Hello,
We plan to add an approximately 60sqm (645 sq ft) extension to an existing residential building. It will be a single-story, accessible granny flat. The building report states that concrete can be poured directly against the ground, which we provided to the construction company beforehand. However, the company did not excavate the trench for the strip foundation as specified in the report. Instead, they dug a trench about 1.40m (4.6 ft) wide for the foundation (40 cm (16 inches) plus 8 cm (3 inches) perimeter insulation) and disposed of the soil without properly informing us in advance. This has caused not only significant extra costs but also problems for the ongoing work and a lot of frustration. Due to this and other issues beforehand, we have parted ways with the company.
Do you have any suggestions on how best to proceed with the strip foundation now? Would it make more sense to use full formwork or formwork blocks? After the foundations are in place, should we refill the extra space with the remaining soil and compact it, or should special backfill material be used, and if so, what kind?
What can we reasonably demand from the previous construction company? Do you think it is possible to claim damages from them?
Thank you very much and best regards
StefanS83
We plan to add an approximately 60sqm (645 sq ft) extension to an existing residential building. It will be a single-story, accessible granny flat. The building report states that concrete can be poured directly against the ground, which we provided to the construction company beforehand. However, the company did not excavate the trench for the strip foundation as specified in the report. Instead, they dug a trench about 1.40m (4.6 ft) wide for the foundation (40 cm (16 inches) plus 8 cm (3 inches) perimeter insulation) and disposed of the soil without properly informing us in advance. This has caused not only significant extra costs but also problems for the ongoing work and a lot of frustration. Due to this and other issues beforehand, we have parted ways with the company.
Do you have any suggestions on how best to proceed with the strip foundation now? Would it make more sense to use full formwork or formwork blocks? After the foundations are in place, should we refill the extra space with the remaining soil and compact it, or should special backfill material be used, and if so, what kind?
What can we reasonably demand from the previous construction company? Do you think it is possible to claim damages from them?
Thank you very much and best regards
StefanS83
X
xMisterDx15 Nov 2023 08:49Here people are talking nonsense again, seriously... for us, a gravel base layer 0/45 was placed and compacted, excavated 40cm (16 inches) wide and 100cm (39 inches) deep, and then concrete was poured 4 days later. Nothing happened at all.
The trench for the utility connections was about the same depth and width, with vertical walls, and it remained open for almost 3 weeks. Nothing collapsed or slipped. This was at the end of November, so it was raining constantly...
The trench for the utility connections was about the same depth and width, with vertical walls, and it remained open for almost 3 weeks. Nothing collapsed or slipped. This was at the end of November, so it was raining constantly...
ateliersiegel15 Nov 2023 11:45K a t j a schrieb:
I prefer installing formwork and then backfilling with crushed stone and compacting. like this, or – instead of "installing formwork," use formwork blocks