Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1 Jun 18, 2017 7:40 pm My sister in law has had a house build by a volume builder. Its a P class site. Concrete piers supporting the concrete slab. The house has had problems from day 2. Cracked tiles, Floor wastes lifting tiles, cracking and dropping plasterboard and cornice and continual shifting after repair. It was quite apparent that the foundations are moving and causing the problems. Is the builder responsible to make sure that water cannot pool up against the building? She was told that they had to provide a skirt around the house at her own expense. Her husband is a concreter and so he obliged and put in the pathway/skirt around the house. The house is still cracking. Upon inspection by the engineer that designed the foundation, he suspects that when the slab was poured, the void former (50mm cardboard) covered the piers and in effect the piers are not touching the underside of the slab. So they are going to bore through her slab in convenient locations to see if this is the case. But, I think there is no way they can repair this. I know you could 'inject' grout or polyurethane into the area where they think that there is no contact, but: - I don't think this will guarantee that the slab is supported. How can you control where the grout is going to go? - Wouldn't they have to level off the slab first any way? How would you do that? I think let them drill one hole, and then game over. Re: Void former placed over Pier!! 2Jun 19, 2017 10:51 am manofaus faus the engineer should have inspected the footings, Reinforcement and bearing over the piles before the concrete was placed, and the owner is a concretor? ....it just goes to show..battlers & Clients can never ask enough questions, take enough photos and do enough checks..didn't they get a copy of the engineering details showing cross ribs over piles??? The stiffness/strength of the slab is compromised once it starts to crack..how bad & where are the cracks..they would do best to engage their own Engineer & a Lawyer for advice Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Void former placed over Pier!! 3Jun 19, 2017 11:05 am The concrete was done by the building company. My brother law works FIFO construction so didn't see it. Sister in law has photos, and yes it did get inspected by the building company. We cant tell if the concrete is cracked, she has floating bamboo and carpet over it all. She told me today that she has an independent engineer and now a solicitor involved. If it is cracked what is the likely outcome? Re: Void former placed over Pier!! 4Jun 20, 2017 8:31 am manofaus Flexible Floor coverings ie Timber & Carpets mask/hides cracks Firstly you need to check slab level heights around the cracking (hogging or sagging) in the walls their engineer will explain how the footing/slab reacts under various scenarios Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs I should have followed up on this thread. So, the pier foundation wasn't large enough on the side it was leaning towards, and the NBN cable went through the pier, just… 8 12162 Just be careful with building stability during construction, that is when the structure may be weakened, refer to your engineering drawings for stability methodology. 1 7285 |