Builders stuff up my concrete slab with some pics!!

jamesnkarly · Feb 19, 2008 2:17 pm

I'm building a house in Melbourne's west (pretty crappy ground) and the frame is just about finnished.
I email the builder to get an update and they tell me that they have stuffed up the slab (Waffle type slab with foam inside). I try to ring the supervisor but apparently i have to go through his stupid secretary not directly through him. She tells me she isn't 100% sure what has happend but she thinks that the slab is 300mm short at the front!! She tells me that its with the engineers and they will pobably just add another 30cm to the slab across the whole front.

Apon inspection i then find this

Here is the first pic of one place you can see a few reo bars and the plastic supports for the reo which lead to a cavity in the slab

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51/jamesloriente/Image632.jpg[/img]

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51/jamesloriente/Image634.jpg

Here is a peice of wood left in the slab

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51/jamesloriente/Image635.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51/jamesloriente/Image636.jpg

Another corner (below) where reo is exposed
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51/jamesloriente/Image638.jpg

And below a pic of the tap and water meter....notice they put it almost 2m inside the boundary instead of out the front (the pic is the side of the house....was hoping to have a fence there so i'm not sure how they are going to read the meter???

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj51/jamesloriente/Image637.jpg

Unfortuntely i work interstate and am only home for around 7 days a month. This is what i came home to.

Any ideas now??

jamesnkarly · Feb 19, 2008 2:20 pm

Ok i just rang the council and they gave me the details of the building surveyer being used and told m to go to the building commission if they dont help.

I gave surveyer a call and he tells me that the pre inspection of the slab was fine.....then i tell him that they have measured it wrong as it is 30cm short....after some paper shuffling he says that the builder is aware of that and their engineers have already come up with a solution using dowells and pinning it to the old slab! I told him that they cant do that as there is a lack of concrete in the slab and the reo steel is showing in places. He is now trying to organise some1 to go down and inspect. I want to be there during inspection and see what they have to say!

The builder has still not rang to organise ay inspections or to let me know their engineering drawings are done.

This is gonna be a **** year!!!

James

jamesnkarly · Feb 19, 2008 2:21 pm

Just rang building commission and they told me to first write a letter to the general manager of the company outlining my concerns. If he does nothing in 7 days then the building commission will come and do an inspection.

Until then i'm not sure what i can do.

Sorry about all the posts but i have just cut and copy from another forum where i have just been talking to a few ppl.

brittany · Feb 19, 2008 2:35 pm

Ouch - it looks scary but I have no idea what I am looking at. Do you know there is going to be a problem or are you presuming - maybe an independent inspection from a independent reliable source could be a solution? What state are you building in and dare I ask what builder?

jamesnkarly · Feb 19, 2008 2:38 pm

Well the frame is up but no roof.

I think the its not a good thing when the rebar in the slab can be seen from the outside. I'm especially concerned because its a waffle pod slab and most of it is hollow anyway.

Any help from concreters would be great.

I dont want to mention the builder yet.

JAmes

vanderlay · Feb 19, 2008 2:40 pm

so if they have put the frame up are you missing 30cms of house?? How can they have put the frame up with that much slab missing????? :shock:

dna · Feb 19, 2008 2:42 pm

jamesnkarly

Well the frame is up but no roof.

I think the its not a good thing when the rebar in the slab can be seen from the outside. I'm especially concerned because its a waffle pod slab and most of it is hollow anyway.

Any help from concreters would be great.

I dont want to mention the builder yet.

JAmes

You should go edit/delete your other post then

jamesnkarly · Feb 19, 2008 3:27 pm

OK

Frame is up but the front walls have been taken down after they realised the slab was too short! We did not notice the slab eing short until we saw them taking down the front walls. We gave them a call and someone in the office accedently told u there was problems with the slab. After some more ringing around they have said its 30cm short.

I'm worried that they will do a quick fix and i will be paying for it in a few years!!

Who can i ring in melb to come have a look?

Cheers

mattwalker · Feb 19, 2008 3:36 pm

Guys,

Here's where I would be spending my money:

New Home Inspections

Mobile: 0421 646 611

Office: (03) 9773 8165

Kevin.

Leave a message telling him it is urgent and make sure you let him know you are a forum member.

Make sure you engage him for a prehandover too.

Shifty buggers these builders...

:wink:

davinci · Feb 19, 2008 5:54 pm

that slab would not pass inspection the frame should not be up at all
send the letter as per instructions at the same time call the number matt gave you get your own inspection which should also include an engineer report on the slab
matts inspector will definatly knock the slab back

i personally would not wait for the builder to get back to you
get the building commision to do an inspection after matts contact does
when the building commision go out give them your inspection report and let them handle it
builders will always try and take the cheap way out
if you try and be the middle man you will only bang your head against the wall day after day
hand it over to the commision

Michelle · Feb 19, 2008 7:26 pm

Cornflakes box…… did they give out builders licences on the back at some stage???? :shock:

Perhaps so!

