Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1 Oct 19, 2009 9:51 am Hi Everyone, I'm new to this forum but I've been doing a bit of research here as I'm looking around trying to find a solution. Background: We're having a house built and final inspection is this week. However about 2 weeks ago we noticed a problem with our driveway. We got a civil engineer to come in and inspect it and he has found it as a minor defect but it mentions that the driveway is uneven and lumpy in a few areas. We have forwarded this report to our builder but have basically come back and said they're not fixing the driveway. We've contracted an external company to do the practical completion this friday and their main job is to find defects with the house. I've since forwarded the photos to this company and have aired my concerns and they will have a look at it during the inspection. After some searching on these forums, I've found that the minimum thickness of a driveway should be 100mm. I've since measured (and taken photos) our driveway and have evidence of the driveway varying in thickness from 80mm to the correct 100mm. I've spoken to someone who works very closely with the BSA and she agrees that the job is unprofessional but even though the thickness is incorrect, the driveway may still be able to perform it's duties. BSA will only step in if the driveway basically becomes unusable. We've also taken photos (yet to send) of the driveway on a rainy day and it's very evident that the right hand side (when facing the house) is much higher than the left hand side. I'm yet to send these photos to the builder but I can only assume they will deny our request for a driveway fix. I'm more of the old school train of thought that if the workmanship is not up to scratch, they would need to fix it. Is there any authority that could help us get the driveway fixed? I'm thinking of email our bank to also check the driveway when they do their inspection but at the moment, it feels like we have no re-course. The only time the builder really took notice was when we sent the engineers report in regards to the driveway but they've always come back saying it's been built to the building standards which I highly doubt from what I've seen. Does anyone have any advice or tips as to who I should speak to? Cheers! Re: Exposed Aggregate Driveway Issues 2Oct 20, 2009 1:47 am Are you with a 'major builder' ... if so, you can always contact your supervisors manager and escalute it to a higher power that may be able to help out (and the supervisor may get an arsekicking in the process) We're building The Albany 330E with Casa Design & Construction via National Builders Group See how we are going here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32694 Re: Exposed Aggregate Driveway Issues 3Oct 22, 2009 10:05 am We went with a smaller builder as we were attracted to the extra features like blinds & security screens but also had the flexibility in using the father in law to do the electrical. They were also highly recommended by a family friend that brings clients to this particular builder and has never had a problem until our job. The family friend has now since broken all ties with the builder and is not recommending anyone else to use them. We asked other major builders and they wouldn't allow it because of their policies. It did get escalated to the higher powers and it sounds like they all got an *** kicking (from the change in attitude towards us) but they stood their ground in that they won't replace the driveway. We have proof with the engineers report & photos of varying thickness but they wouldn't have any of it. I got a call from council as I requested for some details in regards to the thickness of the driveway and learnt they can only inspect the portion of the driveway that is on council land. There they said it had to be a minimum of 125mm but as for the remaining portion of the driveway on our lot, it can be as thin or as thick as you like as long as it holds up. It looks like our only recourse is pinned with the final inspection tomorrow and they find that the driveway is inadequate. I'll also have to ring the engineer and let him know the driveway wasn't fixed and see what can be done there. Ironically the inside is fantastic from the brief inspection I did with the supervisor a couple of weeks ago. It's taken about 13wks to build our place as we found out we're the only job on their books. If worse case scenario happens and they find the driveway fine as it is, I'm just gonna have to park the car on the edge and break the damn thing. I hate companies that care more for profits than customer satisfaction. Re: Exposed Aggregate Driveway Issues 4Oct 22, 2009 10:24 am Dont suppose you want to share who your builder is????? Site Start: 10th September, 2010 PCI : Friday 27th January, 2011. Handover: 3rd February, 2011 Build Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37677 Re: Exposed Aggregate Driveway Issues 6Oct 22, 2009 11:38 am I wonder where you are? and if you saw which company was providing concrete? If the deflection, (relates to flatness) is greater than 20mm over 3 mtrs I think I would be asking questions. If it was a major concrete plant then I would be asking the decorative salesperson to come and visit the site. If the grano was a recommended applicator (of the premixed concrete plant) then, ...if it is as bad as you say, then they would get a rocket and put down a peg or 2. Also they might not care at all But if you are not happy there are associations of all kinds, might be best to check 1 or 2 of those. Onc Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Exposed Aggregate Driveway Issues 7Oct 22, 2009 11:50 am Sorry... updated my location details. Unfortunately no we didn't get to see which concreting company it was. Thanks for the info there Onc. I'm gonna somehow wrestle the concreting