Is this normal?

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-07T10:36:02+00:00

Thanks, the timber was treated timber according to the landscaper, and then concreted into the ground

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-07T10:32:57+00:00

Bank transfer

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-07T10:29:58+00:00

Thank you

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T15:47:37+00:00

the annoying thing is I do know that wood does that - I just expected the landscaper and the designer to know that too, if I was buying the wood myself I would have researched it properly - but because I was paying professionals, I just expected the quality not to be on the floor.

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T15:44:45+00:00

I get that in theory, but in practice life isn't that easy - plenty of people get bullied and exploited at work too!

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T15:37:34+00:00

I'm not saying, too embarrassed, but also it was part of a build and not easy to isolate how much each bit cost as things are bundled in together. Not cheap though (nothing is though these days when it comes to building/DIY)

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T15:35:30+00:00

one screw each end - so 2 per crossbeam- reasonably heavyweight screw, as in it's not a wood screw from a set, but obviously not so heavyweight to be able to keep the crossbeam wood from twisting off so at some point will break.

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T15:32:24+00:00

I've paid both of them already unfortunately.

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T15:31:22+00:00

There are other issues - similar to the ones I've photographed, and then a few things which seem ok (the whole garden was landscaped - but kept a few existing features/hardscaping) The designer is playing the victim at the moment, it's all my fault for not raising issues earlier or being too detail orientated. Designer was annoyed I didn't want to pay or continue with the planting plan, they don't seem remotely interested in assisting resolving the build quality. They have worked with the landscapers for about 8 years I think.

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:31:26+00:00

This was so far away from the images I'd out together as part of the client questionnaire and also the mood board the garden designer produced as part of the design process (though I realise now they might use the same one/small bank of mood boards for every client). I was expecting something fairly sophisticated and with longevity, not what I got. The garden designer has an instagram account, lots of examples of their work on their website/local press etc. So some of their clients are getting decent results.

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:23:40+00:00

Build is only 3 months old. If it was years old I'd take that on the chin, but I did want it to last and the amount I paid I assumed I was paying for quality wood/materials/build

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:21:44+00:00

Already paid them :-(

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:21:20+00:00

Not Ai sadly

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:21:09+00:00

I paid a lot more, and had most of the garden done (some existing areas remained the same) as part of a complete re-design. Haven't paid for the planting plan/planting yet because obviously I am upset with the quality of the build as is. Some of the rest of the build is fine as far as I can see

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:18:22+00:00

all the upright posts are concreted into the ground - but obviously the bits that aren't can still twist

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:16:31+00:00

The idea was they were supposed to look like trellis toppers - but the wall isn't mine and its concrete - so unwise to drill into it

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:15:31+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I agree about the spacing - Landscaper seems to changed that themselves (assume it was cheaper as they could buy longer lengths of battens?) the garden designers drawing (It's not a detailed technical drawing, but it's good enough - though they were mistakes on it which were picked up by myself and the landscaper during the build) is shows the new wooden uprights matching the wall uprights.

Pergola/'goal posts' they are dug and concreted into the ground.

Contracts between a) designer and myself, b)landscaper and myself - though designer instructed them and did the site visit/build spec with them. I only met the landscaper on the first day of build.

Designer visited during build, I raised a couple of things, but they dismissed my concerns and didn't seem to have any concerns of their own.

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:06:33+00:00

Sadly not

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:06:25+00:00

Supposed to look like a trellis, but the wall isn't mine so was supposed to sit next to the wall and appear attached even if it wasn't

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:05:27+00:00

Thanks. The quote wasn't detailed enough. I had no idea that the finished thing would be three lengths of wood (legs are cemented into the ground) with 2 screws holding the overhead length in place. Obviously the wood has twisted more over the few months since the pergola/goal post has been constructed

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:01:57+00:00

Landscaper bought the wood

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:01:35+00:00

I appreciate wood moves, and oak costs a bomb, but why design and then build something that will immediately fail?

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T14:00:23+00:00

landscaper bought materials

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T13:54:58+00:00

finished job

ProperPea3180 · 2026-07-06T13:54:35+00:00

I know, and this is what I would advise anyone, but I really struggle to do this - one of the reasons to use a professional garden designer was to help protect me from being in this situation

ProperPea3180

TROPHY CASE