Stop all work now!!!!!!!! Do not let your builder continue building until this gets sorted!!!! We all know what the reo is for, but it serves no purpose sticking out like that!

Take control of the building site…and control of your hard earned money.

Call Kevin and get him to inspect it for you, once you have a report back, give it to your builder, see that he amends what needs to be done, only THEN do you let them continue on your home.

Good luck!

mattwalker · Feb 19, 2008 9:49 pm

jamesnkarly,

any news guys?

clath · Feb 19, 2008 9:55 pm

hi Jamesandkarly ouch thats not a good look.. we had a bit of reo showing but nothing like yours.. our independent inspector pick the problem up he said that if the reo rusts any further and is not fixed it can crack the slab and cause major problems

zonk · Feb 19, 2008 9:56 pm

upon reading this thread, and I know buggar all, is can the termites get in now?

clath · Feb 19, 2008 10:07 pm

hi Jamesandkarly ouch thats not a good look.. we had a bit of reo showing but nothing like yours.. our independent inspector pick the problem up he said that if the reo rusts any further and is not fixed it can crack the slab and cause major problems

PhoenixStar · Feb 19, 2008 10:32 pm

Hi James, the pictures that you have shown are indeed worrying... I have slab issues too, but only 9cm short, not 30cm....it is being repaired by the builder but as Matt has recommended, give Kevin a call if you haven't already and get him out there a.s.a.p.... Kevin (armed with our builder's engineers report) is coming out to our place on Thursday to inspect ours.

DO NOT STAND FOR QUALITY LIKE THAT!!!!!

If it is U.E. that you are building with, they have a lot to answer for!!! :evil:

Hopefully you have not paid your slab invoice yet..... Hold payment until this is resolved...to YOUR satisfaction.

I'm sure Kevin will be able to give you a much more informed perspective on this issue.
No-one likes to see people going through these sorts of issues.... especially the Homeone community!!! :evil:

Please let us know what happens.

jamesnkarly · Feb 20, 2008 9:24 am

Ok i have had a builder look at it and he said teh slab extention is nothing to worry about and the slab isnt too bad as the exposed reo is confined to a small section BUT needs a bit of work....not just a fill. ALso sent pics to a mate who is an architect and he said the same thing. Builder also said that the frame is excellnt although thats no help if it has to be taken down!

Unfortunately i dont need a building inspecter but rather an engineer who can actually write me a technical report that can be used in court if needed. I'm an engineer but not in this area so i'm still going to have to pay some1

I'm apparently meeting with the managing director of the company and we are going to inspect the slab together. He will give me their engineers recomendations but i will also get a third party engineer to look.

Unfortunately i'm back at work on friday arvo and wont be back for another 21 days

I will keep everyone posted

Cheers

James

jamesnkarly · Feb 20, 2008 9:26 am

Oh and unfortunately i already made payment while i was away at work....i never would have expected it to be passed looking like that!!

dna · Feb 20, 2008 10:20 am

jamesnkarly

How did u know it was U.E????? LOL

I would assume based on what was written in another thread regarding that builder

Quote:

Having some troubles right now if u read my post u will see.

PhoenixStar · Feb 20, 2008 10:25 am

jamesnkarly

How did u know it was U.E????? LOL

LOL.... secret squirrel at your service!!! :wink:

jamesnkarly

Ok i have had a builder look at it and he said teh slab extention is nothing to worry about and the slab isnt too bad as the exposed reo is confined to a small section BUT needs a bit of work....not just a fill. ALso sent pics to a mate who is an architect and he said the same thing. Builder also said that the frame is excellnt although thats no help if it has to be taken down!

Unfortunately i dont need a building inspecter but rather an engineer who can actually write me a technical report that can be used in court if needed. I'm an engineer but not in this area so i'm still going to have to pay some1

I'm apparently meeting with the managing director of the company and we are going to inspect the slab together. He will give me their engineers recomendations but i will also get a third party engineer to look.

Unfortunately i'm back at work on friday arvo and wont be back for another 21 days

I will keep everyone posted

Cheers

James

James when you meet with the M.D. of U.E, make sure you request an engineers report....IN WRITING, don't go on verbal conversations or recommendations.

Shame to hear that you paid the invoice, but, too late to worry about it now. Just get someone to inspect before you pay the next one i would suggest though. Would your builder or architect friend like to keep an eye on the bilding process while you are away for work perhaps????
Just a thought. :wink:

Any idea on when the meeting will be???

Keep us informed of how you're going.....

Good Luck.