ALCHEMY GARDENS

Mr Taylor continuos to ignore my requests to resolve our patio problem. It seems that if we do take him to court he may not even have the means to pay should he lose as he has a significant negative balance showing on his last set of published account which are in the public domain. The good news is that one has 6 years to bring a case. Its simply not right that trades people can get away with supplying products that are not fit for purpose without any consequence. Mr Taylor continuous to ignore our complaint or our invitation to jointly visit his small display garden. he knows its failed like our patio. Come on Mr Taylor take responsibility and deal with the problem. After many months of communication with Mr Taylor he continuous to deny any responsibility for the failure of the grouted pointing of our newly laid patio. He denies any wrong doing or responsibility even thou his own display garden where the same product has been used has performed in exact the same way. Black, covered in Algae, soft and fragmented. His silence speaks volumes. Buyer beware. I have directly asked our contractor Mr Paul Taylor to jointly visit his show Garden to inspect the grout of his patio which he states is pristine and exquisite and then compare it to my own. So far he hasn't accepted my invitation. Why not I ask? In 2016 we used Alchemy Gardens Ltd to replace an existing old patio with a new 150sqft indian sandstone patio. The work was carried out by James and Tom to a very high standard, who where professional at all times. The patio was finished in the Autumn of 2016. It wasn't until the Spring of 2017 that we noticed that the grouting used to point the patio had become blackened, covered in algae, soft and fragmented. We contacted the owned Mr Taylor in July who immediately said the product was faulty. The product used was a quick set grouting compound from Wickes made by Sika Everbuild. The manufacturers has inspected the product, taken samples and concluded the product was incorrectly applied. Mr Taylor denies this, blaming the time taken to report the issue as the cause. This is not true as Mr Taylor has used the same product on his own garden at the 3 Counties Showground in Malvern and this too has become blackened, covered in algae, soft and fragmented. We have now taken legal advise with a view to court action as a means to getting the matter resolved. The product is not fit for purpose and if you employ Mr Taylor to lay a patio I would advise that you insist on them using a traditional cement based mortar. The 'out of a tub' product is not fit for purpose and will fail within 12 months. It maybe quick and cheap but it won't last. Mr Taylor has refused to replace this failed product insisting we are at fault. Be careful if you appoint Alchemy and make sure you absolutely know what Mr Taylor is using. We have been very happy with the patio laying but are very disappointed with the grouting. Would I use James and Tom again - absolutely. But make sure you know what Mr Taylor is using as the finished products is not as we expected. The grouting is simply not fit for purpose. Take a look at the photo in the gallery to see the grout of our patio compared to that of the grout on the Alchemy display garden at Malvern 3 counties show ground same product, applied in the same way , with the same result. Black ,covered in algae, soft, fragmented and not fit for purpose. Mr Jones Worcestershire
Dec 24th, 2017

let us down last minute. would not use.
Mar 13th, 2018

Stunning gardens and a real pleasure to deal with, highly recommended
Mar 4th, 2018

I had a great experience working with Alchemy Gardens - very professional indeed and highly recommended.
Dec 14th, 2017