Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 05, 2013 8:38 pm Hi, hoping to get your advice with a large problem we just encountered with building a new house. We purchased a 'home and land' package from a large project builder in south west Sydney. Only minor cosmetic changes were made and nothing structural. The builder boasted that they included a H class slab and that their slab is a full concrete slab and not waffle pod. We were charged import of fill and had allowance of 110 metres of piers. Engineering plans were designed for a 'P' classification. When they started the piers, there was problems in which they were not hitting the ground they needed and on advice from the engineers, piering stopped and holes refilled. The builder came back to us a week later and said the land was not suitable for their standard piers and slab and the engineers had to redesign piers and slab to a waffle pod to suit the 'P' classification, which they already knew about. As a result we got a bill for over $11,000 for redesign slab, remove fill which we paid to get it in there in the first place, pay the guys who started the piers and then fill them up. As this was a home and land package offered by the builder, knowing that the land is class 'P', I would have expected that they should have designed the most suited slab in the first place, rather than offer a standard product which may or may not have been suited. This would have saved us wasted money paying for fill and then having it taken away and for the guys who started the piers. I accept additional cost of piers over our allowance, but feel that if they had the correct slab for the land in the first place, the bill would not have been so much. Any feedback or advice is welcome as we are very disappointed with the builder, in the way that they wipe their hand clean of this and put all the blame onto the developers. Re: redesigned slab due to problems with piers 2Aug 06, 2013 9:24 am This sounds very unfortunate on your behalf and poor on the builders behalf. All in all, if the builder ordered the soil test, had the slab engineered and specified, there is little reason why they shouldn't have installed the appropriate slab that would withstand a P class soil type the first round. When the soil engineer drills for soil samples, it should indicate when they should hit stable ground. Based on the recommendations of the soil engineer, the structural engineer designs your slab. The builder then installs based on their specifications. This is why you pay a builder to do it because they should have better knowledge in this than you. You should not have to guess or wonder if what they are doing is correct... it should just be. Builders do tend to underestimate the slab requirement but account for the additional cost of an upgrade as a provisional sum (cost). Although this only makes sense if you know the cost will be higher BEFORE work commences. For work to commence and then they turn work it out is a right royal stuff up on their behalf. I wouldn't be surprised that all the builder is trying to bluff you into paying for their mistake. When you think about it, all they have done is sent you a piece of paper and spent 60c on a stamp. As for feedback: 1.) Re read your contract line for line and pay attention for anything about provisional costs or costs to be incurred by owner. Contracts are relatively specific about this. 2.) Immediately, call a construction lawyer. With $11,000 at stake, this is not small potatoes. If the builder digs their heels in, you will most likely end up in a small claims tribunal. 3.) Demand that the builder reverse the cost of piers and additional cost and instead charge only for the waffle slab. So not only is there $11k but ++++. Hopefully that helps. How good is Simeon?! Always taking time to help others out! Wish we were building in NSW and could work together. Thanks for all that you do! 7 6561 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair That’s very helpful information. Will find out more from there. Much appreciated. 11 13446 3 1372 |