Front step at doorway

SGT · Mar 24, 2024 7:35 am

Our step beneath front door slants from one side to the other. It’s ’not much’ but is obvious to the eye, because the riser tile piece has been cut to suit the shape, & you can see it is lower on one side compared to the other. The door architrave also has more space underneath one side than the other. All in all completely obvious to us & looks dumb & a sub-par finish.We suspect builder is going to say its within tolerance & bad luck. We know our slab wasn’t level (found fairly late in the build) because they screeded the upper part of our split level but not this foyer section. So likely that the floor just inside the front door isn’t level.
Are we really supposed to just be happy with this because it might be within tolerance? It’s the front of our house, you walk up to the front door from a lower street level.

Bimbob · Mar 24, 2024 7:49 am

I can’t picture the issue but from what I understand it to be it may be outside the allowable tolerance but regardless of this and if the builder indeed says that it is within tolerance have him provide you with the document which he is referencing which states the acceptable tolerance.
If he can’t then don’t pay until it’s rectified.
If he does show you the document ensure he is referencing the relevant section of the tolerance guidelines, if it dosnt comply don’t pay until it’s fixed.
If it is within tolerance ask him to correct it and to pay for his time or pay someone after handover.

SGT · Mar 24, 2024 12:12 pm

Bimbob

I can’t picture the issue but from what I understand it to be it may be outside the allowable tolerance but regardless of this and if the builder indeed says that it is within tolerance have him provide you with the document which he is referencing which states the acceptable tolerance.
If he can’t then don’t pay until it’s rectified.
If he does show you the document ensure he is referencing the relevant section of the tolerance guidelines, if it dosnt comply don’t pay until it’s fixed.
If it is within tolerance ask him to correct it and to pay for his time or pay someone after handover.

Thanks for the reply & advice. Here’s a photo

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Pulse · Mar 24, 2024 1:27 pm

is it deliberate crossfall to shed rainwater? pretty dumb otherwise.

Bimbob · Mar 24, 2024 2:12 pm

Little chance fixing that sorry

BuildingandLegal · Mar 24, 2024 6:38 pm

Check your sill tile, it is out of level, your door jamb Right side sits about 3mm above the sill tile and the left side sits about 12-13mm below the jamb.
This is creating the illusion that the porch tile is falling right, when in fact the sill and riser tile are falling left.

SGT · Mar 24, 2024 7:19 pm

BuildingandLegal

Check your sill tile, it is out of level, your door jamb Right side sits about 3mm above the sill tile and the left side sits about 12-13mm below the jamb.
This is creating the illusion that the porch tile is falling right, when in fact the sill and riser tile are falling left.

Yes, it's out of level, as is the floor inside the front door (ie, the foyer entry).
I think the porch tile is right, but I'll check tomorrow. I really think it's the step following the floor inside.
All of this (our build) is a very long story. A very disappointing experience.

As a side note, can someone explain why a poured slab is not a mandatory inspection by a certifier? I get that the formwork is checked and signed off on, before concrete pour, but why not the finished slab?? The framework is placed on the slab - shouldn't it be checked before doing so??

I'm not owner-building. I'm paying someone to build and manage the build because: WTF would I know about building a house?? That's why we're paying an 'award-winning' builder....
Never again.

SGT · Mar 25, 2024 6:09 am

BuildingandLegal

Check your sill tile, it is out of level, your door jamb Right side sits about 3mm above the sill tile and the left side sits about 12-13mm below the jamb.
This is creating the illusion that the porch tile is falling right, when in fact the sill and riser tile are falling left.

Also, my photo isn’t great - the porch tile isn’t actually sloping to the right, bad angle.
It’s the step - the riser & tread.

Bimbob · Mar 25, 2024 7:33 am

Take a pick with a level sittingo n the slab and a pick with a level sitting on the sill please.

This will help us diagnose the issue and therefore a solution.

RE, Slabs, its not a mandated inspection. Why, because trades are considered to be experts in their field with the neccesary training to not require an inspection at every step and the fact that the NCC and relevant Australian Standard dictates how everything is to be consdtucted and finished and it is expected (in a perfert world) that all trades build to code.
These types of finishes occour with poorly trained, unqualified, non-caring workers. its an unfortunate occourance of the construction industry.
Though this never happens and unless you have a building inspecter or someone familiar with codes and standards at every stage of the job you will have deficincies. its the nature of the game unfortunately.
Building a house that meets every single code and standard is possible, but it takes siginifantly longer and costs more. It shouldnt, but thats building.