Garden patio repair

[kdmulish]

This time last year I paid a local company 1500 pounds to lay a patio approx 4m by 3m and at the time I was very happy with the job. However a year later at least 6 of the patio slabs are loose including one of the step slabs and on closer inspection I have found that all of the cement in between the slabs has crumbled and it looks a mess. My question is am I able to ask the company to come back and repair after a year and if not how would I go about trying to repair it myself as currently cannot afford to pay someone. Many thanks in advance.

[Bettypat]

Of course you should get the company back to look at the slabs and do the necessary repairs. I am no expert but it looks as though they have not used the right cement mix or seated the slabs properly. You should write to them about your complaint, making sure you date your letter. If you do not hear from them ring them. If you do not get a satisfactory response, write to them again saying that you will be issuing proceedings in the small claims court. Have you seen any other work they have done locally? Do you know anyone who has used this firm and if so what were their experiences of them. Slabs do have to be relaid after the passage of time, but certainly not after a year. My own slabs lasted about 20 years before I had to have them attended to. Best of luck to you.