. The circular artificial grass lawn was an irregular ovoid, walling constructed using block paving, ‘mortared’ using a brush-in jointing compound, the sandstone slabs were never bonded in the first place, and were nearly all loose, and the segmented slips were trip hazards.
Useless Practice Number Three
Here, the contractor has chosen to use 100mm 2 wooden pegs covered with sawn timber slats to act as a riser for the step. (There are several more in the garden). Within a very short time, the timber became worn, slippery and dangerous. Definitely not recommended!
Useless Practice Number Four
Virtually every sandstone slab on the project was loose, with no slurry bridge bond, voids in the (very deep) laying bed. If the design called for cladding as risers to the steps, there was no room for an overhang/drip groove. Note the upper slab has sunken in its bed.
Useless Practice Number Five
This combination of sandstone paving and cobbles formed the main pathway into the rear garden of this bungalow in London. As stated, all of these projects were not cheap budget contracts. In fact, this particular scheme was very expensive for the amount of works included.
Useless Practice Number Six
Hollow concrete blocks formed the retaining wall, filled with hard core and soil, with no reinforcing bars set into the concrete foundations. The paving was laid on MOT Type 1 and not sufficiently compacted, with the result that the bulk of the area settled, causing de-bonding of the slabs. Note the reflective staining indicating voids in the laying beds.
Useless Practice Number Seven
Where to begin commenting on this project? Reflective staining (even when wet) indicates voids in the laying bed. No slurry to the backs of the paving, hence most had de-bonded. Paving slabs and block paving were laid in different parallels. Block paving laid tightly under the wooden door sill.
Useless Practice Number Eight
Another collection of errors. Sandstone paving, treated with hydrochloric acid (mortar remover) causing rust stains everywhere. Cladding installed using soft sand and cement. Step risers not equidistant. Steps such as these require 900mm high handrails to both sides of the flight (which should have been built into the feature ideally) Lack of forward planning…
Useless Practice Number Nine
Porcelain paving project, laid over soft sand instead of sharp sand. Very weak mix, no bridge bonding slurry used under the slabs. Very weak mix laying mortar bed, 75mm deep, resulting in a weak base with no integrity in the process.
Useless Practice Number Ten
Porcelain paving laid without any bridge bonding slurry, weak soft sand and cement laying bed with less than 40% contact with the slab. Very tight joints, preventing jointing compound from filling the gap. Pointing joint gap should be 5 -6mm.
Useless Practice Number Eleven
Top quality project pricewise. Steps far too high – should be maximum 20cm to meet Building Regulations. Paving slab should overhang the riser to allow for a drip groove to be cut into the underside. Sandstone slabs laid at uneven levels.
Useless Practice Number Twelve
Rendering applied to the walls before fixing treads has resulted in a very poor finish. The rendering has been painted with at least one full coat, and any attempt to infill/repair the underside of the slabs will be noticed. No drip grooves under the front edge of the treads.
