ᐅ Bending-resistant slab foundation driven over by a truck in less than one day
Created on: 16 May 2019 21:32
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-Sleepwalker-
Hello,
we are just starting to build our own home on the neighboring lot from a local developer. Unfortunately, the beginning has been far from pleasant. But let me explain step by step:
We are handling the groundwork ourselves through a contractor. The start date was April 29.
Our assigned site manager already pressured us about 4 weeks ago because another construction project had fallen through or something similar. He wanted to proceed quickly with the foundation slab. Since the groundwork contractor was repeatedly pulled away due to other tasks, the planned date for the foundation slab didn’t happen.
Now, once the groundwork was properly underway, the site manager started pushing again on May 6 because someone else had dropped out. He wanted to do the detailed surveying on May 10 and pour the foundation slab on May 13. Unfortunately, our groundwork contractor said that despite some difficulties, they could still manage if the slab got in their way. Apparently, this was taken by our site manager as a green light.
After two days of reflection and discussing with the groundwork contractor, I told him that we would prefer to complete the groundwork before the foundation slab is poured. Since we are also planning a carport with a tool shed, I wanted the surveyor to mark everything at once and also begin the masonry work on the garden hut ourselves. I brought this up several times with the site manager, explaining that we were not yet ready for the detailed surveying or the foundation slab. Everything was consistently dismissed with claims that it would all be fine. The evening before the detailed survey, I called the surveying office myself and canceled the appointment for May 10 because the site manager showed zero responsiveness.
On the morning of May 10, I got a call from the site manager saying that I couldn’t do that because he had already scheduled the workers and ordered everything two weeks earlier (why didn’t he tell me this two weeks ago? Very strange...). He rescheduled the surveying company for the detailed survey, which they unfortunately did. So I sent an email to the developer that morning saying that I was not okay with this and found the way they were treating their customers outrageous. To this day, no response. Consequently, the foundation slab was poured on May 13 as planned by the site manager and against my wishes. I was furious.
Additionally, our construction execution drawings were not finished yet; we only received them by mail on May 11. On Sunday, May 12, we relocated the washing machine, which involved rerouting a drain. We informed the developer the same day and requested immediate feedback. Nothing was signed off yet (and still isn’t). A call to the developer on Monday morning shocked me even more. They said the drain relocation was no longer possible. If I hadn’t personally instructed the workers on site (luckily I was working from home), we would now have an incorrect drain in the foundation slab. I couldn’t believe it.
Now to my question...
The foundation slab (reinforced, because the ground is not stable) was poured on the 13th around 2 p.m. and covered around 3 p.m. The following day, late morning (around noon), the bricks were already delivered. Since my parents live next door, they were able to observe and take photos. Around midday, I received a picture showing the truck with bricks driving onto the foundation slab, lowering its support legs to unload the bricks behind the “house.” Our groundwork contractor just shook his head and asked why they were driving on the foundation slab. “We always do it this way,” was the answer. I was horrified that the drivers dared to bring a 20-ton truck onto a slab less than a day old. Is this normal? Apart from the fact that the Ytong blocks were placed on the slab, although those areas are relatively light in weight compared to others.
In the evening, after work, I checked the site myself. The formwork for the foundation slab was slightly indented and cracked, and some of the slab surface had chipped (the masons have since patched and covered the damage. There are photos available if anyone wants to see them).
Is it allowed for foundation slabs to be driven on so quickly with such heavy equipment? Our construction expert tried to reassure me but said there was nothing they could do, and my photos wouldn’t help.
I feel like I’ve aged ten years in the last few days. I’m completely speechless about how a client is treated right from the start of construction.
Maybe someone can offer some advice. I’m really desperate right now.
we are just starting to build our own home on the neighboring lot from a local developer. Unfortunately, the beginning has been far from pleasant. But let me explain step by step:
We are handling the groundwork ourselves through a contractor. The start date was April 29.
Our assigned site manager already pressured us about 4 weeks ago because another construction project had fallen through or something similar. He wanted to proceed quickly with the foundation slab. Since the groundwork contractor was repeatedly pulled away due to other tasks, the planned date for the foundation slab didn’t happen.
Now, once the groundwork was properly underway, the site manager started pushing again on May 6 because someone else had dropped out. He wanted to do the detailed surveying on May 10 and pour the foundation slab on May 13. Unfortunately, our groundwork contractor said that despite some difficulties, they could still manage if the slab got in their way. Apparently, this was taken by our site manager as a green light.
After two days of reflection and discussing with the groundwork contractor, I told him that we would prefer to complete the groundwork before the foundation slab is poured. Since we are also planning a carport with a tool shed, I wanted the surveyor to mark everything at once and also begin the masonry work on the garden hut ourselves. I brought this up several times with the site manager, explaining that we were not yet ready for the detailed surveying or the foundation slab. Everything was consistently dismissed with claims that it would all be fine. The evening before the detailed survey, I called the surveying office myself and canceled the appointment for May 10 because the site manager showed zero responsiveness.
On the morning of May 10, I got a call from the site manager saying that I couldn’t do that because he had already scheduled the workers and ordered everything two weeks earlier (why didn’t he tell me this two weeks ago? Very strange...). He rescheduled the surveying company for the detailed survey, which they unfortunately did. So I sent an email to the developer that morning saying that I was not okay with this and found the way they were treating their customers outrageous. To this day, no response. Consequently, the foundation slab was poured on May 13 as planned by the site manager and against my wishes. I was furious.
Additionally, our construction execution drawings were not finished yet; we only received them by mail on May 11. On Sunday, May 12, we relocated the washing machine, which involved rerouting a drain. We informed the developer the same day and requested immediate feedback. Nothing was signed off yet (and still isn’t). A call to the developer on Monday morning shocked me even more. They said the drain relocation was no longer possible. If I hadn’t personally instructed the workers on site (luckily I was working from home), we would now have an incorrect drain in the foundation slab. I couldn’t believe it.
