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Yeah, a large commercial site I have been trying to aquire for the last couple of seasons, current monkeys do an absolute crap job of it.... but i suppose they're cheap!!
We find this all the time - I never comment tho, unless the customer starts picking holes first!
On an estimate once I was asked what I thought of a small, very badly laid crazy paved patio. I gave her an honest opinion and said it was not good at all and needed re-laying. I will never forget the look of shock and tears that welled up as she told me her husband had laid it a few years before he died and they were very proud of it!
Yes over-stepping the mark is something I do, I talk too much.
Like, why have you got that massive apple tree in your small garden, it would be better if that wasn't there, 'my dad planted that the week before he died', umm err....
Whoops!
Colin Hunt said:
Yep - "My husband loved acers" about 2 mins after I explained the dead / moss lawn was caused by the huge acer casting shade over the lawn...
Foot in mouth!
I generally follow the rule "don't put a level to another mans work" unless the customer asks for an opinion and I will then, if its in my skill remit, offer an opinion.
Geoffrey King North Yorkshire said:
I was out this week to a job to help deal with a 3 inch drop between the new path and patio and the lawn, They just the flags over the top of the existing concrete slab and concrete path. Construction wise it seemed ok but the customer now has to pay 600 quid to raise the level of the lawn.
The zinger though was the new surface was about 50mm below the dpc and i told the customer that while this in reality may not cause problems it could do and the recommendation is 150mm below. Also the fact it would come up on a survey.
He challanged the builder who put it down who replied as long as its below its fine, i told him to ring Building control who backed up what i had said and thought he should have it lifted and re-layed.
He again challanged the builder who said in his 15 years of building he has never heard of this 150mm below dpc regulation.
I find it hard to take it when tradesmen will tell bare-faced lies to customers to try and cover their own ass.
Know what you mean simon.
I have another customer who two weeks ago rang a pest controller about a swarm of bees flying arond her house.
Instead of him saying give it a while and they will probably move on. If not call me back. He went straight there put some powder to "stop them coming back" and charged £90.
Jesus - poisoning bees is illegal I believe? and given that we have a huge problem with them dying and fruit not being pollinated - Morally and socially irresponsible too!
MWJONES said:
Ahhhh the unqualified tree surgeon - love them. I've got 5 mature trees in my garden, all between 15-20m in height. Bloke tried to tell me the roots of the sycamore were going to wreck my house, it was rotten in the top, The oak was "top heavy and will split" and that the birches were "brittle and could snap at any moment".
I picked up my Stihl catalogue off the table and told him "time to go mate, time to go..... and cut the bull shit"
My parents have a lovely birch tree in their front garden that I planted about 15 years ago when we refurbished the frontage. It's well away from the house, doing no harm to anyone, about 20' high and a perfect specimen. They regularly get guys knock and tell them its getting out of control they need 'to take the top out'.
David Cox said:
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