Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 17, 2015 2:18 am Hi all Just wondering firstly if any developers or those with building experience could address this question, followed by anyone else who has done their soakwells too ( mainly as I"m trying to get some input from a developers/builders POV as there may be some items that the everyday person doesn't see or take into account). Basically wondering if one shoudl do their soakwells through the builder or themselves say through a third party quote post-handover? Assuming post-handover as builders these days in WA tend to disallow contractors that aren't their own onto their site until after handover these days. Obviously the builders may charge close to 6k for say 4 concrete soakwells (say 1500 x 900s), whereas it seems this can be done for around 3.5-4k through a third party. They're the propypolyne ones (sorry can't spell it) if done third party. Just wonder what the obvious implications are of doing it at the builder versus afterwards? Is the building better protected from mishaps if the builder does it too i.e. if the installation is faulty and it affects your house footings and in 5 years time thigns goto hell woudl you have more coverage through the builder given they installed it originalyl via their contractor? Is there anything in terms of design , levelling lot and construction phase where doing the soakwells during construction by the builder beats the third party? One boutiquie builder once told me that there was alot of thought and planning/process that went into soakwells via the builder than the everyday person thought about in terms of site leveling, access and other issues? Obviously it's alot cheaper by the third party... my builder drew in the 4 soakwells to be at the front of the lot anyhow, so I'm wondering if this is done by a third party site access would be easier? My lot is pretty cosy so my house is going to be built right up to the 1.5m setbacks from the back/sides so obviously no huge australian backyard to not have to worry about excavators putting in soakwells around the back/sides. The front will be paved and driveway laid by builder, so the one soakwells they planned to put in there would not be doable by a third party contractor given they come on site post-handover. Any thoughts and advice? Is it a no brainer/difference apart from saving a heck of alot of money by going third party? In which case can anyone recommend a tried and tested/used soakwell company that does your soakwells or preferably usualyl does the soakwells for the large companies anyway? I'm perth based. Cheers, Re: Soakwells - Builder or 3rd Party Post-Handover? 2Sep 17, 2015 2:38 pm I have personally paid for the builder to do it. From what I understand, if you do it yourself post handover, you would usually put the smaller soakwells in vs the huge concrete ones. Even if you can put the huge concrete ones, you would have to dig quite deep on the front and back which I would rather not after the house has been built. Also, if you did dig quite deep and there are any issues with the house structurally, the builder might have something to blame on. In short, I don't want to take the risk and paid the price for it. There is another similar thread recently - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=77579&p=1362922&hilit=soakwell#p1362922 Re: Soakwells - Builder or 3rd Party Post-Handover? 3Sep 17, 2015 3:03 pm From what I understand from one third party contractor - they said it would be poly if after handover as the concrete ones are only done with an excavator at slab stage etc. (basically when there's no building up and risk of damage). The size seems to be similar - 1500 x 900 poly quoted as opposed to my builder putting up concrete. The contractor reckons the poly ones are just as sustainable and non-degradable as the concrete and actually have better flow/usage than the concrete. With concrete cited as only being used by builders to prevent third party utilities coming in after their installation (gas, electriciy, water etc) and digging and damaging poly material soakwells, whereas with concrete it'll scratch but never break. Given my soakwells are on the front setback (minimum of 4 metres-4.5 metres, assumedly the soakwells are away from the footings. So if they're doing poly at the front only (given my sides and back only just meet near the 1.5 m setback regulations , so no room to move and therefore I doubt they'd try to sink one at the back) wouldn't I be safe from structural/footings risks? Your right though the builder may hit you on it as an excuse for faults... be keen to hear if anyone with building or developing background has an opinion. Who's playing smoke and mirrors/scare tactics? The price diff is quite substantial... currently 3.5k quoted for the 4 x 1500 x 900 style polys versus the $6k provisional amount for 4 x concretes of the same 1500 x 900 - which my sales rep reckons it will largely be used up by the builder. Re: Soakwells - Builder or 3rd Party Post-Handover? 4Sep 17, 2015 3:35 pm SaberX Your right though the builder may hit you on it as an excuse for faults... be keen to hear if anyone with building or developing background has an opinion. Who's playing smoke and mirrors/scare tactics? The price diff is quite substantial... currently 3.5k quoted for the 4 x 1500 x 900 style polys versus the $6k provisional amount for 4 x concretes of the same 1500 x 900 - which my sales rep reckons it will largely be used up by the builder. I am surprised you are given a provisional sum and not an actual figure. I would press for an actual figure cause I don't understand how hard is it to estimate digging for soakwells. They must have done it lots of times anyway. Re: Soakwells - Builder or 3rd Party Post-Handover? 6Sep 29, 2015 1:14 am Just a *bump*. No one else with an opinion or anyone who works with the builders/development side of things who can offer whether doing soakwells through the builder is the safer/recommended outcome versus a third party contractor post-handover? Only another two days until pre-start so I need to make a decision by then unfortunately... It seems very clear to me that your contract states that a security account does NOT need to be established so the answer to the builder is NO. If in doubt find a contract… 1 8510 2 31355 If there have been changes, variations, during construction then the drawings should be revised, the building permit amended and the current, as built drawings given to… 2 4490 |