Poor quality building work

[tiddlytums]

How can I have our building work expertly assessed without a huge cost? Our builder has given us terrible service, and now refuses to correct his mistakes. We hardly owe him money, having naively paid up as agreed, assuming he would act honestly.

[buildersmate]

If the work needed Building Control approval, has that been signed off? This only covers key parts of the construction and structure but at least should put your mind at rest that the structure is built to minimum standards of safety, strength and attributes such as damp-avoidance and insulation.
If you are still in contact with Building Control you could try and get them back for another visit - afterall fees will have bee paid for this service.
If not you could try these people.
http://www.labc.uk.com/site/scripts/documents. php?categoryID=287
The explanation about LABC says it all - it is the private business arm of the Building Control inspectors. It is now possible to employ LABC to undertake building control services in place of using your local authority inspectors so I'm surmising they may also be able to undertake independent assessments, without the add-ons of a 'professional chartered surveyor. Worth a call.
However I would question what you are thinking you will do with the information. If you owe him nothing, taking him to the small-claims court for redress is probably the only option - and they getting money out of him is yet another issue.
Unfortunately you might have to put it down to experience.
What's wrong with the structure?

[tiddlytums]

Thanks for your answer. Much of the building works has been done to a low standard, in spite of using a recommended company, but they have used amateur labourers for much of the work. I don't believe there was one City & Guilds worker in the crew and there was no supervision.
The external patio of crazy paved york stone was originally smaller but needed enlarging. It was down for many years, laid completely flat with quite tight joints of smooth mortar. It has been lifted and rebuilt, now laid onto a dry sandy mix, with very wide gaps in some places. Immediately it was laid, some stones moved and the mortar cracked and lifted. The mortar contains sharp little stones, leaving a rough, sharp, surface, which crumbles when swept. The repairs of the mortar are multi-coloured and the stones are not flat.
The two brick steps leading up to the patio from the garden are of different heights - one brick and two bricks high and slope backwards, therefore puddle.
The patio should be laid flush with the internal floor, but has been laid slightly high, so that the patio doors sweep it, carrying dirt back towards the house.

[Nosha123]

I'm afraid this doesnt sound good.
Dont pay him any more money.
Write him or the company a letter stating what you are unahppy with and what you need correcting. Give them say 21 days to return to start the repairs or else you will get someone else in and charge them the cost on...

You may not get anywhere though.. It depends how reputable the company are!

[The Builder]

Oh Tiddly ....... this is dreadful ...... hardly a difficult job.... unless done by idiots.
Ask at one of the local estate agents if they have a surveyor on board. Pay him to assess the quality of the work. Write to the company giving them notice of intent to go to Small Claims Court - after giving them fourteen days to put things right.
Go to court if necessary - these people need a slap.