Hello everyone,
Here is the situation:
Shortly before completing our house, it was discovered that the wastewater pipe coming from the foundation slab was installed too low, and the slope toward the sewer connection is insufficient. We reported this issue and requested a correction. The defect was noted in the acceptance report and has since been resolved.
Now, the construction company is asking us to cover the costs because the wastewater inspection chamber was not in place before the foundation slab was built, so the reference point was missing. However, we were never informed about this. In my opinion, the sewer connection could also have served as a reference point. We were also never warned about the possibility of having to bear these costs ourselves.
What are your thoughts on this matter?
Here is the situation:
Shortly before completing our house, it was discovered that the wastewater pipe coming from the foundation slab was installed too low, and the slope toward the sewer connection is insufficient. We reported this issue and requested a correction. The defect was noted in the acceptance report and has since been resolved.
Now, the construction company is asking us to cover the costs because the wastewater inspection chamber was not in place before the foundation slab was built, so the reference point was missing. However, we were never informed about this. In my opinion, the sewer connection could also have served as a reference point. We were also never warned about the possibility of having to bear these costs ourselves.
What are your thoughts on this matter?
E
erazorlll23 Sep 2020 18:11This is not meant as a criticism, I just don’t understand how you handled this during the design and construction phase.
I mean, you must have informed the builder that the pipes would be installed by another company. And did the builder never ask at what height the connection should be made?
And when you hired the company for the inspection chamber and the pipes, did they never ask at what height the pipes should end? How were the heights and the slope determined?
Based on the information available, I don’t see the builder as liable at first. Their task was only to provide a connection point at the base slab. Also, the statement that “they know the reference point for the sewer connection” doesn’t seem relevant, since their responsibility did not include planning the pipes and the connection to the sewer. I don’t think they had to consider those aspects, although it would have been customer-friendly of them. The question here is rather whether there was a pipe layout plan, or if you directly or indirectly confirmed/approved the height of the connection. If the builder deviated from the planned height, the situation would be different.
How was the 10cm (4 inch) increase documented by the builder? Was this a verbal order? If it was written down, what exactly was recorded? Was a price or effort noted?
Regarding the chamber company, the relevant information is now missing to make a statement. Were there specific plans? Were heights defined? What was included in the contract with that company?
I mean, you must have informed the builder that the pipes would be installed by another company. And did the builder never ask at what height the connection should be made?
And when you hired the company for the inspection chamber and the pipes, did they never ask at what height the pipes should end? How were the heights and the slope determined?
Based on the information available, I don’t see the builder as liable at first. Their task was only to provide a connection point at the base slab. Also, the statement that “they know the reference point for the sewer connection” doesn’t seem relevant, since their responsibility did not include planning the pipes and the connection to the sewer. I don’t think they had to consider those aspects, although it would have been customer-friendly of them. The question here is rather whether there was a pipe layout plan, or if you directly or indirectly confirmed/approved the height of the connection. If the builder deviated from the planned height, the situation would be different.
How was the 10cm (4 inch) increase documented by the builder? Was this a verbal order? If it was written down, what exactly was recorded? Was a price or effort noted?
Regarding the chamber company, the relevant information is now missing to make a statement. Were there specific plans? Were heights defined? What was included in the contract with that company?
I have a similar project coming up. Fortunately, we are still in the planning phase.
However, my consumer construction contract only covers work up to the foundation slab.
We (my neighboring property owner behind me and I) are actually planning to install a shared utility trench in the site development phase after the shell construction is completed.
Through the 3m (10 feet) access strip, we need to run two lines each for electricity, drinking water, wastewater, and cables/telecommunications. What is the best way to plan this? Who would you hire for the planning if you don’t feel confident doing it yourself?
Can any civil contractor theoretically handle this? Would they do the planning if we do the digging ourselves? Or should it be an architect?
Thanks and best regards
Tolentino
However, my consumer construction contract only covers work up to the foundation slab.
We (my neighboring property owner behind me and I) are actually planning to install a shared utility trench in the site development phase after the shell construction is completed.
Through the 3m (10 feet) access strip, we need to run two lines each for electricity, drinking water, wastewater, and cables/telecommunications. What is the best way to plan this? Who would you hire for the planning if you don’t feel confident doing it yourself?
Can any civil contractor theoretically handle this? Would they do the planning if we do the digging ourselves? Or should it be an architect?
Thanks and best regards
Tolentino
It doesn’t matter who is doing the work outside the house; the planner should have used their judgment regarding the height of the foundation slab and taken this into account. If they didn’t know the height of the connection point, they should have asked for it—that is what professionals are paid for.
Did you have a site meeting where the zero level or top edge of the finished floor was established? Did you sign off on this?
Was a surveyor involved? Does the height of the house match what was submitted in the building permit / planning permission?
Did you have a site meeting where the zero level or top edge of the finished floor was established? Did you sign off on this?
Was a surveyor involved? Does the height of the house match what was submitted in the building permit / planning permission?
I share a similar view as tomtom. Right now, it’s still somewhat easy to fix, but just imagine if the general contractor had built the house half a meter (1.6 feet) lower and a lifting station had to be installed. I can’t imagine there isn’t a planning or execution error on the part of the general contractor or during the surveying.
E
erazorlll24 Sep 2020 12:50I generally agree with you, and the statements are completely correct. However, there are two perspectives here.
Who should have taken it into account? Clearly, the planner and the construction company should have double-checked or, ideally, asked for clarification.
What about the legal aspect? That depends on the specific situation and is a different matter. We don’t know the contracts and plans, but if a height is indicated on any plan, confirmed by the client, and then built accordingly, the argument "should have taken it into account" doesn’t help much anymore. In that case, the planner later says they implemented the client’s request, and the construction company says they built accordingly.
I believe the key point to evaluate the situation is the plans and exactly what was confirmed or signed off by the client.
Who should have taken it into account? Clearly, the planner and the construction company should have double-checked or, ideally, asked for clarification.
What about the legal aspect? That depends on the specific situation and is a different matter. We don’t know the contracts and plans, but if a height is indicated on any plan, confirmed by the client, and then built accordingly, the argument "should have taken it into account" doesn’t help much anymore. In that case, the planner later says they implemented the client’s request, and the construction company says they built accordingly.
I believe the key point to evaluate the situation is the plans and exactly what was confirmed or signed off by the client.
Of course, it is important to verify what the client has signed and, if applicable, what planning services were included in the scope of work.
My house was built 7 years ago, but I am fairly certain that the utility planning was carried out by the general contractor’s architect up to the shaft (which was already on our property), even though, similar to the original poster, the actual installation was subcontracted. I cannot say at the moment whether the heights were specified at that stage. In any case, I am sure that during the meeting with the architect, we agreed on the height of the house with the general contractor’s architect.
My house was built 7 years ago, but I am fairly certain that the utility planning was carried out by the general contractor’s architect up to the shaft (which was already on our property), even though, similar to the original poster, the actual installation was subcontracted. I cannot say at the moment whether the heights were specified at that stage. In any case, I am sure that during the meeting with the architect, we agreed on the height of the house with the general contractor’s architect.
Similar topics