Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Apr 10, 2016 10:07 am So the retaining wall saga continues. First of all we had a $4440 ps sum for one retaining wall marked on the plans the builder drew up. Then out of the blue they tried to add on a 'variation' of $2600, tried to rush us into signing it with no explanation what it was for. After a discussion with the builder, find out they had made a mistake and quoted on the original old plans for 20m retaining, not the 30m actually required. Tried to get an answer from QBCC as to whether we were liable for that as it was the builders mistake. Initial person we spoke to said she didn't think we were but would have someone more senior call me back, despite follow-up calls never heard back. Then we get a call from the builder to say their retaining wall man had run into a problem so my husband met the builder onsite to discuss this so called problem. They had started drilling the post holes from the back of the property with an augur, half way up had hit rock so decided to drill one at the front, the augar deflected and burst our neighbours stormwater and nbn connection. So, they had 'no choice' but to bring in a smaller digger and trench the remaining 13m which would take up to 3 days and would need more concrete and they would like another $2500 for that please. So now our retaining wall is at twice the quoted price. But my husband been the practical man he is took his Aldi jackhammer up there after work and in 2 hours dug one hole at the required depth and width. Yes he did hit rock so brought a $120 tool from Bunnings with a special long drill end which he ground to make a mini rock breaker, problem solved. So hes now up to hole number 3 with 4 to go. He will be a very tired and sore man tonight but also $2500 richer which he says is well worth it. I'm lucky in that my husband is clever, practical and no willing to be fed any old story, but makes me wonder how many people think they have no choice but to go along with whatever story they've been told. Looking forward to ringing our builder tommorrow and telling him 'problem solved' now get on and build this wall and stop creating problems that don't exist. Re: This Is Getting Out Of Hand 3Apr 10, 2016 11:04 am Most people post when they encounter problems rather than ask questions or dig a trail bore hole beforehand .... it may cost you more than $3k to challenge this claim in the long run so they just pay up. READ THE CONTRACTS DOES IT SAY YOU CAN DIG THE HOLES?...EXTRA ENGINEERING FOR UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES IS EASY MONEY FOR THE BUILDER.goodluck Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: This Is Getting Out Of Hand 4Apr 10, 2016 11:08 am Althom What's the betting your builder now refuses to warranty the retaining wall given you've done the post holes? Sadly, The odds favour the builder on Geo,structural & engineering matters Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: This Is Getting Out Of Hand 5Apr 10, 2016 11:52 am StructuralBIMGuy Most people post when they encounter problems rather than ask questions or dig a trail bore hole beforehand .... it may cost you more than $3k to challenge this claim in the long run so they just pay up. READ THE CONTRACTS DOES IT SAY YOU CAN DIG THE HOLES?...EXTRA ENGINEERING FOR UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES IS EASY MONEY FOR THE BUILDER.goodluck I was able to make it to half the meeting with the builder and he said anyone could dig the holes but they would have to construct the wall. Seemed pretty clear to me. Re: This Is Getting Out Of Hand 6Apr 10, 2016 2:43 pm Yep, but there will be one price he charges you and there will be yet another he will give back to you as a credit if you do the work..they will never be the same unless agreed upon previously in the contract. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: This Is Getting Out Of Hand 8Apr 12, 2016 3:10 pm Well done first timer , ,practical and great thinking, I done similar projects in my build, all with the blessing of my builder project manager, everyone can save some money by doing jobs like, the final house clean, saves you 600-2000 dollars. Re: This Is Getting Out Of Hand 9Apr 12, 2016 3:10 pm Well done first timer , ,practical and great thinking, I done similar projects in my build, all with the blessing of my builder project manager, everyone can save some money by doing jobs like, the final house clean, saves you 600-2000 dollars. Re: This Is Getting Out Of Hand 10Apr 15, 2016 9:32 pm I would say digging your own hole is not the best option for sure. Technically you dig a hole for your builder to escape from his liability. If at later stage there is anything wrong with the retaining wall, they will just say that you dig a bad hole. lol Re: This Is Getting Out Of Hand 11Apr 17, 2016 11:03 am Joker Well done first timer , ,practical and great thinking, I done similar projects in my build, all with the blessing of my builder project manager, everyone can save some money by doing jobs like, the final house clean, saves you 600-2000 dollars. It actually backfired on us hugely. The builder was not happy when we told him we had dug two holes ourselves but said someone would be up to finish the job in the middle of the week, we had pointed out that since no-one else seemed to want to finish what they had started we had to. I went up there on the day to find they had swapped their originally quoted small trenching digger machine (max $2500 with concrete), to a great big thing with a rock breaker on the end. They had said they would keep the first holes they had dug and just trench the rest, that was before we upset them. Well they had trenched alright, over their first holes, a metre deep and a metre wide! We calculated it at $3000 worth of concrete alone. So the big lesson here is, 'don't question the builder' because they will punish you!!!! We were up there a couple of days later after the concrete had been poured and found the delivery truck dockets under a rock. 3 trucks, 15 cubic metres of concrete, ouch! Re: This Is Getting Out Of Hand 12Apr 17, 2016 11:17 am Maybe you can offer to do the house clean and the builder can give you back LOL...$100 I cant stress enough how important it is to have all the critical information/data explained properly to you, so as to make informed decision, before you agree to anything.. the contracts favours the builders. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: This Is Getting Out Of Hand 14Apr 18, 2016 9:53 pm I had a agreement with builder and could do anything as I was officially owner builder,but no trades were told and job was run by builder, still saved $150, 000 when compared to a similar build, got final new build clean quotes fir 48 sq house, all between 2-2200, so did myself, ,so many examples of huge savings that were achieved by thinking out of the square. 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