Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 15, 2018 2:28 pm Please help!!! First time home builder needing advice....Today we went and looked at our site cut and I’m so upset. I really didn’t understand the whole site works side of things. I just made it clear I did not want to be in a hole (we have a fall at the front of our land) and be looking at huge retaining walls and wanted to work with the conture of the land. I just don’t feel like that’s happened. I know the slab isn’t in so this will raise us by 400mm but what would u do... should I speak to the site supervisor and see if we can make the slab 600mm- what’s the cost in this? Any advice would be soooo appreciated. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Site works advice needed 2Jul 15, 2018 8:09 pm What the, did they tell you this before the house was built? Once the site is cut, you need to fill it back up. and it is going to be costly as natural soil that's been compacted over 0000s of years is much denser than dumping a whole bunch of soil with lots of air pockets to fill it back up again. You would need some kind of controlled fill which is $$s. You can['t just make your concrete beams taller, it doesn't work that way. You need to replace the soil first for your concrete to sit on. For falls like this, you would either need a step down in the middle of the house or a classic bearers and joist type foundation which is mega $$s and something major builders won't do at all. You are looking at multi 5 figures to sort this mess out. Re: Site works advice needed 3Jul 16, 2018 9:50 am First get copies of all your contract Documents, Contour surveys, geotech reports & Engineering Unfortunately, The SS is not an expert Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Site works advice needed 4Jul 16, 2018 9:55 am StructuralBIMGuy First get copies of all your contract Documents, Contour surveys, geotech reports & Engineering Unfortunately, The SS is not an expert Thanks fo your reply.. I really can’t understand them but it seems what they’ve done is what was documented/ planned 😞 I just intrusted the builder had found the best way to work with our land but seems not a lot of thought was put into it... They are thinking of increasing the slab height from 400 to 600mm. I’m not even sure if this will really make a big difference though. Re: Site works advice needed 5Jul 16, 2018 10:07 am Sounds like a failure in communications.. the builder will find the cheapest option to build and it may not necessarily be the best option,you will need to scrutinise the Engineering & Costings. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Site works advice needed 6Jul 16, 2018 9:29 pm Thanks for the reply... the builder wants to increase the slab height to 525mm I’m really not sure if this is the most appropriate option? What are the cons in doing this? Re: Site works advice needed 7Jul 17, 2018 3:11 pm If you had a pre contract review with a competent building consultant then the relationship between site and house levels would have been explained to you and now you would not be having a problem because you would have been able to get back to the builder and review the design levels. Many times I have had owners come to me for pre contract only to find that the builder did not listen to what they wanted and that what was on plans is completely or substantially different to what they expected. Needless to say they didn't sign. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Site works advice needed 8Jul 17, 2018 3:30 pm building-expert If you had a pre contract review with a competent building consultant then the relationship between site and house levels would have been explained to you and now you would not be having a problem because you would have been able to get back to the builder and review the design levels. Many times I have had owners come to me for pre contract only to find that the builder did not listen to what they wanted and that what was on plans is completely or substantially different to what they expected. Needless to say they didn't sign. Thanks for your reply... I totally agree.. Expensive lesson learnt on my behalf. I thought I made it clear what I was wanting and just entrusted they had translated this into the plans. I should had someone review the site plan who could understand it review it before signing it off. Any advice on how to fix it 😔? Re: Site works advice needed 9Jul 17, 2018 4:03 pm Change the design to timber floor frame on stumps and strip footing Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Site works advice needed 10Jul 17, 2018 6:08 pm building-expert Change the design to timber floor frame on stumps and strip footing And for a 30sq home what could be the approx cost for this? Re: Site works advice needed 11Jul 18, 2018 9:00 am Those levels & that cut and fill is nonsense they are just burying Concrete & Bricks (@$200/m3 material cost while fill is only $30m3) The optimised engineering solution would have been to step the footing and use fill..."why dig so deep on the up slope?" Ask your Builder that question? hth Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Site works advice needed 12Jul 25, 2018 3:16 pm building-expert Change the design to timber floor frame on stumps and strip footing Branco, You should have a look at Adren Homes Inspections. Place a comment as you are affected? Re: Site works advice needed 13Aug 01, 2018 7:56 am To raise the slab height, the builder will lay crusher dust and put the plastic over it to the height required. Then he will set out the slab and pour. No big deal. If you really hate it and decide to sue etc, you could fill it then use screw piers to natural ground under your slab if you don't want to pay for controlled fill. Screw piers will be expensive though. The contract probably had all that in it ie finished levels, ground levels etc. Maybe get your own survey done? Or maybe it isn't as bad as you think? Re: Site works advice needed 14Aug 01, 2018 8:08 am Dear All, As per building regulation VIC 302, the plans must has a FFL (Finished Floor Level) clearly detailed. If not there are good reasons to take action.If no FFL is present and it is clearly not discernible, then the building permit could be challenged as the FFL is part of the building permit requirements prior to issuing the permit. Note that this regulation is in most state systems and may be in a different location in that states legislation. If the builder and the owners have entered a HIA VIC contract, the section 16 of the contract outlines the order of what takes precedent in relation to documented measurements. Most other states have the same condition, in a different part of the contract. I agree with the building expert, Branco. However if you need help now to look at all options, depending on which state, call an expert. For Victoria and Queensland, try Darbecca. 5367 2111. In other states you will need to do some research. MBA and HIA both have sub contract agreements, check them out 2 7450 I want to build a bigger driveway (without a nature strip) than has been approved under my CDC. I’ve also had a DA approved to build a deck. It looks like I can do this… 0 4889 Fair Trading can issue orders to rectify and complete but once the matter goes to NCAT these orders are automatically vacated. You will have to terminate contract and sue… 21 29939 |