ᐅ Is it advisable to have the foundation slab inspected by a building surveyor?
Created on: 5 Jan 2023 12:28
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bavariandream
Hello everyone,
In mid-December, the foundation slab for our single-family house was poured. The civil engineering company is a family-run business from the region with an excellent reputation. The preparations went very smoothly (they even started with the earthworks before we had signed the contract), and we didn’t have to worry about anything (they also handled various inquiries with the local authorities since they already knew each other).
On the day the foundation slab was poured, unfortunately, we were all very sick (middle ear infection with a fever just under 40°C (104°F)) and couldn’t visit the site (just getting to the bathroom was already a struggle). I went there the next day for a quick look. The slab was completely covered, which we expected because there had been heavy snowfall at the time and nighttime temperatures dropped to -12°C (10°F). The civil engineering company regularly works under such conditions; at our previous landlord’s site, they poured the slab on Christmas Eve despite heavy snow.
So far, so good. However, when we visited the site about a week later (we don’t live locally), some parts of the protective foil were missing. We suspect that children playing may have removed it because the wind alone shouldn’t have been able to do that—the foil was very well secured.
Now we don’t know exactly when this happened, so we’re unsure if the slab was already frost-resistant at that time, and we’re wondering if this might have had any negative effects. Visually everything looks fine and, for example, I haven’t noticed any cracks. The slab will be inspected in spring by our construction manager, but I assume they will mainly check if all measurements are correct.
Therefore, I wanted to ask here if you would recommend having the slab inspected by an independent expert. I’ve heard that organizations like TÜV Süd offer such services. Or is that money wasted because they would basically just measure again and check for cracks (as I said, I couldn’t see any; everything looked fine to me, but I am a complete layperson)?
Thank you very much in advance for your help!
In mid-December, the foundation slab for our single-family house was poured. The civil engineering company is a family-run business from the region with an excellent reputation. The preparations went very smoothly (they even started with the earthworks before we had signed the contract), and we didn’t have to worry about anything (they also handled various inquiries with the local authorities since they already knew each other).
On the day the foundation slab was poured, unfortunately, we were all very sick (middle ear infection with a fever just under 40°C (104°F)) and couldn’t visit the site (just getting to the bathroom was already a struggle). I went there the next day for a quick look. The slab was completely covered, which we expected because there had been heavy snowfall at the time and nighttime temperatures dropped to -12°C (10°F). The civil engineering company regularly works under such conditions; at our previous landlord’s site, they poured the slab on Christmas Eve despite heavy snow.
So far, so good. However, when we visited the site about a week later (we don’t live locally), some parts of the protective foil were missing. We suspect that children playing may have removed it because the wind alone shouldn’t have been able to do that—the foil was very well secured.
Now we don’t know exactly when this happened, so we’re unsure if the slab was already frost-resistant at that time, and we’re wondering if this might have had any negative effects. Visually everything looks fine and, for example, I haven’t noticed any cracks. The slab will be inspected in spring by our construction manager, but I assume they will mainly check if all measurements are correct.
Therefore, I wanted to ask here if you would recommend having the slab inspected by an independent expert. I’ve heard that organizations like TÜV Süd offer such services. Or is that money wasted because they would basically just measure again and check for cracks (as I said, I couldn’t see any; everything looked fine to me, but I am a complete layperson)?
Thank you very much in advance for your help!
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xMisterDx5 Jan 2023 22:16Get an inspector who will actually visit the construction site more than just two or three times—specifically when you want them there. This will cost you, but if you’re already feeling uncertain, you won’t be able to sleep otherwise.
They can tell you if the foundation slab has frost damage and, if necessary, take samples or carry out other tests.
However, you must be prepared to deal with the consequences if the inspector finds something wrong. This could mean a building stop, disputes with the groundworks contractor about who is responsible, possibly a counter-expert opinion, delays in your construction schedule, additional claims from the prefab house supplier for extra work, or the expiration of price guarantees, etc.
They can tell you if the foundation slab has frost damage and, if necessary, take samples or carry out other tests.
However, you must be prepared to deal with the consequences if the inspector finds something wrong. This could mean a building stop, disputes with the groundworks contractor about who is responsible, possibly a counter-expert opinion, delays in your construction schedule, additional claims from the prefab house supplier for extra work, or the expiration of price guarantees, etc.
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Bauherrin12312 Feb 2023 09:35Oh man, I have the same problem as the original poster and I’m just as suspicious and uncertain by nature.
For us, the foundation slab was poured on Friday without any prior notice. I wasn’t ready for it yet because there were still formalities to be clarified with the authorities (building permit / planning permission), and I thought the work would be stopped until that was settled. We have our own inspector, who examined the foundation and the reinforcement—I think that’s the correct term—and was very satisfied. Then the foundation slab was poured on Friday, February 3rd. The weekend temperatures were consistently above 5°C (41°F), but on Tuesday it dropped below freezing. It rained at some point on the slab, and there was a puddle there... I’m completely unsettled. What do you think about this?
For us, the foundation slab was poured on Friday without any prior notice. I wasn’t ready for it yet because there were still formalities to be clarified with the authorities (building permit / planning permission), and I thought the work would be stopped until that was settled. We have our own inspector, who examined the foundation and the reinforcement—I think that’s the correct term—and was very satisfied. Then the foundation slab was poured on Friday, February 3rd. The weekend temperatures were consistently above 5°C (41°F), but on Tuesday it dropped below freezing. It rained at some point on the slab, and there was a puddle there... I’m completely unsettled. What do you think about this?
Bauherrin123 schrieb:
We have our own surveyor; he inspected the foundation and the reinforcement, I believe it's called, and was very satisfied.Everything is fine. With pouring the slab on Friday and frost on Tuesday, nothing more can go wrong.
Next time, call the surveyor and ask him, since he knows the subject well.
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Bauherrin12312 Feb 2023 11:22Nida35a schrieb:
All good,
if the slab is poured on Friday and there's frost on Tuesday, nothing more can happen.
Next time, call the building inspector and ask them, they are familiar with the subject. Okay, one more question... On Monday, I received pictures showing a puddle on our concrete slab, which means it must have rained. Is that also not a problem?
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Bauherrin12327 Mar 2023 00:09Hello, we need to finalize the electrical planning on Tuesday and decide where the power outlets should be placed. What mistakes have you made during your electrical planning? One tip I have: since the TV will be mounted on the wall, the power outlet should be installed inside the wall so the TV can be hung with power directly behind it, avoiding the need to run a cable down to an outlet.
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