Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 22, 2011 12:59 pm Has anyone else been told by their builder that ‘the Owner must provide a rubble driveway immediately after slab pour"? We were told this at our final selections appointment and agreed to pay $800 for the builder to put down a rubble driveway. I have since looked into it and discovered that the expiation fee is $300 "if building materials enter the stormwater". When I contacted the builder about it as $800 seems excessive now I can see how small the driveway area will be I was told "It is a requirement under EPA and Council requirements to provide an all weather access to the house from the street. Every Client is informed about this request. If they do not comply, then it is their prerogative. They are then informed that should an EPA or Council expiation be sent out, it will be added to their Contract Sum." There are a lot of new houses being built in the area and very few have a rubble driveway - does anyone else have any experience with this one? For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Rubble Driveway when building 2Feb 22, 2011 1:43 pm My builder didn't tell me this until around the time when construction commenced but I had to pay for some "crushed rock" to be put between the road and the footpath "to protect council assets". But it did not cost anywhere near $800! From memory it was around $410. I suggest you contact your council and ask them what the requirements are. Then find out from your builder how much rock they are ordering (or have ordered?) and where they are getting (or got?) it from- just to make sure the amount they have quoted you is accurate. Keep in mind that some councils require big wooden boards to be put over the footpath and kerb; and those cost a lot more than the rock does. Re: Rubble Driveway when building 3Feb 22, 2011 1:46 pm Thanks for that - getting in touch with council is a good idea. The builder's charge of $800 is a "standard fee" - so probably regardless of what quantity is involved. For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Rubble Driveway when building 4Feb 22, 2011 1:55 pm No worries Mclaren. FYI I have just checked my building variations and my crushed rock was $410; I live in a regional area so that's for a pretty wide nature-strip. If I were you I wouldn't just be accepting the $800 - why should you pay extra to the builder just to comply with a council requirement? Worst case scenario you can tell your builder you will handle it yourself and just contact the local garden supply company and get them to deliver sufficient crushed rock for the size of your nature strip. Entirely up to you but I've found it's better to have money in your pocket than to fork it out to the builder Re: Rubble Driveway when building 5Feb 22, 2011 1:57 pm I know I hate that "ripped off" feeling every time you mention variation! Good advice - many thanks. For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Rubble Driveway when building 6Feb 23, 2011 11:22 am For future reference:- The local council have got back to me and said "There does not seem to be any regulation to say that on a normal house building site you have to lay a rubble driveway for access. There is for large construction sites when there are many trucks entering and exiting all day and thus tracking mud onto the road but has never been an issue with normal single housing sites." I have been in touch with the builder and arranged a credit for $800 and we will keep an eye on the site and should it get muddy we will arrange to have some gravel put down at much less cost. The builder did remind me though to bear in mind that the rubble driveway assists and minimises the amount of dirt and possible mud tracking throughout the house, which is a valid point. Hope this information is of use should anyone come across the same thing with their builder. For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Rubble Driveway when building 7Feb 23, 2011 3:39 pm That sounds like another money grabbing scheme from the builder. contract signed: Nov 09 Released to Construction: 23 Jul 10 Slab poured: 9 Aug 10 Frame completed: 30 Aug 10 Windows & Gutters: 7 Sep 10 Bricks: 15 - 23 Sep 10 Roof: 24 Sep 10 Gyprock: 20 Oct 10 Lockup: 25 Oct 10 Kitchen: 27 Oct 10 Tiling: 6 - 9 Nov 10 Painting: 17 Nov 10 Carpet: 30 Nov 10 PCI: 15 Dec 10 Handover: 17 Dec 10 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=35943 Re: Rubble Driveway when building 8Feb 23, 2011 3:45 pm "possible mud tracking throughout the house"? What a load of crap.......surely, the tradies could be somewhat considerate to the amount of mud on their shoes....or is it too much of me to think that tradies would even give a ? Mention council and EPA and I am sure people get a little scared and just pay up..... Rebecca Custom Build with Kersbrook Constructions - SA https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37762 Current Status: Handover on Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Re: Rubble Driveway when building 9Feb 23, 2011 3:48 pm I know - it doesn't look good on their part although they do have a point about mess going into the house but I dare say that happens anyway unless you were to put gravel outside every exit point. I thought it was worth mentioning as it's quite a lot of money! Rebecca - you may have seen on this website tradies have actually scraped the mud off their boots onto people's brand new sliding doors - it's terrible. I'm sure they're not all bad though! For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Rubble Driveway when building 10Feb 23, 2011 3:56 pm None of our tradies were clean, or tidy. We had one spill beetroot juice all through our sliding door track and on the cornices that were sitting on the floor ready to be put up. And the amount of rubbish that made it near the bin but didn't actually get in it. contract signed: Nov 09 Released to Construction: 23 Jul 10 Slab poured: 9 Aug 10 Frame completed: 30 Aug 10 Windows & Gutters: 7 Sep 10 Bricks: 15 - 23 Sep 10 Roof: 24 Sep 10 Gyprock: 20 Oct 10 Lockup: 25 Oct 10 Kitchen: 27 Oct 10 Tiling: 6 - 9 Nov 10 Painting: 17 Nov 10 Carpet: 30 Nov 10 PCI: 15 Dec 10 Handover: 17 Dec 10 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=35943 Re: Rubble Driveway when building 11Feb 23, 2011 10:23 pm Quite amazing isn't it.....you just want each step to be right, as good as it can be. I do remember reading someone sweeping their slab - that could be me in a few months!..... lol Rebecca Custom Build with Kersbrook Constructions - SA https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37762 Current Status: Handover on Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Re: Rubble Driveway when building 12Feb 24, 2011 7:49 am Funny you should mention that - we walked through a house being built by the builder we are using recently and it was so clean and tidy with just a little pile of dirt that had been swept up, we then walked through a house being built by another builder and as soon we walked in there were soft drink bottles throughout the house, mess everywhere and a couple of old settee cushions for them to sit on when having lunch I presume. I know who I'd rather build with! For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Rubble Driveway when building - you won't believe this! 13Feb 24, 2011 10:04 am We just had a call from the chap who is taking the spoil away from our block who also mentioned that he had the rubble for the driveway. My DH told him that we had cancelled the rubble with the builder as it was going to cost $800 and we didn't think we needed it esp at that price. He then told my DH that he was only getting $250 so we could have it for the same price - so we took it! What a rip off For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Rubble Driveway when building 14Feb 24, 2011 10:27 am That's builders mark ups for you. I'm sure they just take a stab at an amount that sounds good sometimes. We had to get rubble as our block is built up and we either had to pay 5k for a concrete pump, or 150 for some crushed rock so the concrete truck could get up. That was through the builder though, so not so bad Re: Rubble Driveway when building 15Feb 24, 2011 10:29 am Wow - $150 sounds much better! For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! To my understanding early saw cuts are to control shrinkage cracks, so doing them now would be pointless. Control joints may reduce ugly cracking during periods of soil… 3 9830 Hi all I need a guidance on how far I need to space expansion joints in the concrete driveway and its type (keyway/foam.) Contraction joints are at 3m max for a 125 slab. Thanks 0 10926 |