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We are having a resin driveway laid down the side of our house to replace the old falling apart tarmac one. We had a few quotes and finally went with a company we had dealt with before for a patio. They have been really good with us in the past and the work was finished to a very high standard.
When laying resin it has to be done in one go. So it is completely watertight etc. This was made clear from the outset. It is also weather dependant as it has to be layed on a dry day. So it has taken a bit longer to get this finished due to the recent weather.
Yesterday my good lady rang me while the builders were laying the final layer and told me their mixer had broken down. Half the driveway is complete and they can't complete the drive in one go. Now as previously mentioned it HAS to be done in one go for sealing.
They have been in touch with a solution to lay a monoblock line across the drive where the gate will go so the drive can be layed in 2 sections. Basically taking up the top layer on a small area only.
This is not what we asked for or were quoted for.
And my partner is really against it. She feels the whole drive should all be taken up and relayed at the builders cost.
We are meeting the builder tomorrow to see what solutions he offers. My Instinct is to go for the monoblock but my partner disagrees quite rightly.
So far we have not paid a penny, all the work and resin etc has been paid for by the firm.
Thoughts on how to approach this.
Photo below show the green line where the monoblocknis proposed to be laid. 
Their mixer breaking mid way is not your problem, push for it to be lifted and relaid in full as agreed.
How difficult they are about that is a different story, one builder might simply walk away and disappear and another might agree with no pushback and get on with it. What way is the wind blowing?
Not quite sure what I’m looking at in terms of surface..Is the grey the finished surface? Dont see why they’d need a block line there and not in line with the inspection hatch where the resin has ended. Either way, I’d say your wife is correct.
Taking up everything as far as the line I think. Honestly, I think it would look better with a line of monoblock under the gate. Less waste of materials too than taking up the whole lot.
How well do you think they'll do the job if you dig your heals in & insist they relay the lot? Shit happens & sometimes it's best to reach a compromise, or maybe I'm just a walkover.
I agree with Dickyboy above, they’ve had an equipment failure, and as well as losing them half a days pay, they are likely to be another £1k+ down if they have to relay the lot. Let them put a line under the gates, then they havent lost so much, and it’ll still look fine[1]. They’ve given a decent solution that will help them out of the mess, but still at a cost to them. Shite happens, they didnt break the mixer on purpose, so give them a break, and be happy that they want to finish it. In fact I’d say redoing all of it wouldnt be worth it for them financially, so they could walk off and leave it as it is, leaving you with a far bigger problem in finding someone else to redo it.
[1]Shouldnt there be an expansion joint there anyway?
I’m not sure why it has to be water tight? But anyway, I’d be happy with the mino block.
it’s under the gate and it’ll disappear. Although it’s not your main issue, it’s also less waste.
Their mixer broke down , their problem , they need to make the drive usable till they can finish the job. Extra costs are theirs to cover. It's reasonable for them to request some time to sort it out
Me too, seems like a decent option and they're coming up with solutions. I'd go for the mono block.
Monoblock for me. I'd be asking for something there anyway to 'mark' the gateway. They'll no doubt be thankful and may reduce the cost.
It looks like they have already laid one layer so isn't it already watertight?
How long is it going to last if the subsurface (old tarmac) was falling apart?
I'd go with their suggestion of the monoblock
Yes it’s there problem to fix and yes you could push for that BUT their solution seems a fair one, keeps them onside, might get a discount and having 2 smaller sections might help you in the future should you ever need to dig a section up for any reason. The mono block idea doesn’t offend me hence I would be ok with it, if you hate it then you can fight for what you want/asked for.
Good to hear other people's opinions. I think my partners reaction is a bit of a throwback to an issue we had with our fitted kitchen. And a feeling we possibly should have pressed harder for a resolution to an issue we had.
The guy in charge I am sure feels shit and has been very forthcoming on a solution. But where does the line get drawn between being a pushover and expecting what you signed up for.
Monoblock it is I think. My misses will not be happy:))))))
We all have things go wrong at work sometimes. If you're on a PAYE salary you can screw up or waste a day and you still get paid. Self employed, running a small business is very different - things out of your control go wrong and you work for no money.
They've proposed a solution that sounds like it will look decent and avoid too much waste or extra cost for them. I'd take it.
Shouldnt there be an expansion joint there anyway?
That was my thought too.
https://www.theonestopresinshop.com/product/expansion-joints/
I’d happily have a monoblock line where the gate is. At the moment it looks like the M25 goes into your garage.
Assuming it will be a pair of gates, and they're not electric, you're going to need one or two sockets in the ground for the bolts to drop into. A line of monoblocks would accommodate them nicely....... 🤔
I thought resin drives were meant to be porous?
Thoughts on how to approach this.
My first thought is why does it need to be watertight?
With run-off and flooding getting worse a permeable resin drive would have been a better choice.
One would assume they'd have insurance for such things, and you should be getting what's been agreed.
That said, I think I'd want some sort of break under where the gate runs so... 🤷♀️
My first thought is why does it need to be watertight?
With run-off and flooding getting worse a permeable resin drive would have been a better choice.
Shhhhh this kind of stuff keeps me in a job.
You do know most Screwfix branches sell cement mixers . Although he may be going on about a big bucket mixer , they sell them too. Beyond the wit of man to go and buy one and get on with the job...
A line of engineering bricks would look smart but isn't there a water meter inspection hatch just where you don't want it?
As a gesture of goodwill i'd ask them to mark out a shared use cycle lane through to your side gate.
Resin drives are porous not water tight, we lay resin drives because they are porous, pour a bucket of water on the new resin and see what happens.
You can get away with starting and stopping mid pour but it can be tricky to conceal the join. Unfortunately for the builder not best practice, sadly bad luck for the builder.
For what it’s worth I would have opted for a join under the gate formed in cobbles or sets as rainwater run off from the gates when shut will stain the resin as rainwater will be intensified in the area directly under the gates as it runs down the gate surface and sits on the resin.
I think it would look better. Hope you don’t mind me saying.
The line of blocks will look much better than what is there now.
no I really don't mind you saying, I didi pop on here for advice so all welcome.Resin drives are porous not water tight, we lay resin drives because they are porous, pour a bucket of water on the new resin and see what happens.
You can get away with starting and stopping mid pour but it can be tricky to conceal the join. Unfortunately for the builder not best practice, sadly bad luck for the builder.
For what it’s worth I would have opted for a join under the gate formed in cobbles or sets as rainwater run off from the gates when shut will stain the resin as rainwater will be intensified in the area directly under the gates as it runs down the gate surface and sits on the resin.
I think it would look better. Hope you don’t mind me saying.
I obviously wasn't listening when he explained the porous nature of resin. Makes way more sense.
Line of monoblock will be in tomorrow. Everyone who said it will look better, I definitely agree.
Builder has so far been sound. Accepted full responsibility and doing everything he can to rectify at his cost. All in all. Can't expect any more from him in these circumstances.
I'll keep the coffee flowing. He can keep the repairs on track. 🙂
a line of block would look weird.
Can he not use a big saw to take it off nice and straight, put a gasket in of some sort (3 - 5mm expansion joint style instead? i think that would look neater.
Given the slope would a grate with sump (I'm not describing this well) to allow water run off not be better? Diverts some from you garage and allows a place for the gate bolty things to drop into.