My new Indian sandstone paving is moving
I have just had a company lay new Indian sandstone paving in my back garden. Lots of the stones are moving. It looks like the sand/cement mix they have used has been virtually dry as I have been able to lift a couple out by hand and the underside of the stones has nothing stuck to it. I have paid for materials but not for the labour yet. What should I do?
28 Answers
Sussex design and construction
9 Reviews, 100% Positive
Yes do not pay it has not been paved correctly if they are moving it sounds like the motor was not correct and we put a slurry mix on the back of the slab to connect the motor and the slab together
21st Aug 2021
Helpful Answer? Vote Up 
+ 139
+ 139
Post your job & get responses from
local landscape gardeners.
Read reviews before you decide to hire.
Perfect Fencing
2 Reviews, 100% Positive
They have done a terrible job pure and simple. A patio needs to be laid on a full bed of mortar.
21st Aug 2021
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 121
+ 121
Hi, tell them you are not happy with the work, and explain all the problems, the mix should be a wetish mix for the slabs to bond.
30th Aug 2021
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 117
+ 117
Dynamic Developments
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
Hi, I would advise you to have a word with the contractor stating that the paving is moving and you would like them re-laid on a wet mix bed. If you don't ask for the work to be redone the slabs will get worse as time goes on, especially with the cold weather approaching.
28th Sep 2021
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 100
+ 100
Crafted Woodwork
9 Reviews, 100% Positive
Sometimes the person laying sandstone it will not be cemented in place. They will use 'fine sand' in the joints to hold everything in place which to be honest always works.
In this case, there is possibly 2 issues.
1. The ground was not prepared properly. The ground needs to be 'whackered' down with a machine to compress the ground and flat as possible so the slabs will not buckle when working on any edges encouraging movement.
2. Thee is enough compressed fine sand in the joints to hold everything together.
If the issue is the actually ground not being flat enough, I would have them to cement the joints.
I hope this has helped
Take care, Crafted Woodwork
In this case, there is possibly 2 issues.
1. The ground was not prepared properly. The ground needs to be 'whackered' down with a machine to compress the ground and flat as possible so the slabs will not buckle when working on any edges encouraging movement.
2. Thee is enough compressed fine sand in the joints to hold everything together.
If the issue is the actually ground not being flat enough, I would have them to cement the joints.
I hope this has helped
Take care, Crafted Woodwork
7th Oct 2021
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 98
+ 98
Apex Groundworks
0 Reviews
I would not pay them any labour until your work has been rectified. Indian stone should be laid on a wet sand and cement mix
20th Sep 2021
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 96
+ 96
Kvn contracts
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
You should speak to the person in charge ie foreman or owner of the company and tell them your not paying for the job they’ve done because they haven’t done a good enough job if there an honest and reliable good company they will fix it
6th Sep 2021
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 95
+ 95
Moise
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
Get all of them out mix sand and cement and stick them back in. If you need any help let me know.
28th Oct 2021
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 87
+ 87
I would have them lift and relay the lot, the mix for Indian sandstone needs to be wet, being a porous stone the water soaks into the flags pulling the cement in which creates the bond keeping it stuck down with out that the mix may go hard but won't of adhered
15th Dec 2021
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 85
+ 85
fenhomes & son property repairs and maintenance
2 Reviews, 100% Positive
Do not pay a tradesman till you are completely satisfied with the work you have paid for them to carry out you should not be to lift any flag by hand if correctly fitted and pointed
11th Nov 2021
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 82
+ 82
Speak to your installer tell him exactly your problem if he is prompt and professional he will lift all of your paving and start again with the correct ratio of sand and cement for the mortar .
But you also have to bare in mind how did this school boy error happen it's basic either they are cowboys and aren't up to the standards of carrying out this work so don't pat them a penny .Get a new highly recommended tradesman in to carry out your work and you and your new patio will reap the rewards
But you also have to bare in mind how did this school boy error happen it's basic either they are cowboys and aren't up to the standards of carrying out this work so don't pat them a penny .Get a new highly recommended tradesman in to carry out your work and you and your new patio will reap the rewards
17th Jan 2022
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 78
+ 78
Mjwdrives&patios
2 Reviews, 100% Positive
They should do it again,
As Sandstone is not supposed to be laid on a dry bed, Laying sandstone paving should only be done with a full wet bed of Mortar at a ratio of 5.1 sand and cement and the slabs should be primed individually before laying using a slurry primer to aid with adhesion and to prevent salt blooms.
As Sandstone is not supposed to be laid on a dry bed, Laying sandstone paving should only be done with a full wet bed of Mortar at a ratio of 5.1 sand and cement and the slabs should be primed individually before laying using a slurry primer to aid with adhesion and to prevent salt blooms.
