Here is a list of some of the situations we’ve come across:

Bait & Switch

A large part of the cost of installing Interlocking stone is base preparation. Some contractors sell their work as a proper installation–the right base depth for the application, optimal compaction, woven geotextile fabric, edge restraints, etc. While the the customer is at work, the shady contractor skims off the grass and a few inches of top soil, lightly compacts, grades and installs the pavers. The job is done in record time and the contractor walks away with a huge profit. However, the base is only sufficient to last for the supplied warranty, usually one or two years, and very soon after the warranty has expired the customer is left with a project that completely falls apart.

Always ask your contractor for installation specifications and, if possible, stay home during the first days of the construction phase or pop-in from time to time during the day to check on how the work is being done. If you simply can’t be home while the project is under way, then have a friend, neighbor or family member be your eyes for you. The most crucial part of interlocking stone work is the preparation; be there to make sure you’re getting what you actually paid for.

Options that are not optional

There are many components that go into a successful interlocking stone project. There is, however, only one way of installing interlocking stone that lasts–the engineer tested and approved way. Many contractors (some who have been in business for 20 to 30 years) routinely cut corners. These contractors know about edge restraints but don’t install them, they sell them as options. Edge restraints are NOT OPTIONAL, they are crucial to proper interlocking stone installation. Edge restraints are long plastic or aluminum strips that are spiked in along the open edges of an interlocking stone project. Without them the open edge pavers of your project will start to pull away. This is called “edge creep” or “brick creep”. The only way to prevent this is to have edge restraints in place.

Escalating Costs. Unethical?

This should be considered CRIMINAL! I’m amazed at how many people fall prey to this type of contractor. Although there may be certain situations that warrant altering the agreed-upon quote (finding a buried stumps, large boulders, or unstable ground in the excavation area), some contractors will routinely find ways to ask for more and more money. Insist that your contractor provide you with a plan, preferably one to scale, of what the finished work will look like. Understand your project scope, ask questions, and get the quote in writing. If you change your mind on some aspects of the project along the way ask for and sign a “change order” form so you can be fully and constantly aware of the project’s cost. If a contractor can’t provide you with a simple work plan and a solid quote, look elsewhere.

The large deposit

Some contractors may ask for a large deposit when signing a contract. You should NEVER give a contractor more than ten to twenty percent initial payment for work being performed! We’ve come across countless customers who have handed over up to 50% in up front project costs only to have their contractor mysteriously disappear or go out of business. A deposit is only required as an act of good faith; to secure your position on a contractor’s list of projects. On rare occasions, with large projects, it’s acceptable for a contractor to ask for small payments as and when project phases are completed. If this is the case, know ahead of time when your contractor will ask for payment and what, specifically, you’ll be paying for.

The Inexperienced Contractor

Many people fall victim to the “well intentioned” but inexperienced contractor. In fact, this is probably the most prevalent problem consumers are faced with. There are few regulations, licensing or skills requirements for starting a landscaping business. More and more, ill-prepared and ill-trained entrepreneurs take advantage of the loose regulations and blindly dive into this business. The uninformed homeowner is all too often subjected to the financial consequences of their inexperience.

These contractors improperly build large stone structures against your home without the proper protection or without following proper building specifications. Quite often this results in thousands of dollars in damage to your homes. They may build large retaining walls with little knowledge of the engineering specifications needed to ensure the wall doesn’t fail. These contractors often have little understanding of the limitations of the concrete products they use. They may use smaller garden wall blocks to build steps that are too high or too narrow to safely negotiate. They may build three foot high raised decks and retaining walls with smaller garden wall blocks–blocks designed to hold garden soil pressure only.

You can avoid the inexperienced contractor by doing a bit of homework. Visit www.icpi.org (interlocking concrete pavement institute) and look at the contractors section for valuable information. Learn as much as you can about how interlocking stone installation methods and ask prospective contractors how they would go about building your project. Armed with a little bit of knowledge, you can easily weed out the contractors that use six inches of limestone screenings (stone dust) or 3/4 clear crushed stone as a base–something that completely flies in the face of engineered specifications. The more you know about installation guidelines, the easier it will be for you to differentiate between inexperienced or ill-informed contractors and the professionals.

There are many contractors in this business who create beautiful and innovative designs and execute them flawlessly. Unfortunately there are infinitely more companies, some that have been in business for many years, that fall into the categories we’ve mentioned here. These companies will continue to survive and thrive on the uninformed and trusting consumer. Don’t be the next victim! Do your homework before you hire a contractor. Check references, check the Better Business Bureau and check contractor’s accreditations. Make sure your contractor has insurance in case damage is done to your home and check that they pay into Workman’s Compensation. You, as the homeowner, are the project owner and are responsible for the safety of workers on your site.

Remember, what these companies do is nothing short of CRIMINAL! They may not end up behind bars, but the more consumers are informed, the more likely these disreputable companies will end up out of business.

If you have fallen victim to some of these contractors, we’d like to hear from you. Please add a comment below.