Drainage

 

The number 1 reason why retaining walls fail is due to water.  When water is not able to drain correctly from behind a wall it will freeze and push the wall forward creating a base failure.  Scritchlow Landscaping & Hydroseeding installs 12" of NCMA approved drainage rock behind all of our walls.  We install a 4" tile drained out to day light in order to remove all chance of wall failure.

Industry Leading 5 Year Hardscaping Worksmanship Warranty

Hardscapes (5 years): Scritchlow Enterprises installs all hardscapes to meet or exceed ICPI (concrete pavers) and NCMA (segmental retaining walls) industry standards. See the attached drawings and specifications.  Scritchlow Enterprises warranties only the craftsmanship of these types of structures as the manufacturers of the concrete pavers units and segmental retaining wall units provide their own separate guarantees of their products (SRW units, Caps, Paver units, Bullnose coping, Edger units, etc). The responsibility for obtaining these warranties from the manufacturers is solely that of the homeowner.  Scritchlow Enterprises provides a five (5) year warranty of all construction and craftsmanship of Segmental Retaining Walls and Paver Slabs provided that the stone base is installed to Scritchlow Enterprise’s standards. Exceptions to this statement include:

1) A structure which was constructed less than five years prior to Scritchlow Enterprise’s hardscape installation, an over-dig will be necessary in this scenario.

a. Without the appropriate installation of an over-dig, Scritchlow Enterprises will not provide a warranty for the construction.

2) A structure which was constructed less than five years prior to Scritchlow Enterprise’s hardscape installation, an over-dig will be necessary in this scenario.

a. With the appropriate installation of an over-dig, Scritchlow Enterprises will provide a five (5) year warranty for the construction.

3) Any construction backfilled for less than five (5) years cannot be guaranteed by Scritchlow Enterprises.

4.) Hardscapes warranty on all retaining walls, stone masonry, seat walls, rock walls, steps or any other stone work will only be valid if Scritchlow Enterprises preforms a yearly inspection ($125) in order to insure all drainage is still in operation and no site changes have been created that could adversely affect our product. 

5.) Hardscapes warranty on flagstone patios, paver slabs, or paver walkways will only be valid if Scritchlow Enterprises preforms a yearly inspection in order to insure all drainage is still in operation and no site changes have been created that could adversely affect our product. As part of the annual inspection Scritchlow Enterprises must perform annual maintenance (varies based on scope) to the paving surface such as, but not limited to, cleaning and re polymeric sanding any joints.

6.) Hardscapes warranty on all fire pits and fire places will only be valid if Scritchlow Enterprises preforms a yearly inspection ($75) in order to insure metal liners, and or flues and or fire brick are in good working order and that no changes have been created that could adversely affect our product. Fire Pits and fire places are protected with steel or fire brick inserts.  Excessive heat from too large of fires can cause cracking of landscaping products and will void this warranty.  If any fire brick, flue or fire rings become lose or damaged stop use of product immediately and notify Scritchlow Enterprises.  Any damages that results in continued use after damage to fire brick, flues, or fire rings will not be covered by warranty.

7.) Paver materials contain natural materials are used in the manufacturing of paving stones. Variations and shadings can be expected in the color of the paving stones. Therefore, Scritchlow Enterprises does not guarantee the consistency or permanence of the color of the material. Scritchlow Enterprises is not responsible for the presence of excessive efflorescence, rust spots, or the deterioration of the product surface or structure due to a manufacturer defect.

                        8.) Polymeric or regular sand in joints of paver products is specifically not warrantied as it is a wear item and requires maintenance.

9.) Natural stone products can and will have natural scaling, chipping, popping and natural fault lines all of which are not specifically not warrantied. 

The following guide lines for Hardscapes will be used so long as all other warrantee requirements have been met:

A.) Stoops or steps determined to be settling or heaving more than ½” since original installation by Scritchlow Enterprises will be corrected by Scritchlow Enterprises during the warranty period.

B.) Retaining walls, seating walls, rock walls, or any other stone walls determined to be settling or heaving by more than 1” in 10’ from original installation as determined by Scritchlow Enterprises will be corrected by Scritchlow Enterprises during the warranty period. 

C.) Caps or stones that were originally glued that become lose due to glue failure will be re attached by Scritchlow Enterprises during the warranty period.  Any glued pieces that have broken lose by impact will not be covered.

D.)  Stone masonry can have voids in mortar joints ¼” or less are acceptable unless they are excessive as determined by Scritchlow Enterprises.  Cracks in mortar joints including but not limited to stair step cracks do not necessarily indicate a structural problem.  Cracks 1/8” or more will be filled by Scritchlow Enterprises during the warranty period.