Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Oct 29, 2008 12:41 pm Hi guys,
I'm a newbie to this forum and my husband and I are contemplating a project managed type of arrangement from lock up stage. We would like to build a period style house and the builder we are considering atm, Harkaway Homes, does not do the floors. I'm fairly confident about organising the internal stuff after lockup, but I really feel uneasy about coordinating the site preparation, slab and underground plumbing. My guess is that these people would need kind of work together ??? Can someone walk me through their site prep, plumbing and slab stage??? I really feel like just getting a builder to do the whole lot but I just won't get those extra special bits I want (without paying the earth!!!) Hope you kwim!! Jacki Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab sta 2Oct 29, 2008 2:38 pm Jacki Hi guys, I'm a newbie to this forum and my husband and I are contemplating a project managed type of arrangement from lock up stage. We would like to build a period style house and the builder we are considering atm, Harkaway Homes, does not do the floors. I'm fairly confident about organising the internal stuff after lockup, but I really feel uneasy about coordinating the site preparation, slab and underground plumbing. My guess is that these people would need kind of work together ??? Can someone walk me through their site prep, plumbing and slab stage??? I really feel like just getting a builder to do the whole lot but I just won't get those extra special bits I want (without paying the earth!!!) Hope you kwim!! Jacki hey jacki you need to organize the site to be string lined out 1st you can ring a builder to come do this for you.then ring a plumber and electrician to come do the underground plumbing and electrical services.next is get a concreter to lay the slab.you can do it on your own but it takes time.you dont need a builder for the whole job you can get them to organize the plumbing electrical and slab pouring but it will cost. but if you want it done quick then probably a good idea for you.also if you need any excavating or site clearing and any termite barriers so a bit invovled but once sorted its doable. love to hear how you do with harkaway their homes are beautiful Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 4Oct 29, 2008 8:35 pm This is how it works....
1. Site scrape or cut 1st 2. Building surveyor to set out the site and mark the boundries. Better get them as they do this all day, every day. Builders can and do get it wrong. 3. Plumbers in to put in storm water and sewerage 4. If you are getting underground power, then sparky. If not don't worry about a sparky at this stage. 5. Termite barrier depending on what sort of slab and if required 6. Inspector comes out to inspect site before slab is poured 7. Slab depending on what sort of slab, deigned according to engineers edit: if you need a stiffened raft slab there is a bit of additional work involved. e.g. digging, packing sand. If you are getting a builder to build to lock up they will take care of all this stuff for you. Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 5Oct 30, 2008 6:30 pm I love the Harkaway homes.... Talk to them, they've always offered plenty of advice, and I thought they stood the frame, clad and roofed as part of the buy package? Electrical Engineer... Don't hold that against me... And keen owner builder... Mainly the building part!! Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 6Oct 30, 2008 8:04 pm Agreed, that seems bizarre that they won't put the slab down.
On your set out (Step 2 from Minx) you simply need companies that do Site set outs - not building surveyors. Building surveyors are the inspectors, Land surveyors can do set outs but don't get a land surveyor to do it - get one of the specialised companys to do it and it should cost no more than $500 Builders are people too.... Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 7Oct 30, 2008 8:52 pm builda Agreed, that seems bizarre that they won't put the slab down. On your set out (Step 2 from Minx) you simply need companies that do Site set outs - not building surveyors. Building surveyors are the inspectors, Land surveyors can do set outs but don't get a land surveyor to do it - get one of the specialised companys to do it and it should cost no more than $500 we used a liscenced builder cost us $40.00 that was just the setout for the house i checked and triple checked all seemed fine. Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 8Oct 31, 2008 12:29 am Hi Jackie,
just a couple of other things to add, putting in profiles is not rocket science but certainly don't try to do it urself first up- but regardless who does it for u, when its done check for square urself - its soooo important that buildings are exactly square - sounds silly, but many are not! it is VERY important that nobody touches the profiles once they are in, people unfamiliar with building have been known to knock them over & then bang something back in not knowing that these are set to a level - i've seen that happen & not be picked up ... also once the profiles are in, be sure YOU find out from whoever does them that you know exactly to what level these are set for - ie to top of slab usually, but again i've seen profiles set to a few different levels & it can get a bit confusing. i dont know the requirements in ur state, but here we are required to have soil test before we start, this then decides whats needed to go under the footings & slab (ie depth of sand fill etc) if sand is required u will need a compaction test after the sand is put down - all this be4 u start setting up profiles etc. as Minx says in 3) go over the plan VERY carefully with plumber about floor waste from wet areas, toilet ,shower & bath outlets - some toilet outlets can go thru walls, he will need to set all this up prior to slab pour. also check if u have any island kitchen benches, u'd be surprised how many slabs have to have a cement saw put thru a new slab to get water, drainage & power to an island bench & not just o/b's!!!! cheers Tony. Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 10Oct 31, 2008 8:12 am Thanks everyone for the information.
