I created this page to hopefully shed light on the foul practices of certain contractors and suppliers. Unfortunately there are some businesses out there that charge a professional price for a not so professional job, remember a high price does not necessarily mean you are guaranteed a quality build! On the other hand there are the businesses that charge a very cheap price that reflects in their work! 

I get asked to price match these cheap prices all the time but I refuse as I cant guarantee the quality of the work nor the quality of materials they're using or where they are sourced from. There are many inferior suppliers in the industry sourcing shoddy materials for a very cheap price from overseas, these are purchased by incompetent contractors in an effort to reduce costs and make the client feel they're getting a bargain.

Materials aside there is a growing industry problem of very poor instalations due to bad practice, I will list a few of the most common ones in paving as an example below:

• Not digging the sub-grade to sufficient depth.

The sub-grade should be prepared following necessary gradient ratios to a minimum depth of 150mm for patios and paths and 200-250mm for driveways depending on the size of vehicles using the drive. Soil conditions also impact depth needs. Not digging deep enough reduces spoil and requires less or smaller skips.

• Crushed brick sub-base.

Using a crushed brick sub-base is substantially cheaper but it leaves voids and could lead to future subsidence. A good example of sub-base is compacted type1 (MOT) which consists of crushed rock graded from 40mm down to dust.

• Insufficient laying course depth.

The laying course for paving should typically be between 20-50mm, it cushions the paving, and accommodates any variation in thickness there might be to ensure that the finished surface is smooth and even. Whether a bound or unbound laying course is used depends on the type of paving being laid but a course sharp sand should always be used as the angular nature of the grains creates an interlock. Using recycled sand at an insufficient depth reduces cost.

• Reducing the amount of cement in mixes.

This is a rather obvious one, the less cement in mixes the cheaper it is to produce but the weaker it cures, there are some types of paving that require a porous bed or an unbound bed, your chosen contractor should be able to differentiate between them.

• Spot Bedding, Ring Bedding and Ribbon Bedding.

The most common sign of a shoddy install. Spots of mortar are placed around the edges and middle of the paver/tile to act as a laying course, this obviously significantly reduces the amount of mortar required so the contractor can save a lot of cost, ring bedding is rings of mortar and ribbon bedding is a ribbon of mortar, all have the same outcome, they create voids and weak spots, they can also create reflective staining on the surface. All paving/tiles should be laid on a full flat bed, no excuses.

• Not applying primer to tiles, paving and edging.

Slurry Primer or Bond Bridge as its sometimes referred to is a specialist coating applied to the underside of paving units to improve adhesion to the bedding, it acts as a glue that sticks the pavers or edging setts to the bedding, and once cured... well i wouldn't like to try and take them up! Without it the paving units could become loose over time. Not using primer reduces cost.

All of the above affect the quality and longevity of the build but I have only touched very briefly on the most common cost cutting techniques concerning the paving sector alone on that list! There are many, many more and its becoming a real industry problem, there are ways to cut costs in almost every sector of landscaping and its frustrating that clients think they are getting the same build for a cheaper price, not every garden is built equally and if the price seems too good to be true it probably is!

 obviously experience and the standard of work are also reflected in the price. I have seen countless poor instalations first hand when asked to rectify by clients, certain contractors seem to have no pride in the finish of their projects... unbalanced joints, uneven finish level, pooling due to insufficient gradient, staggered cuts etc etc.

So how do you avoid becoming a victim of a poor install and make sure you choose the right contractor?

Its always best to check reviews and speak to past clients if possible. If you are still unsure ask your chosen contractor to confirm the specifications in their quote are the similar, if not the same to those in the higher priced one, any good landscaper should be providing product samples, a site survey, plan specifications and method statements as part of your quotation. Ask to see your chosen contractors portfolio and ask for references corresponding to any given photos within the portfolio as some contractors use other businesses pictures claiming they are their own!

At Woodland Ways Landscapes we try to keep our prices as competitive as possible without sacrificing quality. I hope this page has given you a little insight on cheap prices and how they are achievable. If you have any questions or want to know the cost cutting techniques in any other sectors of landscaping please don't hesitate to contact us, we'll be more than happy to help.

James Watson

Woodland Ways Landscapes 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX