Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Mar 30, 2012 7:30 pm Hi everyone - this is my 1st H1 post and I hope I've added it in the correct forum ... We are building in them thar hills in Victoria - our build is way behind (4 mths) and so far the only good thing about it is that we are fortunate to have a very understanding and proactive SS but his hands are tired in certain areas .... Today I found out that our builder won't let us have the ducted vac system put in during build time and say that if we want it installed they are the ones who have to do it (OH&S reasons we've been told) - as it is their quote is close to double the one that we were going to use and is unacceptable! I spoke to our vacc person and he says that is can be done after handover but will cost extra and that the piping will then go into a wardrobe or such but I'm concerned about losing space this way ... Does anyone have any advice or experience with installing after construction is done? TIA ... Re: Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed .. 2Mar 30, 2012 7:47 pm Normally ducted vac systems are installed around the same time as other services such as plumbing and wiring, prior to plastering as they need to run the piping and outlets through the frame work, I would be getting further advice re the OH & S, sounds like bollocks to me. Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed ... 3Mar 30, 2012 10:02 pm Not sure how it will be done after hand over. I wanted wall niche in the bathrooms but builder won't do them and refused another trade access to the house in case he damaged the house in the process, I was very disappointed but understood. Sadly I won't get them as I can't have them fitted after hand over as it would end up costing thousands as the job would be huge. Is it worth paying extra through the builder to get exactly what you want? Jasmin Hickinbotham Belmont - modified Signed: February 2011 Slab should go down before 2012 My build thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=52310&p=799483#p799483 Re: Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed .. 4Apr 26, 2012 8:31 pm Wall Niche are easy to do for any builder, makes me wonder what they are thinking... As for the Ducted vac system, My boss fitted his own inconjunction with his builder. Nothing difficult about it as its all basic plumbing. Re: Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed .. 5May 05, 2012 9:52 pm Our builder wanted to charge close to $2,500 for a ducted vacuum system that was quite a standard system when we knew we could get a better quality and spec system for around $1,500. Our builder had no problems allowing us to bring in our own contractor, we had to have our guy fill in forms with his insurance details etc and they approved him to work on site. Our SS is liaising with him on when to come in etc so we haven't had to do a thing. The same guy is also doing our intercom and security system which made it easy to have it all done through one person. The other reason we looked at getting someone else to do it is because we wanted a vacpan (ducted dustpan in your kitchen kickboard) and the builder's system didn't include that and they wouldn't change their system. Personally I wanted the vacpan more than the vacuum system itself so it was a deal breaker. Em Re: Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed .. 6May 07, 2012 1:31 pm Some builders will not allow other companies on site, some will with the necessary paperwork. Are you building on a slab or stumps? If slab then it can be installed after but not in all cases. Can you ask for only the pipework to be installed, saying in case you want it in the future. Pipework is $66 a point so is the cheapest part of the installation. You could then put in the machine of your choice after? Re: Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed .. 7May 07, 2012 1:53 pm Your builder is a trying it on. That having been said we recently got caught out with damage to a very expensive emporite painted bar in one of our architectural homes where the clients subcontractors had been all over the site. None of them were asked to replace the damage, so i can see why soem guys lock them out. @builderforlife Building inspector and passionate about construction When you need an expert to take a look. Re: Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed .. 8May 07, 2012 1:55 pm As far as i know they are well within their rights to refuse anyone other than their approved contractors entry to the job site. Someone correct me if i am wrong but you basically give up the rights to accessing your own block of land/house during the construction of the home and everything must go through the builder/SS. If you want access you need to ask for it and its entirely up to the builder if they will allow it. They are also within their rights asking for a fee if they allow outside workers/contractors to carry out work on their build site Re: Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed .. 9May 07, 2012 3:42 pm our builder let my Son come in and put all the air conditioner ducts in the roof. But wouldnt allow the plaster to b cut until we moved in. At least we got the ducts in though. Ducted vac is best done prior to handover. We decided against ducted vac and instead bought a dyson, lol best vac I have ever used. Re: Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed .. 10Jul 06, 2012 7:37 pm builderforlife Your builder is a trying it on. That having been said we recently got caught out with damage to a very expensive emporite painted bar in one of our architectural homes where the clients subcontractors had been all over the site. None of them were asked to replace the damage, so i can see why soem guys lock them out. I too understand that problems can arise from having outside trades onsite but in this case it's refusal on the grounds of suing for damages if they injure themselves - I tried to tell them that all the trades I've wanted to hire have the appropriate insurance paperwork, etc but they still won't have it ... I'm of the firm belief that the only reason they don't want anyone else on site is more for the fact that they don't get their builder's % on the job because they're working for us in effect. We're doing our own kitchen, the flooring, driveway and verandah paving - this will all have to be done after handover - sigh Re: Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed .. 11Jul 06, 2012 8:59 pm BradS is right 100% As a builder i would not allow it on the grounds that I would take the risk of another contractor coming to site for no economic benefit to me. Builderforlife summed up nicely what can happen. Yes builder is in charge, he is the captain. You can come and visit as the owner at any reasonable time to view progress but not to carry out work. For those of you who think this is harsh "tough luck" However if you are astute, you will invest few hundred dollars in independent pre contract consultation to review your contract before you sign it and whilst you still have negotiating power you can insert special condition which will allow you to bring your separate contractor. It also may pick up other things, perhaps unfair terms and open your eyes to adjustments and refunds. Having said all that you can still be nice to the builder and he may relent. 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: Builder won't allow ducted vac system to be installed .. 12Jul 07, 2012 8:51 am Thanks for your replies and advice everyone ... Our house is at lockup now and slowly slowly moving along - and we have no intention of getting the builder or our new SS offside, well not deliberately anyhow ... Just btw we do have our own independent inspector for framing, pre-plaster and handover inspections ... Sunny weekend coming up The unit normally clips into a metal plate screwed to the wall, either plate is not flush, or unit not hooked in and could be hanging from the pipes partly, either might… 2 15791 We already paid for somfy motors for the blinds. The quote above was purely for “pre-wiring” so the blinds company can install the motors and blinds. 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