You may have noticed my absence from the forum lately…..if you did…shucks…if you didn't….you didn't miss much.
My work project (the one that pays for the mortgage) is about to get a major injection of moola from the Government, with that I've been given a whole bunch more responsibility….scary thought!....for you and me. Which pretty much means I need to focus on looking after several hundred million dollars of taxpayers (your) money over the rest of this calendar year and early next….hopefully I'll do a better job than some of the build experiences on this forum.
You never know you might see me in the newspaper….look out for blue velvet suit and ruffle shirt standing next to a Minister talking about water.
The reality is I need to pare down my interaction on the forum….I'll still be around…but very sporadically…..but I know when I need that lunchtime chuckle I know to head straight for "Coffee Break".
I think I've made a bit of a contribution, so here's some links that may be of use….
Wanna get to know your dirt……
https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=9017
Concrete giving you a hard time....
http://www.concrete.net.au/ and check out the Guide to Residential Floors and the Guide to Concrete in Housing, they really are the best references around to help the lay-person around the mystery of slab design.
My bricky looks a bit iffy....
www.thinkbrick.com.au have a look at the Cleaning Concrete Masonry for recommendations on cleaning, working out efflorescence issues and those nasty brown marks. Manual 10 - Construction Guidelines for Clay Masonry is an easy to understand guide on brick construction, joint types, tolerances, damp courses, and a whole bunch more.
Had some setbacks…..
Not sure whether this actually helped Bel or not, maybe just confused her more, but some set back interpretation for Victoria
https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=6910
Feeling chirpy…..
I'm a big rap for native gardens, I was amazed out how much native bird life I could attract in my first 700 sq.m suburban garden…so I highly recommend…..
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/spaces/
http://www.floraforfauna.com/index.asp
The fine print….
Between smeagol, PeterOz, and myself I think we've nailed the things to keep in mind with contracts….remember contracts are not papal decrees, handed down by Moses, or dug up on some thousand year old scroll....they are negotiable, they are flexible.....most importantly though pick your battles with your builder.
Beautifully and succinctly stated.....Smeags
Couple of simple rules in writing contracts:
- if it's said once it doesn't need to be said again, avoids ambiguity and "double-dipping" on prices
- determine the order of precedence of documents if there is an a discrepancy between the contract, inclusions list, drawings, etc what will take precedence
- if it doesn't need to be in, delete it, don't fall for the old "that's a standard clause but we never invoke it"
- if it needs to be in put it in, don't fall for the "yeah, nah, we do that anyway"
- check your drawings, then recheck, then check again, oh and check your drawings, match elevations with plans, with electrical, with plumbing, with site layout
- "standard" building contracts can be changed by mutual agreement, they are not carved in stone, written in holy script, or blessed by the pope, never to be amended
- the MBAV and HIA are "industry groups" they are looking after the best interests of the people that pay their subscriptions, therefore the contracts are biased towards builders and not owners, remember that when you read any clause
- make sure the contractor "shall" do something, most requirement specifications (i.e. contracts in the real world) use the word "shall" to denote a requirement, MBAV and HIA contracts occasionally use the contractor "will" and "may" contractually these terms reduce the strength of the requirement
- don't go for wishy washy statements for instance Duminda picked up on the following
- with regards to inclusions there will be a clause stating that they can change say a stove, HWS, etc for another make sure you add "to the same performance specification and with the written consent of the owner"
The builder will think you are a picky b*stard but I got use to it....! There is all sorts of cr*p that builders appear to get away with which they would be sent straight to arbitration or to the courts if they tried on in the "real" construction industry.
Hope this helps in some small way.
In case you wondering about the 'tude I'm going through a contract disagreement at work with a contractor but we're covered because of these simple points.
And once you start in earnest document everything PeterOz and I had some recent discussions on this which you might be able to find through searching the forum....sorry running out of time at the moment. As my grandfather the judge said, one line of writing is worth more than 100 pages of talky talky.... ....although he did say it in Hungarian!
And finally, most importantly don't forget to take your meds…..
https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=7598
So see ya round….hopefully when I'm spat out the back end of this project I won't be facing this dude….
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/mikeb1968/Avatars/R-remoteImage-36.gif
And it'll be more of this…
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/mikeb1968/Avatars/R-austin.gif
And guys…….Ooo, Behave! ....yeah right.