Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1 Aug 12, 2016 9:36 am Hi, We just had our slab done last Thursday and it looks great. But I'm just wondering if the way they did the slab edge (retaining) is okay since it doesn't appear to be according to the plan. In our tender stage, we were charged an extra $18,000 which was required in order to retain the slab on the front right corner due to the slope of the land and amount of fill. See our contour survey and initial diagram from the engineer which stated that a brick block base build up was required: http://imgur.com/G5qoM16 http://imgur.com/rh5B8HR They then asked if we wanted to proceed due to the extra unexpected cost, and we agreed to proceed. Here is the same diagram in our council approved plans: http://imgur.com/bpU7Tlo ... From the plans, I was expecting the slab to be built up with concrete filled blocks on the front and side of the slab. However that doesn't appear to be what they've done. Here are photos after the footings were done and reinforcement was in: http://imgur.com/RTjTbGw http://imgur.com/OlAHKHW Then I saw formwork go up and wondered if andhow they were going to put the concrete blocks in.. http://imgur.com/hrgre0X http://imgur.com/0Ofwlps Next day the slab was poured, and looks like instead of building up a retaining wall, they just poured the concrete in. http://imgur.com/Lr4XGAs http://imgur.com/XO8SuB0 Since I don't fully understand the technical drawings, I'm wondering if this is in accordance to the plan and what we were charged for? In my layman's eyes, it looks fine. But I'm wondering if they charged us for one thing, then built it differently. And if they did, is what they built still safe and structurally sound? Thanks for your help! Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 2Aug 12, 2016 12:56 pm The drawings are showing various options depending upon height of the slab off the ground. To me it looks like your place has been done ala option 1, 0-600. So if the amount if fill is no higher than 600mm then it has been done correctly. That said your drawings are saying 1300mm (doesn't look like it to me) in which case should be last options, which is not what has been done. Also intersting the note that option 1 is too hard to form up. Wonder why? Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 3Aug 13, 2016 12:10 pm Hi Icebreaka Thanks for the photos Ouch...$18000 for the extra concrete on The Front RH Corner? You should have checked the extra Concrete Quantities, concrete costs $250/m3 and they would have filled the forms in less than 20 mins..It is a a bit too late now maybe not?.. Its hard to judge scale and dimensions unless you put a tape measure adjacent to what is being photographed you are also missing other critical info..did you take other photos?. If that wall was done completely in concrete then it should have additional detail information & reinforcement bars and since your builder Apparently Can't read Plans I would be asking the engineer if he inspected the works before the pour. imo i think you are entitled to some money back Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 4Aug 14, 2016 8:37 pm Hi, Thanks very much for your responses. I've measured the height yesterday, at the corner (the highest point) it measures 1.52 metres high from top of slab to ground. This is what we paid for, as per our building contract: RETAINING 17. Provide a Block and single brick skin build up to the Elevation "D" wall from Bedroom 1 to the Laundry and the Elevation "A" of Bedroom 1 as per plan and Engineers detail (Includes scaffolding as required). $18059 ... Currently at the frame stage with gutters soon to go up... I'll be calling the supervisor tomorrow about the frame, I guess I'll mention the slab but not sure what to say? I do have a few more photos I can upload .. Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 5Aug 14, 2016 9:03 pm Hi Icebreaka Upload the photos and I'll take a look Cheers Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 6Aug 15, 2016 12:29 am Hi Here's a link to an album with more photos: http://imgur.com/a/h7Opl Let me know if theres any other info/photos that would be useful Thanks for your help! Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 7Aug 15, 2016 12:35 pm UPDATE: Just spoke to our site supervisor. He said that our build was not a standard build and that they had two options in doing that slab retaining. Either to do the drop edge slab (which is what they've done) with the footings and retaining bars and formwork and concrete poured in, or if they couldn't form it up, their 2nd option was the concrete filled block retaining. He then said I'm totally right in that its different to what I was charged for, and that I should contact his higher up by email or give them a call in regards to pricing and whether I was overcharged or entitled to some money back. So I'll do that today. I asked if the option they used was structurally sound. He said 'yep its all engineered and inspected prior to the pour and we have a 30 year structural guarantee' So I'll go to the builder now and see what they say... Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 8Aug 15, 2016 12:57 pm Interesting as that method is contrary to the plans you have attached above. They show that being suitable only up to 600mm. So need to ask, the footing plan that has 0-600 crossed out as too hard and to go for the 0-2400 method, who wrote that on the page? Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 9Aug 15, 2016 8:31 pm icebreaka I asked if the option they used was structurally sound. He said 'yep its all engineered and inspected prior to the pour and we have a 30 year structural guarantee' So I'll go to the builder now and see what they say... That's whose professional opinion? I would be insisting on an engineers certificate for details that match your photos and ask why additional horizontal return reinforcement wasn't put into the corners for such a high wall? Goodluck with the price reduction Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 10Aug 17, 2016 1:49 pm AJW So need to ask, the footing plan that has 0-600 crossed out as too hard and to go for the 0-2400 method, who wrote that on the page? That I believe was written by the engineer. I noticed on the first copy of the document it says 0 - 1200 for the first diagram where they wrote 'too hard to form up', but on the council approved document it has 0 - 600 on that same diagram ... Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 11Aug 17, 2016 1:58 pm StructuralBIMGuy icebreaka That's whose professional opinion? I would be insisting on an engineers certificate for details that match your photos and ask why additional horizontal return reinforcement wasn't put into the corners for such a high wall? Goodluck with the price reduction That's just the words of my site supervisor over the phone. Also, the just with the photos, they were taken the day before they put the reinforcement mesh for the whole slab. Unfortunately I wasn't able to take photos after that day, so its possible they added more reinforcement on that day though I don't know. Re: the engineers certificate - Is that something they're supposed to provide or is it something that's normal to ask for? Since this is my first home build and I have no experience, I'm trying to get things done right but also I don't want to get on the builders offside ......... I've spoken to the manager who advised he'll look into it and speak to those involved, and that if in fact they did build it cheaper they'll provide me with a credit. Though its interesting to wonder if I didn't bring it up in the first place, would they have? ... Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 12Aug 17, 2016 8:50 pm Hi Icebreaka Why should you be worried about getting the builder offside This is how he and others should see it 1. He charged you $18K for what, a bit more concrete? 2. He didn't follow the engineers details? 3. And luckily you took photos and are now querying the amount and details 4. You are entitled to an engineers guarantee even more so now. I suggest you contact the Building department at the local Council ,as the engineering details are incorrect and get further advice either from the building commission, consumer protection or a lawyer. Should you have problems with the retaining and House in years to come you'll Thank your lucky stars..most people building homes put terrible photos up that equate to zip should anything go structurally wrong at a later date Keep us posted Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 13Sep 01, 2016 11:14 am Hey Icebreaker How's it going..its been 2 weeks..any resolution? Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 14Sep 08, 2016 5:18 pm Hi, Got an update... Spoke to the building services manager today. He's had a look at photos, and spoken to those involved. He talked me through the process they went through.. He acknowledged that what was planned was footing with bars, then concrete blocks, then concrete poured into the blocks.. then single skin brickwork on the outside to join up with the external wall brickwork... Instead they went with the concrete poured drop edge.... He said normally, they wouldn't do a drop edge for anything over 1M... Reason being that its too hard to get the formwork to hold all the concrete... In my case, the concreter believed he could get the formwork to hold... And so they decided to go that route, and in doing so saved about a week to 2 weeks in build time... He calculated the difference in cost between the two options... saying the only difference is the blocks, estimated to be about 170 blocks and the cost to lay the blocks... They still needed the footings, the bars, scaffolding for brickwork later on, and the single skin brick.. He said the overall difference he came up with is $456 ... I told him I was disappointed with the figure, he said he's open to discussion on where I think a greater difference in cost could be.... I then asked for an engineers guarantee in writing.. He said that the engineer who did the engineers detail went on site and inspected and approved the slab/form before it would have been done.. He told me that its all in the engineers drawings I received... I then said that the drawing has a drop edge only 0 - 600mm and again asked for an engineers guarantee in writing.. He told me thats no problem, he'll get an amended drawing from the engineer and have it to me next week... Don't know what to think overall... I guess $450 is better than nothing? And I'm getting the engineers guarantee so I guess thats that? Re: Did they do our slab retaining properly? 15Sep 08, 2016 6:36 pm Hi Icebreaka Less than 500 buck$ that's laughable considering what they slugged you in the first instance The Engineer needs to inspect & certify what was done on the slab/retaining wall and I doubt anyone viewed the reinforcement because if they did they would have queried what was done & left out just as I did.. Wait for the drawings & Certificate.. thanks for the update Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Thanks for the insights, that makes perfect sense, and yeah, I will be leaning on the experience of the excavator operator entirely. 6 16042 Ask the council if there is a chance of getting build over easement exemption. Sometimes easements are unused and 24cm is not all that much. Good luck. And yes any builder… 2 13718 |