ᐅ Site development timing: Before building road construction or after debris removal?
Created on: 23 Jul 2020 06:59
S
Spike86
Good morning
Last week, we submitted the building permit application (as an expedited process, since there is no zoning plan). Now we are considering whether it makes sense or is even possible to connect the utilities before starting construction. The problem is that we have a flag lot, and the driveway runs to the back through the neighbor’s property. Once the construction road is set up, access to the utilities will be blocked, and we would only be able to connect them after construction is completed and the construction road is removed... wouldn’t that be too late? Isn’t a water connection needed beforehand so the plumbing contractor can test the toilet flushing? We are a bit unsure about this. Another issue is that the neighbor’s house is very close to the driveway and has a full basement. Therefore, part of the construction road would need to be reinforced. Do you have any tips on how to do this or if it is necessary? A friend once recommended these mats that distribute the weight. With these, an 11-ton (12 US ton) excavator (loaded up to 16 tons / 17.6 US tons) was able to pass without causing any damage.
It’s early in the morning, so I hope this is clear enough. If not, please ask, and I will try to explain it better.
Best regards and thanks in advance!
Last week, we submitted the building permit application (as an expedited process, since there is no zoning plan). Now we are considering whether it makes sense or is even possible to connect the utilities before starting construction. The problem is that we have a flag lot, and the driveway runs to the back through the neighbor’s property. Once the construction road is set up, access to the utilities will be blocked, and we would only be able to connect them after construction is completed and the construction road is removed... wouldn’t that be too late? Isn’t a water connection needed beforehand so the plumbing contractor can test the toilet flushing? We are a bit unsure about this. Another issue is that the neighbor’s house is very close to the driveway and has a full basement. Therefore, part of the construction road would need to be reinforced. Do you have any tips on how to do this or if it is necessary? A friend once recommended these mats that distribute the weight. With these, an 11-ton (12 US ton) excavator (loaded up to 16 tons / 17.6 US tons) was able to pass without causing any damage.
It’s early in the morning, so I hope this is clear enough. If not, please ask, and I will try to explain it better.
Best regards and thanks in advance!
Ypg already mentioned it: the timing and process actually do not depend on what you as the builder envision but rather on when the contractors arrive and can connect the utilities. In this, the builder really plays the smallest role. But yes, they still have to pay for everything.
It is also completely irrelevant whether the builder considers the procedure rational or sensible. If the electricians or plumbers can only come after the topping-out ceremony, then that’s just how it is. It doesn’t help that you would have preferred to have everything set up earlier. Additionally, most contractors prefer not to visit the site twice. So it’s either a complete installation with the meter right away or nothing at all. The meters must be installed according to regulations, in a warm and dry place. Because of this, sometimes there is simply no chance to connect anything beforehand, but only once the shell of the building is finished and closed.
In other words, if the construction road has to be opened three times, then it will be opened three times. Or the work will wait until everything is completed.
Construction water and temporary power are provided one way or another. Houses have even been built using IBC containers and similar solutions.
@Tolentino
@K1300S
Connection pillars are still common nowadays and are essential, especially in larger housing developments. They offer the advantage that electricians don’t have to come back to the site later; temporary construction power is supplied first, and later the final connection with the meter can be installed inside the house by the electrician (if permitted). Thus, once the utility company’s pillar has been installed, their work is done. This can happen immediately after purchasing the plot, even before the first excavator arrives.
It is also completely irrelevant whether the builder considers the procedure rational or sensible. If the electricians or plumbers can only come after the topping-out ceremony, then that’s just how it is. It doesn’t help that you would have preferred to have everything set up earlier. Additionally, most contractors prefer not to visit the site twice. So it’s either a complete installation with the meter right away or nothing at all. The meters must be installed according to regulations, in a warm and dry place. Because of this, sometimes there is simply no chance to connect anything beforehand, but only once the shell of the building is finished and closed.
In other words, if the construction road has to be opened three times, then it will be opened three times. Or the work will wait until everything is completed.
Construction water and temporary power are provided one way or another. Houses have even been built using IBC containers and similar solutions.
@Tolentino
@K1300S
Connection pillars are still common nowadays and are essential, especially in larger housing developments. They offer the advantage that electricians don’t have to come back to the site later; temporary construction power is supplied first, and later the final connection with the meter can be installed inside the house by the electrician (if permitted). Thus, once the utility company’s pillar has been installed, their work is done. This can happen immediately after purchasing the plot, even before the first excavator arrives.
Tolentino schrieb:
Okay, but you only considered Telekom (telecommunications). Well, the reasons mostly apply to electricity and water as well. I don’t dispute that outdoor installations can be cheaper, and it’s clear that connection fees are sometimes charged based on distance, but outdoor connections are still not an option for me. I fully agree with the planning point made by @Mycraft.
However, I really can’t understand this:
Mycraft schrieb:
Connection pedestals are still up to date nowadays. Maybe it’s just a specifically Berlin thing...
K1300S schrieb:
but maybe it’s just another typical Berlin thing... Berlin is notoriously cash-strapped... Every cent counts here, so if something can be saved by having a column on the outside, why not.
Yes, coordinating all the utilities to be installed at the same time is difficult or almost impossible. For example, the telecom provider already prefers to know the move-in date and states in the same message that it would be best for all utilities to be routed into the utility shaft simultaneously... We will call a few companies about the construction access road and request quotes. The site manager mentioned that it could cost up to 15,000 euros, as the access road needs to be reinforced. The main issue is definitely the basement of the front building, which is very close to the driveway and apparently was built using aerated concrete blocks (which are said to be not very stable?!). If I understand correctly, it seems to be quite common that the shell is completed before the utilities are installed?! We will also need to connect to the neighbor’s sewage connection at the front.
The Berlin Waterworks also said that the standard texts for pedestrian and vehicle right-of-way agreements no longer suffice, and something including inspection shafts now needs to be included. If that is true, does anyone know the basis for this?
Thanks for all the responses so far.
Good luck, Spike86
The Berlin Waterworks also said that the standard texts for pedestrian and vehicle right-of-way agreements no longer suffice, and something including inspection shafts now needs to be included. If that is true, does anyone know the basis for this?
Thanks for all the responses so far.
Good luck, Spike86
Similar topics