How do you tell Who is a professional in artificial turf laying

Good morning all I am hoping for a bit of advise, I've had a complete cowboy lay artificial turf for a client of mine, I found him and he quoted and invoiced me and i paid him directly. The job was finished just before Xmas after 3 reattempts, I as I was not happy with installation. On Friday I went to my client to carry out my normal garden maintenance and found the turf had come away from its fixings, he screwed it to edging material, and I guess that the wind had got under it and blown it over as he didn't use enough sand or pegs on the main body of the turf. He is an absolute pig this guy and refuses to deal with me only my client, obviously I won't let that happen as I'm his client, I sent him photos and he said does not look like wind damage! I wanted some help by finding an individual in my area who can come over to carry out a survey on his work as I plan to take him to small claims court. The issue I have is that the person has to be a professional for a court to listen to their opinion but how do know who is a professional in the artificial turf game. I'm based in highbridge somerset ta9. Can anyone offer advice or is a professional who can carry out a survey for me. I very distressed by this situation as its very bad for my reputation.

Replies

Mark Hunter March 6, 2016 at 6:58pm

What about the manufacturer of the artificial turf used? No one should know better than them how it should be installed.
- Sarah Buchanan > Mark Hunter March 8, 2016 at 7:32am
  
  Thank you mark i ask him that in the first instance when he laid the turf and I wasn't happy first time round but he refused to give it to me.
Thermo March 6, 2016 at 7:34pm

we lay a lot and have been an approved installer for two companies. photos would help. most modern artificial turfs for gardens dont use sand in the pile anymore and i would be surprised if the wind lifted it as its normally pretty heavy, but you never know. i would speak to the supplier of the turf as most decent companies do installs as well, or have contractors they recommend. and no im not getting involved!
- Sarah Buchanan > Thermo March 8, 2016 at 7:34am
  
  Thank you very much. I who is manufacturer was in the first instance when he laid the turf and I wasn't happy first time round but he refused to give it to me. He has accused me of wrapping it up!
- Sarah Buchanan > Thermo March 8, 2016 at 7:50am
Graeme @ BGS March 6, 2016 at 9:27pm

Firstly try and find who was the manufacture / supplier to the chap who installed in. One would assume that he supplied written quotation outlining the steps / procedures he would of followed?

I go pass Somerset every other Sunday (just returned this evening) so may be able to help. Feel free to contact me.

I assume the picture below is the lawn in question?
- Sarah Buchanan > Graeme @ BGS March 8, 2016 at 7:39am
  
  Yes I tried to post photos of the damage but this post wouldn't accept them I will try again. The job is in Mark is that anywhere near you. He refuses to give me the name of the manufacture as that's exactly what I thought they would have specifications but as I said he refused to give me the details. I've got trading stds on the case and am waiting for them to call me back. But I got a feeling they will ask for a survey. The guy pinned the edges every 5 inches or so to edging border put a smattering of sand and did not pin the main body of grass.
  - Sarah Buchanan > Sarah Buchanan March 8, 2016 at 7:52am
Colin Hunt March 7, 2016 at 9:15am

Neither am I an expert, but we have had work done in the past, which has stood the test of time. Not wanting to defend your installer, I would have thought that a fox or badger was more likely to be the cause of the mat coming up, but you should be able to tell that from scrapping evidence.

With regard to getting someone in to do a 'report', I would think that most guys would steer clear of this action for obvious reasons, especially as you say the guy 'is an absolute pig'.
- Sarah Buchanan > Colin Hunt March 8, 2016 at 7:43am
  
  Thanks Colin the garden is a bit of a wind tunnel and I really struggled to pull the grass back over after I had recorded damage using photos and video. So it absolutely cannot be an animal he has accused someone of wripping it up!