Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 04, 2014 8:03 am Hi, One thing which I have learnt from reading this forum is avoid Provisional Allowances at all costs. Its stated in the Things you forget thread. Everywhere you read it says, "Ask them to remove PA", "They will blow out" etc etc So when I saw this PA for $3000 for Rock Excavation, I wasn't happy ! I have attached screenshots from the Geotech report which shows the levels at which soil/rock is present Site Classification and ys Levels Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Test sites on the Block Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Depth levels Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Contour Levels Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ ys Ranges as per Geotech report Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Provisional Allowances as per Tender :( Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Calculating all the levels, the Tender presenter said that the only place where rock could be a problem was the upper left corner. And that too while laying the stormwater drainage pipes by the Plumbers. They apparently go at around the same depth as rock found. He also mentioned the type of rock was gravelly and it could break by itself. How worried should I be ? I obviously want this price to be set at a capped amount, or even removed altogether. What can I do ? Re: Need advice with rock excavation allowance in Tender 2Jul 04, 2014 12:05 pm Most builders allow about $3000 for rock as they may come across some unexpected boulders. 2 small trial holes is an indication, not a guarantee that there will only be minimal rock. Just make sure that they tell you if rock is discovered. I saved money by asking them to leave boulders on site to be incorporated into my landscaping. See this link for a bit more background http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2012/08/con ... onal-sums/ The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Need advice with rock excavation allowance in Tender 3Jul 04, 2014 4:24 pm XW rock should not be a issue to excavate it is more clay than rock (extremely weathered) DW rock may be a bit more difficult but a reasonable sized excavator should get through it (distinctly weathered). The report says gentle slope (not very precise but any) so I assume you will need only a minor cut so I don't think you will hit the hard stuff.This sort of profile indicates that it is a sedimentary type rock so large boulders are usually unlikely ,this should be more like shale rock. There is alot of assumptions in what I have said but that's the way I would read it. Good news is that if you need piers because of the fiil and/or trees the weathered rock is ideal. Re: Need advice with rock excavation allowance in Tender 4Jul 04, 2014 4:46 pm Relax.............I'm building in Northam. In this town its not uncommon to pull rocks the size of Nissan Patrols out. We were lucky, not one rock. A neighbor on my other block in the town spent $20K over 3 days getting "big Boulders" out. The expense is the rock breaking equipment on hourly rate that and transporting them away. My brother in law has some contacts who owe him favors who own rock breakers so we were covered. Cap rock is the worst, just a solid sheet of rock You cant do anything about the rocks can you? 3 Grand is peanuts. Once again Relax.......................You said" He also mentioned the type of rock was gravelly and it could break by itself.".........go have a cuppa and some nice cake because it sounds like its not an issue at all. If you were seeing 6 tonne rocks being trucked away from neighbors sites.............then I'd expect to pay and provide a further contingency in addition to the provisional allowance. Its a standard allowance which in most cases is never required. Saving money on quality stuff done right firstime Our Build Thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=66810&p=1094349#p1094349 Re: Need advice with rock excavation allowance in Tender 5Jul 06, 2014 12:35 pm We had a $5,000 provision for rock and we were lucky we didn't hit any. Out next door neighbour put a pool in without hitting rock. The next neighbour hit rock the whole way down. The thing with rock is that it can be anywhere. If they have put a $3,000 I would say they have a rough idea that it will be very little. Thats why they dig deep enough during the soil tests. Re: Need advice with rock excavation allowance in Tender 6Jul 06, 2014 7:55 pm Thanks for all your replies guys. Its a wait and watch game. Hopefully shouldn't be more than $3000. We will certainly ask for invoices if they say rock excavation was required Hmmm, I have checked your past posts and it seems that you are in NSW, not WA as I had thought. It pays to show your State in your avatar. Retaining wall regulations… 5 7845 No one can give you a meaningful answer without looking at your building contract, what happened on site and who designed your house You should get experienced building… 1 10182 |