Teresa1

Looking for ideas. New patio coming along. Need some sort of wood to keep stones at back of retaining wall in each section height. Builder said would need to be 300 mm high. Attached picture. Would be placed against each section so stones can be flat. Decorative sones obviously going in.

Thank you. We are in Wales. We have gone with the bricks from a local firm. They actually look quite good. The brick layer is doing a fabulous job. They work so hard. Wish I had picked this Company in the beginning. They involve us at every stage. The garden is starting to take shape now.

Oh. Now having brick issues for walls. Cannot get ours. The closest have black marking on half of the pack of bricks. Builder going to Bristol to look tomorrow. Any tips would be helpful.

Considering this. Porcelain again. They are expensive but what we like. Thank you for all replies.

We have had porcelain. You can see slab on wall. They do easily crack. Everyone says they are slippery but we did not find this. Don’t like ridges in sandstone. There are pictures of my garden on previous post. Major drainage problems.

Any advice regarding choice of slabs. Huge progress has been made digging out my garden. Drainage priority this time. Need to get it right this time. Any thoughts please.

Thank you Andehh. I will have a look. The area is all being gutted so I can go for anything. Been taking into consideration all suggestions given.

Hi all. Happy New Year. Thought I would update on my garden. Basically we need to start again! Drainage a big issue as you have mentioned. Not sure if I will even have porcelain slabs as I have no looks on them now. Builder going to look at getting rid of slope areas. Doesn’t look like foundations right throughout. What slabs are others in favour of? Hope to be able to show you something useful within next few months!

Ok. Will mention.

Hi all, update on garden. Our builder lifted slabs on top patio and base under two slabs lifted is soft and cracking. He has done layers of base wrong order apparently. Will have to have it all dug up and relaid correctly. Now considering what to do. Think going to give up on porcelain on top patio. Anyone help with ideas. ? Change to different grey slab type with stones/gravel? Have all new slabs laid in different material. Only go up there to clothes line. I bought three slabs which we thought we were going to replace in the porcelain and they cost nearly £50! My back garden has more value in tiles than is in my bank account. Would soooo appreciate any suggestions. I have put the pause button on doing anything until really sure. Thank you.😊

That is fake grass. Not sure what he put there. But a lot of work went on. Obviously earth was removed and more digging out. We will have to learn to live with movement. But drainage obviously needs to be sorted if possible. I feel so lucky to have all your advice. It is so difficult when you have been ripped off x 2 and still not going to be able to totally sort issues. But I would like to thank all who are helping. X

Thank you. I will show these posts to the builder who is coming. My last builder had worked out the problem but no confidence to drill. This is refashioned garden no. 2. First version was very smart but we had a cracked wall and sinking patio with pooling water on bottom patio. Seem to get one thing right then another goes wrong. Added picture of original version.

Thank you. I will show these posts to the builder who is coming. My last builder had worked out the problem but no confidence to drill. This is refashioned garden no. 2. First version was very smart but we had a cracked wall and sinking patio with pooling water on bottom patio. Seem to get one thing right then another goes wrong. Added picture of original version.

Hi, thank you for the tips and kind words. Porcelain is such a nightmare to crack. We have had to replace a few already. I have arranged for someone to come take a look next week. Builder number 4. Makes my husband and I sound nightmares! We are not.

Thank you Jilly. On the surface it does but if you look too closely you see the flaws. Especially as a builder. I have one good builder who has put some things right. He felt the water was our issue but does not want to get involved with removing the porcelain slabs.

Builder also made a mess of the grout. Threw his toys out of pram and off he went. Upset me in the end. I think we are going to have to try to get someone to take slabs off to cut holes inline with drainage holes. There are two drainage holes each side of wall from brickwork. Is that enough. In fact the first builder covered up drainage holes too. I appreciate your advice and thank you for taking the time to reply. This job has cost double my first house!! Caused so much stress. Knowing we are going to have escalating problems is difficult to take.

Builder also made a mess of the grout. Threw his toys out of pram and off he went. Upset me in the end. I think we are going to have to try to get someone to take slabs off to cut holes inline with drainage holes. There are two drainage holes each side of wall from brickwork. Is that enough. In fact the first builder covered up drainage holes too. I appreciate your advice and thank you for taking the time to reply. This job has cost double my first house!! Caused so much stress. Knowing we are going to have escalating problems is difficult to take.

I have lots of pictures. But only able to put one at a time on this site. Appreciate your advice. Biggest problem is getting someone to drill the holes.

Hi, where in South Wales. Being cheeky don’t suppose you have any advice on my patio drainage issues. In South Wales and living a nightmare with our garden remodel! Sorry we ever embarked on this project. Goodluck with your project. Teresa

Having issues with patio. Have had patio put down, lifted and redone x2. Last builder left last step too high and I had to have a third chap in to add another step. Initially the wall cracked with cracking to grout on upper patio and steps wall. Now after second fitting we have some cracking to grout on wall at top of steps and top patio. They have covered the drainage holes on the bottom walls. There is a brick wall under the bottom walls with drainage holes beneath slabs. We really don’t know what to do. We cannot keep paying out. Any ideas. My husband thinks it’s possibly a drainage issue. The water does not have anywhere to drain. I would appreciate any advice. Thank you