Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 5May 18, 2009 11:37 am Oh, no. That looks terrible! We are building with APG as well. We've just had the slab down and that's now being loaded with bricks etc. We haven't yet met our SS. Hope you can get it all sorted. Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 6May 20, 2009 4:05 pm The size of the slab should be checked to ensure it is correct. My site supervisor pretty much left it to the concretor to measure and set-out. You will need to satisfy yourself that size is correct. You also need to ensure that slab is level (and flat with reasonable tolerance) otherwise you will end up paying extra (for screeding) if you lay porcelain tiles.
Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 7May 20, 2009 5:45 pm I always got the impression that APG was a quality builder due to their prices. I agree about the slab, I measured mine after it had been laid and measured all the room sizes after the brickwork had been completed. The tradesmen don't really seem to care much so you really have to be pedantic and keep your site supervisor in check. While I was never rude when contacting the supervisor or my point of contact in the office, I was always persistent in having errors rectified. It is crazy the kind of things the builders will try to get away with. My neighbour's garage had a split in the bricks from the ceiling down to the ground. A split, as in big enough you could see from the street when driving past. Rather than repairing it as it occurred it was left (did they think no-one would notice?) and it ended up being patched up and that section rebuilt (with bricks that don't match!) after the entire house was finished. Built with Commodore Homes - The Fusion completed April 2009 (with modifications) Yes I have moved! Will update as soon as I can...no internet at home right now!!! Sooty's House - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=19462 Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 8May 26, 2009 7:58 am I agree with you. I would have thought APG Homes put some effort into the "quality control" of their product. But hey, they are all the same. So I end up engaging a building inspector to check on the quality of the construction. I then became as pedantic as I possibly know how. Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 9Jun 09, 2009 3:31 am I would be most interested in who and how much a building inspector costs, please PM me the details. We have just been told our APG home will be ready by the end of June and there are a few things that I am not happy about and feel I've been fobbed off by the site supervisor. Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 10Jun 09, 2009 1:29 pm Inkheart I would have thought APG Homes put some effort into the "quality control" of their product. So I end up engaging a building inspector to check on the quality of the construction. I then became as pedantic as I possibly know how. Inkheart, I'd also be interested in who you appointed as a building inspectors. I am also building with APG and want an independent inspection, but have a little trouble finding someone suitable in Perth. Thanks! Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 11Jun 09, 2009 3:12 pm I had in inspector, I used BHI Firth and Archicentre. Someone on here used Archicentre and said they weren't happy with it although another person also said they used Archicentre without problem. I was satisfied with their inspection though, so was a friend who used them. BHI Firth were also good, I just didn't like their report. Built with Commodore Homes - The Fusion completed April 2009 (with modifications) Yes I have moved! Will update as soon as I can...no internet at home right now!!! Sooty's House - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=19462 Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 12Jun 09, 2009 3:26 pm sooty I had in inspector, I used BHI Firth and Archicentre. Yes, I know, Sooty, you told me before. I don't want to use these two (because they got bad reviews from aother people). I would like to know Inkhart's inspector. Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 13Jun 09, 2009 11:05 pm Hi Ozhappy981 Happy to share my experience. I have used: 1) Archicentre (not the RAIA) - knowledgeable with timber roof frame. However, not overly impressed with the report. He charged a flat fee per inspection @ $550, payment before receiving report. 2) All Points Building Consultants - Phil is thorough but charges hourly @ $250 per hour. About to use: 1) BSP Building Consultants - I intend to use them for my pre-handover inspection. They charged $495 for about 2 hours inspection. A followup inspection is about $250. My advice: · Ensure you express your expectation to the building inspector. He is working for you. · You must also personally be involved with the inspection throughout the building process. · Whether or not you engage a building inspector to check at various stages, you should still check obvious things like size, location of windows, doors, gap between brickwork and general quality. (Waterproofing is my greatest nightmare). · If you are certain that work have not been done to standards or manufacturer’s recommendation, do not accept explanation like, “I have done this for the last 10 years and had no complaints”. · Always document your concerns and inform the builder in writing. (I have an action list that I update weekly and then email the list to the builder). · Inform the builder that you are engaging an independent building inspector. · Make it known that you will accept no less than quality work according to Australian Standards and Building Code. · Your greatest weapon - do not approve payment until you are happy that the work done is acceptable (and the value of the work done is the amount that you are paying). I am sure they will issue progress claim even before they complete a stage. And I am not overly concern about their interest clause if I have legitimate concern. If you are lucky and are assigned a good supervisor, then you will only have half the worry. I was, unfortunately, assigned a KNOB. My pre-handover inspection is 12 June but I have already given them 5 pages worth of defects from just the exterior of the house. Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 14Jun 11, 2009 7:00 pm Inkheart, Interesting your comment "Horizontal surfaces adjoining not waterproofed and tiler simply install tiles over." Our tiler certainly hasn't w/p around our bath, and when questioned this morning he said it wasnt needed around baths. What sort of notice did APG give b4 arranging the pre handover meeting? Also wondering if you are building in the mid-close northern suburbs or your supervisor goes by a three leter name? My mother recently saw a physio who recently also built in the same area and had the same supervisor also has the same opinion we have of have formed of him. Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 16Jun 13, 2009 12:21 am cheekymonkey Inkheart, Interesting your comment "Horizontal surfaces adjoining not waterproofed and tiler simply install tiles over." Our tiler certainly hasn't w/p around our bath, and when questioned this morning he said it wasnt needed around baths. What sort of notice did APG give b4 arranging the pre handover meeting? Also wondering if you are building in the mid-close northern suburbs or your supervisor goes by a three leter name? My mother recently saw a physio who recently also built in the same area and had the same supervisor also has the same opinion we have of have formed of him. Hi cheekymonkey, Builders are supposed to be building houses to a certain level of standard (definitely not theirs). The reference that I used is Australian Standards (and Building Code of Australia which refers to Australia Standard). AS3740 provides the minimum for waterproofing wet areas. And it specify how and where waterproofing is required. Builder will advise when they are ready for pre handover inspection. It is usually about 2 weeks before you do your final inspection and key handover. The house I am building is situated south of the river. Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 17Jun 13, 2009 1:05 am haha different super, must be a pre-requisite. Thanks for the pointer re AS number. Interesting, we've been told they are aiming for end of the month and with the amount of work done lately they must be aiming for a pre insp next Fri How did the inspection go? I've just noticed another prob with the bathroom tiling not being perp with the door line, by eye about 2-3mm but will be more obvious when I install a reducer strip for the wooden floor I'm installing. Unfortunately I tried to get the tiler to fix it prior to grouting on Monday but he didn't seem too interested. Did the inspector pic any additional things? We have two posts just like yours that wasnt fixed properly, strangely the one that is in the tv recess isnt used. Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 19Jun 13, 2009 1:36 am Due to the trades not being able to complete their work, I've asked for the pre-handover inspection be postponed. So at this stage, BSP Building Consultants have not commenced with the inspection but I envisage being able to have the inspection done in about a week's time. Re: Built with APG Homes - Ouch! 20Jul 01, 2009 6:24 pm Check your mirrors during your inspection, ours arent safety glass and don't have the safety film applied to the back of them as per AS1288. I haven’t. But have a Lowe Design home. Not only did I find Matt Lowe patronising and a bully, but the home is NOT TO CODE. I have water coming through the bricks… 1 15664 First time poster long story short we are planning knocking down rebuilding a house in Wavell Heights We are thinking to go with Omni built homes as they are but flexible… 0 17790 0 17370 |