Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 28, 2021 7:03 am Long time lurker, always enjoyed reading other people's advice and stories. I've hit a bit of a snag with my new build. Actually, a couple of snags. First one is in the kitchen: On all the diagrams from the builder, the cabinet maker and the description in the documentation has the kitchen sink with the bowls on the left and the drainer on the right. Except it has been installed in reverse. I raised it with the builder (over the phone) the day I saw it, which was mid last week. He said he'd go out and have a look at it the following day. I never heard back from him. This was before the plumber started doing his connections above and underneath the sink. The sink is a stone composite and has positions marked on both front and rear edges for the tap hole to be drilled.The cutout in the stone was also wrong for the sink to be the way it is supposed to be, so I'd say it couldn't be just pried off the stone and turned around. At this point, it would only have been that section of the stone benchtop that would need redoing. Now the plumber has come along and drilled his hole through the sink for the mixer, so now the sink would need to be replaced as well in order to fix this. I've now emailed him, so that it is all in writing, that we would really like this to be fixed and that I was hoping to have heard back from him before the plumber got to work. I'm expecting to be given excuses on why this can't/won't be fixed now. What are my options here? It's in the documentation that we all signed, its in the plans and described in the selections document as LHB (Left Hand Bowl), so I don't see how he can't have to fix this. And now today I've noticed that the driveway has been poured and they didn't do the cutout of the gutter crossover, which I paid $500 extra to have done! I don't want a refund on that; I want it done. But...I'm also not stupid. Cutting out the end of the driveway to fix it will mean the driveway will be 2 separate concrete slabs without reo holding them together and will move independently, which will end up looking crappy as soon as the soil begins to move a bit. What can I do with this one? Everything else has gone perfectly with this builder, I can't praise his work or his crew highly enough for the quality of their work, but now I'm really annoyed over these couple of things. To add to this, we have 1 month before we have to vacate the rental we are in presently, and there cannot be any extensions to that as the owner wants to sell and already extended us 4 and a half months for this build to finish. I can't delay settlement as we would be homeless! So what can I do in order to get the resolution I'm after? Re: Options when the builder makes a mistake? 2Mar 28, 2021 9:36 am Hey rileyD Welcome to the forum Pity someone didn't cross check the drawings, details and specification... mistakes happen A hold up or delay will impact on you moving in, not to forget the rental shortage and price increases in Perth. Once you take possession you have basically accepted the House as is or you can decline possession wait months for the Builder to fix the problems due to the trade shortages. Also, I doubt that it will be done quickly, if at all. If you lodge a consumer complaint you will be one of thousands waiting in line, (not to make excuses) the governments Home Builder Grant has made things even worse for the battlers and punters I'm guessing the regulators will be told to back off. Cheers Chris Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Options when the builder makes a mistake? 3Mar 28, 2021 10:14 pm The concrete would be dowelled together so no real issue there, no movement other than expansion which is a good thing. The kitchen is a problem, if you can live with it, iād say mistakes happen, frustrating but not the end of the world, you could probably force the builder to fix it however if it was really essential Re: Options when the builder makes a mistake? 4Mar 29, 2021 7:44 am Contact the Building Commission with details. Google for the application form. You have to give he builder 14 days notice before you lodge your complaint. Detail your complaint with photos and send those details off to the builder. Once the builder sees you are dinkum, they relent and do something. As a pensioner, to make the official complaint will only cost me $60, but it will be dearer for you. I'll look into different shower heads and ask the plumber about some engineering and see what he says. Thanks 2 9535 Unless there were unforeseeable issues with the site, I dont think you should have to pay for contractors errors or poor planning. I'd probably try and be reasonable and… 5 4504 |