Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Oct 28, 2015 2:54 pm I am currently building a new home and i am nearing the PCI stage, now i have a few issues with the quality of workmanship and my site supervisor basically says thats the way we do it here mate, anything i ask its the same stupid answer. So they installed 3 lights in the wrong position on my newly laid ceiling, i now have 3 holes that haven't been mended yet but i am insisting that the builder put in a new ceiling as it was there mistake and i dint pay 100's of 1000's of $ to have a patch work ceiling. This isn't the only issue i also have one where they have put in the wrong ceiling extractor fan and now the new one is in, there are massive holes. Now i dont think this is good enough for a brand new build, was looking for some feedback has anyone been in this position before? and if so what was the outcome? Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 2Oct 28, 2015 2:55 pm Also how do you attach pictures to show you what i mean?? Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 4Oct 28, 2015 3:01 pm I'm trying to stand my ground but from a legal or even the departmant of builders commerce, DO i have a case? I'm i right? I have read on this forum before somewhere that if the defect cant be seen from 1.5m away then it is within building codes and practices. Just looking for advice before i have to shell out even more money to get myself heard. Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 5Oct 28, 2015 6:38 pm who are you building with?At the end of the day they can not force you to sign off the house.STAND YOUR GROUND.If your not happy with the house tell them you will not sign.You need make sure they deliver what they have promised and what you have payed for.Ask them will the ceo of the company have this in his house?Why should have this in my house.They will tell you everything is in tolerance.Dont take that answer.even if its in tolerance and it doesn't look right,he needs to get fixed.remember this if it doesn't look right its not right.They tried tolerance word on me and I told them well it doesn't look right and to fix and that I will not pay the payment until im happy with the house and you give me what s on the contract,Including Workmanship. Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 6Oct 28, 2015 6:44 pm Im in this position atm.My handover was supposed to be a month ago.They are still fixing my house.Ripped up my front driveway,floor tiles in shower areas,repainting the house and the list goes on.GET A BUILDING INSPECTOR IF YOU DONT HAVE ONE.They are worth every cent.They can help you too.Also with the last payment get a cheque,do not do electronic transfer.Once you have your handover day ,go over the house again and if your happy you give them the cheque and if your not happy tell them to fix everything or they wont getting the cheque. You need to be in control and have the power. Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 7Oct 29, 2015 8:32 am Building inspectors can find faults you can't but can't make your builder do anything about them (that's our job). It is draining/tiring/unpleasant but if you want a sound/quality house, you need to speak up. Put it all in writing. Keep brief and factual (keep your emotions in check. Good luck. You can do it. You just need to think through your approach and go with it. We will all approach differently. Do what works for you. But yes -- stand your ground. Best advice. Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 8Oct 29, 2015 10:11 am So to understand this. Do you expect them to rip out the whole ceiling in that room, including cornice, fix, set and paint, instead of patching over three holes? With all due respect, Seriously? Just ask them to provide a guarantee in writing that if they patch it up it can't be seen and meets the tolerances. Even ask them to cut in a new piece of gyprock between the joists around the holes might be reasonable. Things happen in builds all the time - tradies knock a hole in the wall with a ladder etc. Being reasonable about the solutions both ways helps. And IMO replacing a ceiling over a few holes is not being reasonable. Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 9Oct 29, 2015 12:30 pm ART, To be honest i would expect them to replace the whole ceiling, but i know that will never happen, what i would prefer them to do is replace the piece that is damaged as opposed to just filling the wholes with plaster or how ever they do there patch work. i was trying to upload photos to show as this isn't the only damage to the ceiling there is bits and pieces everywhere. But at the same point with all due respect if you went to spent a lot of money to buy a new car and it was damaged and the salesman turned round to you and said don't worry mate well patch it up you wont see the damage would you want to pay for it? Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 10Oct 29, 2015 12:40 pm FEV, Sounds like your having a nightmare, i've been battling with them from the start, there seems to be a lack off communication between site supervisor and there main office. I'm building with switch homes. I have all ready had them replace the ceiling in the garage as it wasnt what was on my contract and when i questioned the site supervisor about this he said well i dont know how i missed that what we put up is usually standard for all homes. Then they installed the wrong kitchen sink 3 times which delayed me 9 weeks but during that time they never did any other work to the house and there was plenty off work to do. Thanks for the advice i have all ready contacted for an inspector for the PCI, I just sort of wished i payed for one right from the start off the build, cause i'm sure there is some stuff that has been missed and covered up that i cant change. Live and learn, there is so much i have learnt from this build and if i was to build again i would have a better footing towards the whole process Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 11Oct 29, 2015 2:27 pm We all live and learn.We are human at the end of the day.Just stand firm go to the top if you need to.Gblack remember its your money and its ur house.You have every right to tell them to them what you want.My build has been a nightmare.I went straight to the top and now things are getting done.Who are you building with and what area? Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 12Oct 29, 2015 2:28 pm Gblack1984 ART, To be honest i would expect them to replace the whole ceiling, but i know that will never happen, what i would prefer them to do is replace the piece that is damaged as opposed to just filling the wholes with plaster or how ever they do there patch work. i was trying to upload photos to show as this isn't the only damage to the ceiling there is bits and pieces everywhere. But at the same point with all due respect if you went to spent a lot of money to buy a new car and it was damaged and the salesman turned round to you and said don't worry mate well patch it up you wont see the damage would you want to pay for it? Definitely understand where you are coming from and we all want the best house possible. If you're getting them to replace a piece of gyprock, you will have a number of butt joints which if not done well and blocked up, can be unsightly as well. I think though, until houses are manufactured in factories by robots or 3d printing, mistakes will happen and you have to choose your battles as to which to pursue to the nth degree. If it were a hole in a benchtop or front door I'd be livid, because they can't be patched up properly and it's always look like a second rate job - but gyprock is designed to be set, and therefore patched to invisibility. So you can see it from the builders side that way as well. Sounds like you've had a lot of problems with the build, and hence you don't have much goodwill with the builder left, which is fair enough.... Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 13Nov 06, 2015 4:52 am Learn to compromise. Pick your battles, you can't win them all. We are the same, our handover has been delayed 2x unofficially and 2x officially due to a combination of works not upto the quality we expect and negligence by contractors on site. Our glass splashback had to be ripped out 2x, re-do entire kitchen benchtop and island benchtop, re-tile a number of tiles in the wet areas, rip out my frameless shower screens and replace all4 corner stacker door leaf. Mine is a nightmare too but, i chose which battles i fought and won them all at the expense of my time and money. At the end of the day despite the delays and stress my goal to have a quality home I deserve is what matters to me. Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 14Nov 06, 2015 6:20 am I'm in a similar position, our handover is in 2 weeks and I've just discovered that 2 aircon vents have been placed in the wrong position. 1st one they placed directly above the island bench where my pendant lights are supposed to be going. The 2nd vent in the family room was placed in the very centre of the room where the light is supposed to be. My builder was apologetic when I brought the issue to him and has agreed they need to be moved. My expectation is that they will cut out a large section, replace the gyprock and repaint. I don't expect them to replace the entire ceiling. Its not ideal but I'm realistic in my expectations. Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 15Nov 06, 2015 8:34 am They will not replace the ceiling. They should cut a large piece of gyprock or wood between joists in roof then secure that down to the other side of ceiling gyprock to give a solid base they will then screw or plaster glue a piece almost the same size as the hole even better if a hole and they have the piece they removed. Then they will patch the 1mm around and smooth over. You won't even notice they have done it. Pick your battles this wouldn't be one I'd be worrying about. I had two down lights out wrong place they repaired as above and you would never know. I also repaired a aircon duct hole the same way. Again you would never know. Re: Am in the right or wrong regarding the quality of work? 16Nov 06, 2015 8:42 am Here is my downlight patch. You can not tell it has been repaired we are extremely fussy and wouldn't accept if you could. That fix is what is reasonable for a builder to do. http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b38/njectme/ebay%20fittings/54C57A91-2B2D-4DD3-B312-D0A282E5E64B_zpsefh2ye9s.jpg i would not be signing anything on the day read your contract about when builder submits final invoice generally, have to meet builder within 7 days of receiving final… 1 4747 Hi All, Recently we have signed a contract with Burbank and we are not aware that they have just DORSET, SURREY, HAMPSHIRE, KENT, PILBARA and REDGUM bricks from PGH are… 0 3164 Thank you @. Tried to play with the facade models but the exact colour is not matching up. 2 3273 |