6th May 2022
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 78
+ 78
Asm driveways
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
The mix is not strong enough, they obviously don't no what they are doing, they need to correct it
11th Mar 2022
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 73
+ 73
EBS CONTRACTS
0 Reviews
You have every right to hold on to your money until the job is finished to your satisfaction. If this can't be done then you should terminate your contract with them. You keep the slabs you've paid for and they walk away from the job.
16th May 2022
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 71
+ 71
Revamp paving ltd
0 Reviews
I would personally look into another company coming to repair/complete due the sand stone should firstly been have a slurry on the back of the sandstone before laying on 4sand to 1 part cement wet mix
15th Jan 2023
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 50
+ 50
Borislav Spasov
7 Reviews, 100% Positive
Mix the sand and cement semidry stuff us prime on the back of the slab just brush in that make a stick and lay back in
27th Jul 2022
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 48
+ 48
Greenacre Garden Services
0 Reviews
Good Evening,
When laying sandstone onto cement the back of the slabs need to be primed, Sandstone does not stick to cement like other types of paving. If you do not prime the slab first it will become looses from the cement. Also by priming the back of the slabs this stops the cement coming through the slab and making them change colour.
You are right to not pay for the labour. because you have paid for the materials they are yours and the company cannot come and take or damage them. The whole lot of paving will need to come up and be done again with the sand stone primed first. You should be able to get the plans up whole so all I can say is that you don't pay the first company and use the money to pay another company to put right the issues. This will however have more cost to you.
I hope this help?
When laying sandstone onto cement the back of the slabs need to be primed, Sandstone does not stick to cement like other types of paving. If you do not prime the slab first it will become looses from the cement. Also by priming the back of the slabs this stops the cement coming through the slab and making them change colour.
You are right to not pay for the labour. because you have paid for the materials they are yours and the company cannot come and take or damage them. The whole lot of paving will need to come up and be done again with the sand stone primed first. You should be able to get the plans up whole so all I can say is that you don't pay the first company and use the money to pay another company to put right the issues. This will however have more cost to you.
I hope this help?
21st Nov 2022
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 46
+ 46
Re consider labour payment until the slabs have been re laid
13th Mar 2023
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 41
+ 41
Hi when laying sandstone you should lay them on a strong wet bed of concreat morta
I always paint the back of the slabs with sbr
And put some in the mixer
It's a good to make the slabs stick and make the concreat rapid
Also I yous half soft sand and half Shap sand gives a nice smooth stickey mix
If the slabs are all lose and bad mix underneath they do not deserve to be paid
You need a professional that knows what he is doing
Always to your home work before giving the job
To make sure you have the right people for the job
I always paint the back of the slabs with sbr
And put some in the mixer
It's a good to make the slabs stick and make the concreat rapid
Also I yous half soft sand and half Shap sand gives a nice smooth stickey mix
If the slabs are all lose and bad mix underneath they do not deserve to be paid
You need a professional that knows what he is doing
Always to your home work before giving the job
To make sure you have the right people for the job
3rd May 2023
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 41
+ 41
Welfare and sons paving and landscaping
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
Need to lay on a wet base
29th Jan 2023
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 39
+ 39
They could solve the problem quite easily with a slurry mix,but I wouldn't pay them for labour until you are happy with the finished result
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
20th Feb 2023
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 39
+ 39
K&K Landscapes + Tree Care
0 Reviews
You pick up the slabs clear the existing mortar off the bottom of the slabs, make another cement mix and put them down on the wet mix lead to dry 24 hours before stepping on them
20th Apr 2023
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 37
+ 37
All Weather, All Seasons
0 Reviews
Don’t pay anymore money until they come back and do the job correctly.
5th Aug 2023
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 31
+ 31
Yellowstone landscaping
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
In my opinion, as a professional ground worker. I would not pay any workers until the job was done to my standard
31st Aug 2023
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 31
+ 31
Shropshire plant hire Ltd
0 Reviews
I would contact the contractor and
Get them back to rectify there mistake.
I would say there has been no primer being used on the back of the paving
Get them back to rectify there mistake.
I would say there has been no primer being used on the back of the paving
9th Jan 2024
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 16
+ 16
JP Landscaping
0 Reviews
Indian sand stone nowadays needs to be laid using a bonding slurry on the back of each slab. If Sbr (bonding slurry) was used then you would have Mortar stick to the back of them. The other problem may be that there is not full contact with the slab and mortar. If there are hollow pockets in the mortar, water can sit in the pockets and in cold conditions will freeze and expand to loosen the slab
9th Jan 2024
Helpful Answer? Vote Up + 15
+ 15
Post your job & get responses from local landscape gardeners.
Read reviews before you decide to hire.
