Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1 Aug 27, 2013 6:15 pm We are currently building a new home with a large alfresco area under the main roof. The builder has also poured an alfresco concrete slab as part of the main house slab. The house has 10ft ceilings so it is open to allowing rain to come in from the side. I have noticed that when this happens there is water pooling on the slab in the main thoroughfare to a door. I have complained to the builder about this issue and have said that we are not accepting it like that. Their reply was that there is no requirement for a slab to have fall on it if it is undercover and that it is within a 4mm tolerance across 2M of the slab which by the department of fair trading is allowable. I have since checked this and I think it around 5mm. At the end of the day I think with 10ft ceilings that there should be fall on the slab as there is no doubt that rain will make contact with the floor. After spending an extreme amount of money on this house we are extremely disappointed. The only way that I can see to fix the issue is to lift up the slab by pouring a concrete or grout on one side to achieve some fall and then tile it. Can anyway out there please advise me on what the builder should have done originally, what is allowable and also what we can do to fix the issue. Re: Alfresco concrete slab pooling water and has no fall 2Aug 27, 2013 8:30 pm What finish would you likle on the slab, because you could consider grinding to create a fall, which is less drastic than it sounds. @builderforlife Building inspector and passionate about construction When you need an expert to take a look. Re: Alfresco concrete slab pooling water and has no fall 3Aug 27, 2013 9:29 pm We originally only wanted a natural concrete finish. The idea of grinding it down does sound like it could work however we wouldn't be able to grind too much off as there are brick columns to contend with which support the roof. I guess 10mm to 15mm could work. I'd say tiling over the concrete after this process would be the best way to make it look the goods. Do you have any idea on what the building code says in regard to fall required for this type of area. Re: Alfresco concrete slab pooling water and has no fall 4Aug 27, 2013 9:53 pm The BCA does not stipulate a fall for a floor like this, which is frustrating i know. The grinding is actually quite an interesting look as it exposes the stones in the concrete. The slab could be sealed, painted or tiled afterwards. @builderforlife Building inspector and passionate about construction When you need an expert to take a look. Re: Alfresco concrete slab pooling water and has no fall 5Aug 27, 2013 10:12 pm Have you looked over the house plans. Sometimes the draft persons place notations for the fall requirements off the slab, and you may have signed for these conditions. Re: Alfresco concrete slab pooling water and has no fall 6Aug 28, 2013 4:45 pm As 'builderforlife' says this type of inclusive slab design from memory is not specifically covered in the BCA. Having said that, most reputable Builders & Designers would know the probable consequences of not including a fall away from the main building perimeter. The alternatives are probably either grinding or tiling with a fall to the outer edge. Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Re: Alfresco concrete slab pooling water and has no fall 7Aug 28, 2013 7:02 pm dont grind the slab, you will lose thickness and cover on your steel. Top it and tile it, you might even get the builder to do it for a reduced price if they are into good customer relations. it is good practice to put fall on it even under cover because who wouldnt hose it? Plead your dissapointment, and work to a cost compromise Re: Alfresco concrete slab pooling water and has no fall 8Sep 01, 2013 7:43 am Thanks for replies, I have again spoken to the builder about the slab not being in spec and after another inspection with one of his colleagues he now agrees that it is not in spec and that they will do something about it. I basically had to tell him that we will not be letting the issue go and before we go down another path such as fair trading did he want to have one last look at it. He is meeting his concretor onsite with a laser level to see what has gone wrong and to discuss our options to fix it. Finally some positive progress. With the house only 4 weeks from the last contract date this is a big relief. Re: Alfresco concrete slab pooling water and has no fall 9Sep 05, 2013 1:45 pm Good news, The builder has agreed to pay for the cost of tiling the alfresco area if I pay for the tiles. This is a good outcome considering that we were going to tile it at a later date anyway. The labour cost for the tiler is around 3K. They are going to achieve more fall by applying some sort of product underneath the tiles to lift it up slightly. Re: Alfresco concrete slab pooling water and has no fall 10Sep 06, 2013 3:26 pm Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Need more photos from around the house including your gutters. We have had 3 of the wettest years in a row for some time so that wouldn't be helping 3 7315 I've got a challenge here. Background is the builder has cut too deep for the slab and the slab is now below the very substantial retaining wall. It's failed occupancy… 0 18793 Thank you Splashers. Tomorrow I might check if I can get a few packs of 300x300 in the same tile finish. It may be good to use these could in the shower recesses. I'm not… 4 5214 |