Maybe I'm reading their info wrong re the floors. Here's a quote from an information package I received: Quote: FLOORS: Because the floor is an unknown quantity, it is not included in the price, for example the floor might be a concrete slab etc. However, Harkaway Homes fully assist with your floor design, drafting, setout and installer location." I took that to mean that they will draw it up and give instructions but that they want the slab etc in place before they come and put up the frame. I just don't want to waste their time as we probably won't do anything until early next year, and then we've got to find a block, soil test etc etc etc!! Maybe I should give them a call to clear this up in my head! I don't think we will be trying to do anything ourselves - which is why this bit has got me worried - I want someone to do it for me lol!!! I don't want to have to work it out lol! Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 11Oct 31, 2008 10:28 am Jacki Thanks everyone for the information. Maybe I'm reading their info wrong re the floors. Here's a quote from an information package I received: Quote: FLOORS: Because the floor is an unknown quantity, it is not included in the price, for example the floor might be a concrete slab etc. However, Harkaway Homes fully assist with your floor design, drafting, setout and installer location." I took that to mean that they will draw it up and give instructions but that they want the slab etc in place before they come and put up the frame. I just don't want to waste their time as we probably won't do anything until early next year, and then we've got to find a block, soil test etc etc etc!! Maybe I should give them a call to clear this up in my head! I don't think we will be trying to do anything ourselves - which is why this bit has got me worried - I want someone to do it for me lol!!! I don't want to have to work it out lol! jaki give harkaway a call hun they can organize all the floor for you even the slab if thats what you want.what they mean is some people want slabs some want stumps and usually that depends on the block of land you have wether its level or hilly. seeing you dont even have a block of land yet then that may be the 1st step to worry about before you worry about a floor as you wont really know what floor to use till you have your land. a slab is great if land is relatively flat but if you get into excavation and site fills ect...then your talking money to do a slab. gl jaki Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 12Nov 04, 2008 8:33 pm Be very careful - that is like buying a car without wheels! I repeat, what a bizarre clause to put in a contract or specification. If they are a builder then they simply need to provide the floors otherwise the guarantees will be very difficult to set up and enforce.
Again, be careful. Builders are people too.... Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 13Nov 05, 2008 12:42 pm builda Be very careful - that is like buying a car without wheels! I repeat, what a bizarre clause to put in a contract or specification. If they are a builder then they simply need to provide the floors otherwise the guarantees will be very difficult to set up and enforce. Again, be careful. from my understanding harkaway are a kit home manufacturer not actual builders but they can get tradies to put it up for you Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 14Nov 07, 2008 9:27 pm Therein ****** the problem - half the job done!
Building consists of labour, materials, plant and sub contractors. If a kit home 'builder' is only providing the materials then they are only delivering a quarter of the true builders responsibility. Again, be very careful because what sounds like a great deal can actually be a nightmare. Builders are people too.... Re: 15May 14, 2009 11:30 pm Minx This is how it works.... 1. Site scrape or cut 1st 2. Building surveyor to set out the site and mark the boundries. Better get them as they do this all day, every day. Builders can and do get it wrong. 3. Plumbers in to put in storm water and sewerage 4. If you are getting underground power, then sparky. If not don't worry about a sparky at this stage. 5. Termite barrier depending on what sort of slab and if required 6. Inspector comes out to inspect site before slab is poured 7. Slab depending on what sort of slab, deigned according to engineers edit: if you need a stiffened raft slab there is a bit of additional work involved. e.g. digging, packing sand. If you are getting a builder to build to lock up they will take care of all this stuff for you. Are plumbers and electricians likelly to knock down the marks/pegs? Also does step 1 (cut) refer to excavation of the footings? One of the plumbing quotes I've got says: It is a condition of this quotation that the sewer drain is laid through the garage BEFORE the excavation of any footings. What exactly does this mean Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 16May 15, 2009 8:10 am Basicially it sounds like you are hiring more than one plumber, therefor the 2nd one wants to ensure than there is provision for the storm water pipe to be layed underneath the garage floor. This is so the downpipes in the rear can be broought to the front. This is espically inportant if your garage is on the boundary and have no other means to route the storm water to the front for connection into the grid. Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 17May 15, 2009 7:11 pm borg Basicially it sounds like you are hiring more than one plumber, therefor the 2nd one wants to ensure than there is provision for the storm water pipe to be layed underneath the garage floor. This is so the downpipes in the rear can be broought to the front. This is espically inportant if your garage is on the boundary and have no other means to route the storm water to the front for connection into the grid. Hmmm. No, we only want one plumber Re: Can someone please talk me through the plumbing/slab stage? 19May 15, 2009 7:45 pm Do you think that maybe what he meant was just to make sure we dont make a start on the footings until he has sorted out his piping? :S Thanks for your advice. So far i have not noticed any issues with doors and windows. Builder advised they will organise drainers to inspect 2 weeks ago but no further… 7 18788 yep sounds good make the footing bigger to to allow for the pipe in the middle 3 7320 Hi When it rains in a particular direction water comes through the security door. It hits the main door and the bottom swells and jams. There is already a cover over the… 0 38444 |