Browse Forums Building A New House Re: additional $8,500 - What should we do? 3Jan 17, 2008 8:04 pm Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: additional $8,500 - What should we do? 9Jan 18, 2008 7:07 am Hi Aulyna
Our builder tried to change us for sarking plus ventilation after contract signing. I sat down and read our contract to see what it said about variations after contract signing. I am not sure what state you are in but this is the clause our of a QLD one: Clause 20.10 "In the case of a variation requested by the builder, the builder is not entitled to payment for extra work unless the variation became necessary because of circumstances that could not have been reasonably foreseen by the builder at the date of the contract." from what you have said they should have well and truly forseen this so it is there problem. Even if you are in another state you may find similar wording. Builders may try this when they know they have stuffed up on the chance that their customer will pay for there mistake. Good Luck Anne Grandview 36 on Beautiful Bribie Site Start Dec 5th 2007 Projected completion May 12th 2008 NOPE Handover 24th June 2008 Moved in 11th July 2008 Wating on one final thing - Still - Oct 2009 Re: additional $8,500 - What should we do? 10Jan 18, 2008 7:53 am Hi there
I would give the builder a blast for sending it out of the blue and not discussing it with you. But first, look up the Victorian Rural Fire Service and find out what provisions you must install in your home to become fire compliant. These measures are not very much (eg flyscreens made of fibreglass, mesh but in weepholes and air vents, draught excluders on external doors [these cost $20 from bunnings and just stick on] Then armed with this knowledge tell the builder to stick the variation and you will complete the bushfire protection after handover. This is exactly what I'm going to do. When the council checks for your occupation certificate, they will be satisfied if you tell them all the bushfire measures youve installed. And it should cost you a damn site less than $8500!! Mine will cost under $500 Building a Jandson Espirit in Pennant Hills "What is the use of a home, if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?"Henry Daniel Thereau Re: additional $8,500 - What should we do? 11Jan 18, 2008 10:26 am Our bushfire prevention measures had to be submitted to council so I can't see how they could get through without know it.
We had to spend about $6000 extra for bushfire prevention. This included sarking in the roof, metal mesh gutter guard, metal mesh doors on all outgoing doors and also on all windows. Metal mesh in weep holes and a few other smaller things I can't remember right now things like specs for the driveway etc. Fortunately we were within 100m of a fire hydrant otherwise we would have had to provide a 10 000 liter DEDICATED water tank plus all special fittings for the fire brigade. We also had to submit a lot of information about the trees and vegitation in the area. We may have been able to save a bit by doing it ourselves at the end but I suspect that it would have proved a great hassel and not really saved very much and council might not accept us doing it. Personally I am happy to getthe protection measures in because if and when a fire comes, I am going to be very glad of them, These measures are well thought out IMO and I am not going to try cutting corners. Re: additional $8,500 - What should we do? 12Jan 18, 2008 10:27 am The bush fire protection should not cost that much. Mine was about $1000, but since it was not mandatory, i declined the offer.
That is one strategy to rip off customer. My builder mentioned it clearly the cost in front. Re: additional $8,500 - What should we do? 13Jan 18, 2008 10:30 am Makes me suspicious about that else the builder may suddenly find he needs to charge you for. Re: additional $8,500 - What should we do? 14Jan 18, 2008 7:45 pm Not great to get that kind of letter.
It may be of use to ask your builder to define what rating is stated on their information. Should it be deemed low, then in most cases nothing additional is required. Medium/High - some additional items are required, bronze/steel mesh to flyscreens and barrier/security doors (including barrier/security doors to hinged doors), mesh inserts to the weep holes (3times), sarking under roof tiles, roof penetrations such as vent pipes to be gal or steel, tiled valleys to be mudded etc... - the amount of items is determined by the rating. If you are located in a high risk area then the chances of having an evaporative cooler are slim to none, there is no model in the market as yet that makes a unit compatible to a high rating. You can get one to suit medium - they just need to install bronze/steel mesh to the unit (avg additional cost of about $600 - depending whom you buy through). A lot of the time the rating is determined by the amount of trees etc and their size and proximity to your dwelling. I've seen ratings lowered after land has been cleared (new developments etc...). In line with '3times' comments, you may be refused a permit if you refuse to adhere to the requirements. All the best. Re: additional $8,500 - What should we do? 16Jan 18, 2008 8:57 pm Our builder was up front with us about it and gave us an estimate,but we had to wait until the engineers report to find out if we would be low,med. or high risk....
Because we had several trees on the block (not natives), they classed us as medium,but as we have since had to have the trees removed because they were on the house site,we asked the builder about it and he said if we got a letter from the local cfs stating that it was only a low risk classification then this would be fine and we wouldn,t have to pay the additional $2,500. As far as we know the only extra that you get for that is sisalation in the roof ? We have asked to have the sisalation as an extra and it,s only costing about half that. The head of the local cfs came up to the block and said that we were definetely only low risk,so he has written the letter for us. Good luck Aulyna Re: additional $8,500 - What should we do? 18Jan 19, 2008 7:04 am Sounds ******* to me. I'd be sticking by what's in the contract.
Unfortunately, arguments can slow down the construction process - but I wouldn't be handing over that amount of money without a fight. Good luck, keep us informed! Problem solved ^_^ 19Apr 01, 2008 4:48 pm Hi all,
Just updating the result: After about 2 -3 month of silent, the builder sent an email today: Subject: Additional Personal Requirements Good afternoon I am chasing up the variation 9/H000465 – Bushfire Protection variation send out to you on the 16/1/08. This variation was raised as per ACTPLA Requirements. Can you please sign & return by COB Wednesday 2/4/08. After my reply email, an hour later they called back and apologized it’s their mistake! How doggy is it? Annoyed me for 2-3 month! If I gave up ealier, the $8500 will be disappeared! Thank to all replied me messages. Aulyna Staircases and sausages. Should thou wish to keep thy palate sweet for sausages, avert thine eyes from their crafting. 14 4590 Our standard double-glazed window is tested to achieve, Rw 34, and can be glazed to suit Rw 39. The price is good too... 3 9472 i imagine you also have another contract with an architect? and yeah, whatever other's said about special conditions and appendices 16 16007 |