ᐅ Construction Defect – Staircase Not Properly Installed

Created on: 27 Mar 2017 00:28
K
KrustyDerClown
Hello everyone,

Shortly before the final inspection of our new build, it was discovered that the lowest stair step leading to the basement does not meet the standards. Replacing the entire staircase is an option, but it is not really in our interest since the move-in is already scheduled and the replacement would also be quite complex.

We could also live with it, as it concerns only the last step to the basement, which is too low (not too deep) – meaning the step comes sooner than expected when going down.

In your opinion, what would be a reasonable price reduction in $ (or your local currency) for this defect?

It has already been confirmed by the general contractor that this is a construction defect.

Best regards,
Oliver
Y
ypg
28 Mar 2017 00:25
How much height do you currently have between the tile and the first step, and what is the overall rise?

Best regards, briefly
11ant28 Mar 2017 01:02
KrustyDerClown schrieb:
The issue is with the stairway to the basement... the distance between the last step and the floor (tiles) is less than the standard allows. So you don’t step into empty space, but the floor appears sooner than expected (unless you’re watching closely ).

"... less than the standard allows" – so both the standard and tolerance are not met? That is a "significant" defect, and I would look into the legal consequences (e.g., prohibition of use).

I find it hard to imagine how this happened: that on the ground floor, a shallower floor buildup was chosen than originally planned, but then suddenly underfloor heating was installed in the basement? I would have expected the opposite situation.

But I will speculate: above ground, a higher floor buildup was decided on. To avoid having to change all the plans in order to comply with planned heights (for example, to maintain an allowed eaves height), they simply reduced the basement ceiling height and forgot to adjust the basement stairs accordingly. And now the builder is telling the client a story about this miraculous reduction in height.

After a thousand twisted ankles, the client is still annoyed about the convenience of ignoring the defect in exchange for a symbolic compensation.
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P
Payday
28 Mar 2017 19:23
Just state the different heights. Maybe it’s possible to calculate an average. I’d be less concerned about a few hundred euros than having to be annoyed about it for the next 30 years. Besides that, emergency escape routes outside the standard could cause other legal issues.
How did this happen in the first place?
tomtom7928 Mar 2017 20:22
So in our basement, about 8cm (3 inches) are missing from the step, but neither my wife nor I have had any problems so far.
Y
ypg
28 Mar 2017 23:39
ypg schrieb:
What is the current height between the tile surface and the first step, and what is the overall rise?


Best regards

Just bringing this back up—the question is still waiting for an answer


Regards, Yvonne
K
KrustyDerClown
29 Mar 2017 01:48
In the first step, it is about 10cm (4 inches). After that, it is 15cm (6 inches).

The problem actually arose because the floor construction in the basement is about 4cm (1.5 inches) too high. As a result, the staircase no longer fits. The staircase itself was correct, but due to the increased floor height, it no longer fits.

We have decided to have the staircase replaced.