Browse Forums DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair 1 Dec 02, 2010 7:52 am Hi everyone, The below post has been just copied from my original thread in the Building a new house category. But I am desperate for some info or advise regarding the major issues we are having. PLEASE READ ON!!! Hi Everyone, I know Iv been MIA for long time but as the new title suggests our ""Dream"' is now becoming our nightmare! We have now officially been in our home for almost 9 months. At under three months in, the ceiling in the pantry started to lift off and there were some minor cracks appearing all through the house (cornices splitting, architraves cracking etc.) Or three month inspection resulted in them patching up these cracks and the builder stating that it was due to the moisture from our recent break from the drought! Over the last three days the whole house has started shifting and il attach some pictures below to show you just some of the damage. The worst of which occurred just yesterday when i came home to find plaster flakes all over our rumpus floor and the whole cornice separating from the wall & ceiling & split right through the middle! This damage correlates with the external brickwork on that same wall cracking and splitting through the mortar! Over the last 24 hours even more splits and cracks are appearing throughout the whole house and it seem as though the house is sinking and the ceiling is lifting and separating from the house. The plaster work is also starting to bulge and pop in various spots. I have reported this as urgent with the builder and have also been in touch with the building commission. The builder has sent someone out to take pictures of the damage (focusing only on the major stuff though). The builder is currently stating that it is because we have not done any landscaping in the backyard & that this is apparantly causing all the structural damage but they have not yet given a definite answer as it is still being investigated. When I brought this up with a staff member at the building commission, she stated that in her opinion a house this young should not have that much movement irrespective of the landscaping not being done. BUT there hands are tied until the builder completley refuses to take responsibility! The builder is also stating that due to the holiday season coming up they don't know if anything will get done until the new year! At this rate the house will not be livable by the New year! We are devasted and Im am even scared to come home from work in fear of what I might find. The builder has drawn our attention to the slab maintenance section of the contract which does state that on clay soils a 900ml concrete path is recommended around the perimeter of the house but it does not say that it is required or else! We were looking at starting our rear landscaping around now when the weather starts to warm up and when we had more funds available to do so. If we had been advised or warned of this then we would have made the concrete and landscaping a priority over the internal furnishings. In fact I would have paid the builder to do concrete all around the house when we were doing all choices prior to contract signing. Instead they chose to advise of this only now! I have so many questions to any of you that are qualified in these matters or have experienced a similar thing. We are now wanting to contact a slab engineer or inspector but don't know were to start! A couple of tradies who work in the building industry (friends of ours) have stated that it seems the house is sinking due to not sufficient support in the footings! Please reply back if you have ANY advise or experience! *Rumpus Cornice -This was taken yesterday and has gotten far worse!! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ *Closer look! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ *Closer look other end! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ *Brickwork - This has also gotten far worse in the last 24 hours! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ * Brick work other side! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Again, this is just some of whats happening. There is alot more!!!! Building: Santorini 26 with M*tricon Where:VIC Site Cut 29/09/09 Slab Complete 09/10/09 Frame Complete 22/10/09 LockUp Complete 17/11/09 Fixing Complete 03/12/09 **My Thread:[/i] viewtopic.php?f=31&t=23110 Re: Santorini 26 by *M* - Home falling apart!! 2Dec 10, 2010 11:17 am Id say bad footings! Have you got a copy of the surveyers report? Were the recomendations given done by your builder? Fight fight fight! Good luck! Forrester 43sq We have our keys (3/6/11) Now it's time to decorate (that's the fun part.lol) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37598 Re: Santorini 26 by *M* - Home falling apart!! 3Dec 10, 2010 1:41 pm I feel terrible for you Shelz, how stressing!! I would presume M like any builder that is covered under some sort of Structural Warranty?? Maybe a phone call to a solicitor may be required to see where you stand!! That would not be acceptable by any means, whether landscaping was done or not. Wishing you all the best. Re: Santorini 26 by *M* - Home falling apart!! 