Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 06, 2009 12:46 pm Hello all and thanks for reading! Feel free to offer suggestions or share your experiences, Building is something quite removed from my normal circle of experience ;/ We recently purchased a block of land at Waterside, Penrith, NSW. It is a Stockland development. Anyway, to cut a very long story short the plans we were given by the main builder we were talking to at the time only showed a 100mm difference between the house and detached garage. Apparently they got the numbers off a DA plan for a home from another builder that never eventuated. The plan was given to them by Stockland. After we paid the full deposit amount for the building, and after the land had settled, the builder had the land surveyed and the slope is closer to 800mm. Big difference! The plans were altered and now there is a difference of 550mm better then house and garage. This creates massive problems because the space between the two was going to be turned into a deck area at a later date. We were given two options: 1) back fill against the garage and lose the drive through roll-a-door. (Not happening) or 2) Put an edge beam under the house and flatten the land from the back of the house to the garage. Which will cost an extra couple of thousand dollars. I went to the council and Stockland to obtain the levels that were planned and in the Works As Executed. Both plans show levels similar to what is there on the land. I'm not sure how best to proceed. All I know is that I don't think it's fair to miss out on some of the features that made us decide to build there. I don't think it's fair to have to pay to modify the house since we weren't aware of this issue before we made the decission to build/buy there. If you have some ideas or feedback it would it greatly appreciated! Thanks guys/girls Re: Land Level Issues 3Nov 06, 2009 9:41 pm We have not had such issues - and maybe no one has hence no response....its also Friday Did you have a site survey available when you bought the property? - if so then you would have a case for being misinformed re slope, but if it was just a house plan with no detail on how they were going to get that lessened floor level difference then you may be up for the costs to get those levels. What about a retaining wall and fill to bring up the difference....but more $$$ Good luck. Re: Land Level Issues 4Nov 08, 2009 9:19 pm Hi, thanks for your response! We were not giving any real surveys from the developer. However the builders plans note a 100mm difference between heights. These heights were taken off a plan they were given by Stockland for home that had DA approval, but never eventuated on the block. The plans however are not Stockland issue, but issued by the previous builder. I have a copy of this plan. I'm writing a letter to Stockland explaining the situation. I'm not sure what their reply will be but this whole thing as it stands has definately tarnished the whole building experience. Perhaps it's just a taste of things to come Anyway, advice / experience / suggestions are all appreciated. Nice avatar too! I can't help but mention how really really really really really really really ridiculously good looking it is. isn't a garage level with the rest of the house a given? pretty sure they 'came around' long time ago. if you have a flat block, the garage is usually level with the rest… 1 17502 they can, it's a fairly standard solution when the slab isn't recessed. the falls need to be in the main floor, if it hasn't been done then you need to ask them to redo… 4 6578 interesting situation what happened after builder issued final invoice? did you list as defect or not does the building surveyor have any responsibility? ie. issuing… 13 46865 |