Hello everyone,
Am seeking some advise in what I think is a unique situation.
Our endorsed Town Planning permit showed lightweight cladding foam. A change to the working drawings was requested to instead include 50mm Hebel-like cladding, so that the overall external wall would stay at 75mm. Rebates were requested.
The architectural drawings show:
1. The plan shows 90 mm f5 pine timber frame wall, with a notation "All dimensions are to the outside face of the structure" Whereas most drawings with Brick veneer encompass the entire width of 240 mm (Brick-110, Airgap-40, PineFrame-90), my drawing only shows 90 mm
2. The section details however DO show a slab rebate, specifying that the external walls need to be rendered and finished to the manufacturers recommendation.
3. Engineering does not show a rebate (I am told that usually this should be denoted by a hyphenated dash all along the strip footings, but this is not the case)
The effect of the above drawing has been that they have been endorsed, a building permit issued, site setout done in accordance with the working drawings, and the slab poured. Fortunately, as it was I who had requested the change orginally, I was acutely aware of the rebate and asked the builder about it on the day the slab was poured. Work has been suspended
The builder had no idea, and was planning to affix the cladding to the frame, which would have increased the building envelope in contravention to the planning permit.
We now have a situation, where everyone is pointing a finger at the others; while I'm forced to compromise, despite having paid everyone (except the builder for the slab stage). The builder seems to be a callous chap, & definitely has shifty work practices. We still have not reached a workable solution, while I continue to pay holding costs and interest. In the interim, the Building Surveyor has asked for an 'as-is' land-survey of the slab.
Without attributing blame, and notwithstanding that I am everyone's client; could you make recommendations on how best to reach a positive outcome, on what appears to be a very messy situation. I would much rather keep this out of the courts, which can lead to a long, expensive and dissatisying process.
Please help!