4Dec 10, 2010 5:47 pm The builder is required to provide a 'sand pad' min 1m around the house whilst building. This is a massive problem, and the builder will try to run away from it by default. I sincerely feel for you, it makes all the problems with our house look insignificant! Re: Santorini 26 by *M* - Home falling apart!! 5Dec 13, 2010 7:47 am Hi All, Thanks for your replies Rudolf1980 Id say bad footings! Have you got a copy of the surveyers report? Were the recomendations given done by your builder? Fight fight fight! Good luck! The reccomendations were for a H class slab but the builder is refusing to send me something in writing confirming that they have in fact laid an H class. The reason I want something in writing is because the contract conflicts between M & H class. brb_654 I would presume M like any builder that is covered under some sort of Structural Warranty?? They have a long 25 year structural warranty but there are so many exclusions that it makes you wonder what use there is in having the darn warranty! Thanks for the best wishes amilelka The builder is required to provide a 'sand pad' min 1m around the house whilst building. This is a massive problem, and the builder will try to run away from it by default. Im not sure what this is. I tried to look up 'sand pad' in the contract but I couldnt find anything! Is it a bad thing if they havnt done this? Do you think this may be causing some of the issues? Thanks again everyone for the best wishes and your responses Let me know if you think of anything else that might help our issue Building: Santorini 26 with M*tricon Where:VIC Site Cut 29/09/09 Slab Complete 09/10/09 Frame Complete 22/10/09 LockUp Complete 17/11/09 Fixing Complete 03/12/09 **My Thread:[/i] viewtopic.php?f=31&t=23110 Re: Santorini 26 by *M* - Home falling apart!! 6Dec 13, 2010 7:57 am Shelz Rudolf1980 Id say bad footings! Have you got a copy of the surveyers report? Were the recomendations given done by your builder? Fight fight fight! Good luck! The reccomendations were for a H class slab but the builder is refusing to send me something in writing confirming that they have in fact laid an H class. The reason I want something in writing is because the contract conflicts between M & H class. What paperwork do you have for the slab? What sections of your paperwork do you have that conflict between the M & H Class? Do you have a copy of the Engineers slab drawings? We got a copy of the letter from the Engineer saying that the formwork for the slab had been inspected and 'generally' was according to the plans - this was included in our final paperwork. Never argue with an idiot they drag you down to their level & then beat you with experience - Dilbert View Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=19733 Contract signed 14Sept Slab 30Sept Bricks laid 1Dec Lock up 26Feb Keys 10Jun Re: Santorini 26 by *M* - Home falling apart!! 7Dec 13, 2010 3:20 pm MrsRose Shelz wrote: Rudolf1980 wrote: Id say bad footings! Have you got a copy of the surveyers report? Were the recomendations given done by your builder? Fight fight fight! Good luck! The reccomendations were for a H class slab but the builder is refusing to send me something in writing confirming that they have in fact laid an H class. The reason I want something in writing is because the contract conflicts between M & H class. What paperwork do you have for the slab? What sections of your paperwork do you have that conflict between the M & H Class? Do you have a copy of the Engineers slab drawings? We got a copy of the letter from the Engineer saying that the formwork for the slab had been inspected and 'generally' was according to the plans - this was included in our final paperwork. Hi MrsRose, The prior to contract signing estimates all state a H class, the engineer reports all state H class but the M specifications for our address states M class! My cousin who has also built with M and has been in her house for a 1.5years (with no problems) said that on her contract under the specifications section, it also states an Mclass but then it goes on to say 'upgrade to a P class slab as per soil reports' or something to that effect. So this has got me a little concerned! To top it off they wont say that it is definitely an H class not via email nor verbally. I dont get what the big deal is! If it is in fact a H class then why not just say yes it is and leave it at that. Even the building commission said that this could have happened! Btw MrsRose I had a look at your thread and your sons a cutie Building: Santorini 26 with M*tricon Where:VIC Site Cut 29/09/09 Slab Complete 09/10/09 Frame Complete 22/10/09 LockUp Complete 17/11/09 Fixing Complete 03/12/09 **My Thread:[/i] viewtopic.php?f=31&t=23110 Re: Santorini 26 by *M* - Home falling apart!! 8Dec 19, 2010 1:55 pm hi shelz.. i have built with M aswell ive been in my house for roughly 1 year. my slab is m class. just wondering were abouts are you from. i feel bad for you as i know how much a house meens to someone. i only have 1 crack in the entire house, and thats in the cieling, roughly 1 foot long, 1mm wide. i contacted m and they were only to happy to try and fix the problem. ad thats after my 3 month check. keep hounding them. and good luck.. We already paid for somfy motors for the blinds. The quote above was purely for “pre-wiring” so the blinds company can install the motors and blinds. 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