company information out of AusHomes then ask to speak to the manager. Thankfully we've got an external company that can do that inspection coming in tomorrow so he'd be able to check on things like deflection as you mentioned. From our stand point, we're probably best to get the inspection done tomorrow whilst having a chat to the engineer as AusHomes don't like listening to us; probably cos we've complained too much about the driveway Re: Exposed Aggregate Driveway Issues 8Jul 23, 2010 10:33 pm hi, i've juz found this website while searching for any reviews/feedback regarding aushomes. i hope u don't mind if i ask u what was the outcome of your problem with aushomes? my husband n i are building our first home with aushomes and is now having problems with brickworks and driveway. thanks in advance for any info you can give me. Re: Exposed Aggregate Driveway Issues 9Sep 20, 2010 8:31 am Hi everyone, I too would be curious to find out the outcome as my partner and I will be building our first home with Aushomes too ... We are only in the early stage of the whole process (drafting) and are experiencing ridiculous delays and below average customer service ... I thought small builders could pay more attention to detail with a smaller client base? It makes me disappointed as this is a HUGE purchase and it makes me doubtful and worried about what is to come. Not to mention at Fitzgibbon Chase .. AV Jennings and Ausbuild have fantastic homes (note the plural) on display .. and Aushomes? Well .. they have one which is pretty average ... I know this is only about the display aspect, but where is the effort? Any one else would like to add any comments? experiences? Much appreciated! Re: Exposed Aggregate Driveway Issues 10Oct 01, 2010 3:08 pm Cinta Hi everyone, I too would be curious to find out the outcome as my partner and I will be building our first home with Aushomes too ... We are only in the early stage of the whole process (drafting) and are experiencing ridiculous delays and below average customer service ... I thought small builders could pay more attention to detail with a smaller client base? It makes me disappointed as this is a HUGE purchase and it makes me doubtful and worried about what is to come. Not to mention at Fitzgibbon Chase .. AV Jennings and Ausbuild have fantastic homes (note the plural) on display .. and Aushomes? Well .. they have one which is pretty average ... I know this is only about the display aspect, but where is the effort? Any one else would like to add any comments? experiences? Much appreciated! Hi I am also in process of finalising a new home contract with Aushomes at Fitzgibbon chase. At the moment they are treating me well but they are not forcoming with a lot of information about the details of various standard inclusions. Like you I am nit nervous about how they will treat me once I sign the contract and what sort of house they will finaly built. I agree that the only display home Aushomes have there is average. You said you are at drafting stage. What does that mean? I am all set to sign the contract but not sure if I am doing the right thing. Please keep us updated and I will do the same Re: Exposed Aggregate Driveway Issues 11Oct 03, 2010 9:54 pm helo to all.. make sure you put everything in writing whatever you agreed on at the consultation, as once the construction starts, the supervisor will turn around n tell you that it's not part of the contract!! which is what's happened to us! so freaking annoying! we're unfortunate to have a very incompetent construction supervisor who can't admit at his fault and can't recognise if a line is straight or not!! we asked for him to be replaced but told by the office that there's nobody else to replace him and he's the only one that looks after the projects around our area. Re: Exposed Aggregate Driveway Issues 12Nov 17, 2010 4:09 pm ozboy Hi I am also in process of finalising a new home contract with Aushomes at Fitzgibbon chase. At the moment they are treating me well but they are not forcoming with a lot of information about the details of various standard inclusions. Like you I am nit nervous about how they will treat me once I sign the contract and what sort of house they will finaly built. I agree that the only display home Aushomes have there is average. You said you are at drafting stage. What does that mean? I am all set to sign the contract but not sure if I am doing the right thing. Please keep us updated and I will do the same Hi there, We have signed all contracts despite the fact that their quality seen from their display home isnt that great (average is an understatement ). Stage 5 is too close to the train track and we just cant wait for stage 6 so we decided to go ahead with Aushomes. We really hope that the final product satisfies us and makes us forget about their bad customer service. I guess during sales period, they always try to be nice to you, but after you sign everything, true colors come out . I dont know if they are the worst, but with deals worth $$$$$, we believe we should be treated better. We met with our future neighbour at Fitz Chase building with AH as well, they have a mate building with AB and we all have been exchanging informations. From what he's telling me, seems like AH are not really transparent with their costing (not sure if this is only "the grass is greener on the other side" feeling). If we had the options to choose the builder, we would go for AB. However, according to the other forum threads, it goes down to the teams who build your house. Good luck guys!!! Last year I had a gas leak at my house. 3 days later, I have about 1 sqm of my exposed aggregate paving broken up. I am not sure how to go about getting it repaired… 0 10377 After some ideas on making our patio kid friendly . Currently we have exposed aggregate. 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