Problems Dealing with Rory P McWilliams.

In September 2017 we decided to have our patio area re-landscaped and awarded the contract to Rory McWilliams. Rory quoted for the work against a detailed specification and undertook the project in an efficient manner, however he deviated from the specification by using Azpect ‘EASY Joint’ jointing compound where our specification had called for a traditional grouting of 1part cement to 3 parts sand. For the first 2 years we were very happy with the patio, but then in spring 2020 we noticed that some of the 'Easy Joint' grouting had come out over the winter, so we used the 1/3 of a tub that was left over to patch it up. Then in the Autumn 2020 we noticed that other areas were breaking up and coming out, so we purchased a tub of ‘EASY Joint’ grouting, with the intention of patching it up, but then decided to leave it until Spring. After cleaning the slabs in April 2021 we could see that it's far worse than the previous Autumn and at least 50% of the ‘EASY Joint’ grout was now missing and a good deal of what remains is breaking up or had shrunk down. When we approached Rory he first suggested that we approach Azpect regarding the failure of the ‘EASY Joint’ jointing compound. When we pointed out that our specification had called for a traditional grouting of 1/3 cement & sand and he had used EASY Joint’ grout without permission from us and pressed Rory for help in our claim against Azpect Rory replied ‘easy joint was recommended by me at the time I was merely recommending it because it seemed as a perfect answer to the jointing method and I’m am not accepting any blame whatsoever for the failure of the easy joint ’ Our reply to Rory was ‘The fact is that we were not given any choice in the grouting used, so we see your company as entirely responsible for the choice of grouting and if it's not fit for purpose, then we expect your company to assist us in our claim against Azpects, at the very least.’ Also one slab, where the grouting had mostly gone, had become loose and a couple of other slabs were hollow when tapped. Under pressure, Rory and his Son reluctantly visited one morning at 08:30 armed with a glue gun. Rory lifted the loose slab and found that it was mainly sand underneath, so was unable to just apply some glue as he had expected. At this point Rory stated that he was not accepting any blame and the Azpect’s Rep had told him that as we had brushed the slabs with a dilute solution of bleach Azpect can not accept any claim as the bleach would have broken down the resin. (A few weeks before this meeting, when Rory was supposed to be meeting the Azpect’s Rep and the builders merchant, to establish if there had been a faulty batch, Rory asked us if we had used any detergents to clean the patio and we had replied that we had once used a week solution of bleach as the slabs were dangerous to walk on because of algae and the window cleaner had recommended we brushed a week solution of bleach.) At this point we asked Rory and his Son to leave our property as he was obviously not interested in correcting his faulty work and had also colluded with the Azpect’s Rep, rather than act on our behalf. Following this impass we filled in an Azpect survey which detailed the depth and width of grout, type of slab, details of bed, etc. and also declared that we had once brushed a week solution of bleach to kill the Algae. Azpect reported beck that regular use of bleach may breakdown the resin, but they declared that from the survey answers the contractor had failed to use the ‘EASY Joint’ jointing compound to their instructions. Conclusion : We have a patio laid by Rory McWilliams using a grouting of his choice, which was not the grouting specified in the specification that he had quoted to and after three years the grouting has totally failed which is causing the slabs to become loose and if not corrected soon will mean the whole patio will fall apart and yet Rory McWilliams claims that he is not responsible. We have photos and correspondence to back up the above report.

Michael Purnell - 27/06/2021 | report this review