Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 28, 2013 8:37 am Hi all. We are reaching the end of our build process (PCI done....final invoice/payment due). At the outset, we were advised of an engineer advice that the front of the house required a root-barrier to protect from some native small trees/shrubs on the nature strip (we have a closer setback to front via council approval). Our plans and final drawings signed as part of the contract do not specify any root barrier or slab changes to meet this recommendation. We were advised in site costs (part of contract) a $2,200 cost for the root barrier. Roll forward to end of construction - and we could not see or find (weekly site visits by us) any evidence of a concrete barrier being placed in front of the slab. At PCI we queries this prior to final invoice being sent to us. The response I got from the builder yesterday is: "As discussed previously a tree root barrier was required to the front of your home due to the location of the nearby trees. This has been done by increasing the depth of the footing which will stop tree roots growing under your new home which may cause damage to the slab." Without this being on plans - and with photos taken of the waffle slab in construction by us (can't see anything re: deeper footings???) - how can we prove/disprove this charge - or work having been done? Also the $2,200 represents 12% of the cost of our "base" component of our overall slab stage payment. Is something amiss here? Thanks. Sheeds Re: Question on Builder charge for root barrier via slab cha 2Aug 28, 2013 9:10 am We were originally supposed to have a root barrier but eliminated it due to cost - the one and only tree on the nature strip had to be removed anyway because we moved the crossover. At the time we were told by the engineer and builder that there were two types of commonly used root barrier: 1. A reinforced concrete cut of wall 2000mm deep with root inhibitor placed at the base of the trench. Nominally 150mm thick. This would cost around $ 4,150 plus GST 2. A high density polyethylene plastic sheet placed in a trench and backfilled with a concrete slurry. It is also recommended to place root inhibitor at the base of the trench. Nominally the trench is 100mm thick and 2000mm deep. This would cost around $ 5350 plus GST. Neither of these sound like what you have but yours is cheaper. Hopefully one of the builders on here can weigh in with an opinion. Re: Question on Builder charge for root barrier via slab cha 3Aug 28, 2013 9:32 am Thanks...not sure if we have been hoodwinked on this one 1 6601 If you already have a contract, is the inspection cost stated in there? If not they would be forced to issue you a variation which you could of course object to. 12 25826 Hi, I had a barrier reef pool installed less that 2 years ago and the gel coat is already fading. The colour is electric grey shimmer which isn’t available… 0 3805 |