Now to my question...
The foundation slab (reinforced, because the ground is not stable) was poured on the 13th around 2 p.m. and covered around 3 p.m. The following day, late morning (around noon), the bricks were already delivered. Since my parents live next door, they were able to observe and take photos. Around midday, I received a picture showing the truck with bricks driving onto the foundation slab, lowering its support legs to unload the bricks behind the “house.” Our groundwork contractor just shook his head and asked why they were driving on the foundation slab. “We always do it this way,” was the answer. I was horrified that the drivers dared to bring a 20-ton truck onto a slab less than a day old. Is this normal? Apart from the fact that the Ytong blocks were placed on the slab, although those areas are relatively light in weight compared to others.
In the evening, after work, I checked the site myself. The formwork for the foundation slab was slightly indented and cracked, and some of the slab surface had chipped (the masons have since patched and covered the damage. There are photos available if anyone wants to see them).
Is it allowed for foundation slabs to be driven on so quickly with such heavy equipment? Our construction expert tried to reassure me but said there was nothing they could do, and my photos wouldn’t help.
I feel like I’ve aged ten years in the last few days. I’m completely speechless about how a client is treated right from the start of construction.
Maybe someone can offer some advice. I’m really desperate right now.
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-Sleepwalker-30 May 2019 08:46hampshire schrieb:
That was an unfortunate situation. A truck with formwork supports has no business on the fresh base slab, I agree with you there. What confused me was that the problem actually starts with your coordination of the earthworks. Your developer has a personnel and equipment deployment plan, which you repeatedly "challenged." I’m sure they won’t think so highly of you as the client anymore. Unfortunately, not a good start.
I hope that your house project still turns out well. Thanks first of all. The problem is that during the site manager’s first inspection a few months ago, he said: “Let’s finish the earthworks first.” But he didn’t stick to that. The first time he showed up was about 5 weeks ago, and because someone else dropped out, he tried to pressure us. But the earthworks hadn’t even started yet.
Then he came again about 3 weeks ago and pressured us again, because once again someone had dropped out. This time unfortunately with some success, because the earthworker was already on site and said he could manage somehow if given enough space. That didn’t happen either, and the earthworker ended up arguing with the site manager because he could not continue. And he still can’t. He pulled his machines off and has been working elsewhere for 2 weeks now. It will still take several weeks until he finally completes the earthworks.
But that’s not really my main point — the site manager has lost all credibility with me, and the company is not responding to any emails. However, the workers (those laying the base slab, bricklayers, and carpenters) have done clean work so far, except for a few minor things. But they are approachable and willing to answer questions, unlike the site manager.
What’s really bothering me is still the base slab, and I don’t know what I should do about it.
@Zaba12: It’s less about the floor slab, which is why that whole paragraph was in brackets and doesn’t really fit the topic.
You have been experiencing stomach pain for weeks and have done nothing about it. Either you finally get a professional, or you get antibiotics because you will soon develop ulcers.
But by now, the concrete is so hard that it probably doesn’t matter. Otherwise, make yourself a hose level and measure the horizontal deflection of the slab where the Wonder truck was parked. If it’s less than 3-4cm (1¼-1½ inches), it might reassure you.
But by now, the concrete is so hard that it probably doesn’t matter. Otherwise, make yourself a hose level and measure the horizontal deflection of the slab where the Wonder truck was parked. If it’s less than 3-4cm (1¼-1½ inches), it might reassure you.
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-Sleepwalker-30 May 2019 10:05I’m quoting myself again to clarify the original question:
-Sleepwalker- schrieb:
[...]
Nonetheless, since we haven’t received any confirmation from the developer and the roof structure is already up because everything is moving very quickly, we are considering having an expert report done on the foundation slab. Can anyone share their experience regarding the costs involved? I would set a deadline for the developer to respond, and if they don’t reply by then, have the report done at their expense or withhold the costs from the final payment.
The question is whether I am allowed to do that.
You should have at least some basic knowledge.
The person who orders the inspection pays for it. If this expert identifies a defect, you report it to the developer. If the developer acknowledges it, you are in luck. If not, you have to take the matter to court, where a new expert report will be prepared. This process usually takes 1 to 5 years.
In the meantime, construction work is halted.
Are you sure you are building with a developer? Because in that case, you have no say until handover.
The person who orders the inspection pays for it. If this expert identifies a defect, you report it to the developer. If the developer acknowledges it, you are in luck. If not, you have to take the matter to court, where a new expert report will be prepared. This process usually takes 1 to 5 years.
In the meantime, construction work is halted.
Are you sure you are building with a developer? Because in that case, you have no say until handover.
Please explain to the original poster the difference first... I don’t think it’s a property developer, but rather a general contractor or something similar, otherwise the original poster certainly wouldn’t have been allowed to carry out earthworks on the site themselves.
Why do you have a building inspector? They should be able to measure something there—that's what they’re for, right?
Why do you have a building inspector? They should be able to measure something there—that's what they’re for, right?
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-Sleepwalker-30 May 2019 11:10What is a general contractor? We are simply having the house built “by a company.” However, we excluded the groundwork from the contract because we need services that the company does not offer. The earthworks contractor and the company already know each other and often work together. Only the site manager seems to be new.
Our building inspector was unable to suggest any specific actions we could have taken regarding the truck. She only included it in her report because she would have needed to see the truck driving on the foundation slab herself. Our photos did not help in this case.
Our building inspector was unable to suggest any specific actions we could have taken regarding the truck. She only included it in her report because she would have needed to see the truck driving on the foundation slab herself. Our photos did not help in this case.
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