Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Oct 27, 2007 6:34 pm Hi everyone,
We went out to the house today, with a copy of our plans as we had noticed that one set of windows looked in the wrong place and we wanted to double check it, but we found a real mess. Yes the windows we thought where wrong are, they are in the built in robe and have been installed right where a shelf is ment to be and should be about 25cm over to the left. But in looking further I noticed that the windows in the bedroom of the same room looked funny so I measured them and one is 32" and the other side is 38" They are on either side of the room looking at each other so you can see it for sure. I then looked closer at the rest of the house and in the theater room we have the same problem, one is 32 and the other 38. Looking at the plans the 38" are both ment to be in the bedroom and the 32" both in the theater room. All the brick work is finshed now and half the tiles are on for the room. This is a double brick home in WA. Any idea how they will fixed this with out looking like cra* as this is all along the front of the house. I am sorry I forgot to take the camera with me today so cant post photos yet. We have got the bill for out next payment which is due this week, should I still pay it or do I have the right to hold it till they fix it. I have to wait till monday to ring the supervisior, but they I would see if anyone can give me any ideas first. thanks Tania Re: building fault advice needed. 2Oct 27, 2007 11:23 pm Hi Tania,
My gut instinct would be to not pay the bill until this is sorted. We had a problem with our windows being the wrong size ... but it was easily fixed being frame stage in a brick veneer house. Maybe post some pictures to see if other people can pick up the difference. Cheers, Lyn Re: building fault advice needed. 3Oct 28, 2007 6:29 am YIKES!
I'd defiantely put off making the payment until you speak to the supervisor and I'd also get an independant inspection done as well in the meantime- then you can get an answer from the builder as to how they will be fixing this ... I mean you expect a certain amount of slight error but windows in the wrong place? and the wrong sizes in the wrong rooms? wow that says to me people just can't be bothered reading plans! Have you checked other things around the house? sorry to be such a worry wort but to me if someone makes an error like this it might just be the tip of the iceberg Personally, I'd make that phonecall first thing Monday morning and ask for an onsite meeting, take plenty of photos and double check all your figures... you want to go in prepared for something like this Sorry this has happened to you and your family Fiona Pay 4Oct 28, 2007 8:46 am ring your builder first thing on Monday morning.
Contact your Client liaison or customer service person in the office and give details of what you believe is the problem. Do this to ensure that your call & comments are registered with the office - the builder will keep a record of your complaint, you should too. Send a confirmation email. Request a meeting with your site supervisor. Don't jump to conclusions, the supervisor & construction manager may have already noted the problem and be arranging for the windows to be corrected. Meet your site supervisor on site and discuss the problem and ask how this will be corrected. Send an email to the builder detailing your conversation and what was agreed to be done and get a reply confirmation from the office. Regarding your Payment - Read your building contract regarding making progress payments, you can NOT withhold funds - Noone likes to hear that statement - with correcting the windows the builder will continue with other works. builders will not stop the progress of construction therefore they are entitled to payment as agreed when you both signed a building contract. The builder is also responsible for fixing items that are incorrect and this is also stated in your building contract which will detail the process and what the builder must do in rectifying the problem and what you can do should the builder fail to rectify the problem to your satisfaction. Withholding funds until the builder rectifies the problem could see you incurring additional late interest % (normally 20% - see your contract for %). Speak with the supervior, ask why this happened, detail the action, ensure you have response from the office, keep records, refer to your building contract for the obligations of both parties (builder & owner). If worse comes to worse seek advice from your local building commission or HIA regarding your next step. good luck monday. Re: building fault advice needed. 5Oct 30, 2007 8:40 am If your house is in double bricks and all brick work has finished, then it would be quite difficult to fix any windows problem... update 7Oct 30, 2007 1:39 pm Hi everyone
Well I rang yesterday to find that our supervisior is away on hoilday till today, but I chated the the guy that was handling his work, he went out to the house and comfirmed that they are wrong (how nice) but he only checked one lot, he left a message for me while I was at work saying it will be fixed. (he even said it could stay like that and wouldnt effect the house) yer sure no it will not effect the house and how it works but I can see it and its wrong, I paid a lot to have them build what we asked for so they can fix it to what the plans say) So I rang him back to find out more and check about the other windows that are wrong. So he has listed it all and is getting the bricky to fix them to, he said they will have to take it all down and redo it to a good standard. I will be keeping a good eye on it to make sure. thanks for everyones feed back, I am going to go back out there on Thursday to see if they have started yet and if not will be ringing again. tania Re: building fault advice needed. 9Oct 30, 2007 9:59 pm well I went out there today and they have finished it all. I was so shocked.
The main windows have all been removed and put in the right place and the brick work is all up, and looks good I couldnt belive how fast it was fixed. I am so pleased that I can relax about it now and they have also finished the roof as well. Tania Re: building fault advice needed. 10Oct 30, 2007 10:09 pm Congratulations Tania!
It's great to see a good news story. Amazing what a little communication and consideration can achieve. Cheers, Casa Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: building fault advice needed. 11Oct 30, 2007 10:22 pm Excellent news! Congratulations.
--Mike Everything I know, I learned from SBS. LATEST: Frame Complete http://metricon-mercer.livejournal.com Re: building fault advice needed. 12Oct 31, 2007 8:52 am Awesome - it's great to hear some good news about building a house for a change After 2 false starts, a year living overseas, two more world trips and 3 years of uncertainty we are now starting the build process again - hopefully for real this time! Hi All, I engaged a tradie to install concrete retaining wall 600-800mm high over 32 meters in Victoria. Sleepers are 200*75*2000 mm installed over 17 steel posts. I… 0 6917 Building Standards; Getting It Right! Don't think they are designed for double brick. WA has a particular way of building and unfortunately that's the way a large amount of sills are finished. 3 7008 Versaloc is a mortarless besser block system that still needs a properly engineered footing. If you just do a 400x200 footing it will fail in time. At 17m long you need it… 1 17951 |