Hello everyone,
we are currently building a single-family house with a general contractor and have registered here to possibly get your opinions from time to time.
Right at the start of the construction, we did not fully agree with our general contractor on the final invoice for earthworks.
Previously, we were informed in writing that the additional costs for earthworks were estimated and that the exact billing would be done after the completion of the measurement survey. We agreed to the mentioned extra cost. The site manager referred to the soil survey for the earthworks and calculated the amount of topsoil removal and backfilling with crushed limestone based on this.
However, the actual amounts of topsoil removal and backfilling were different because the subcontracted civil engineering company did not find the depth of topsoil removal necessary. At the same time, I must mention that, at our request, more excavation was done on the site than initially discussed with the site manager.
In the final invoice, we were then told that no additional costs would be charged to us and that the previously calculated cost estimates remain unchanged. I have asked the general contractor to provide us explicitly with the invoice from the civil engineering company. However, the general contractor is refusing to forward this invoice to us, stating: "A healthy amount of mistrust is good, but no trust at all...!" Instead, we only received a cost summary from the general contractor, which is no longer transparent for us.
What do you think? Is the general contractor allowed to withhold the final invoice from the subcontractor? After all, this concerns additional costs of about 7,000 euros (around 7,000 €), which unfortunately we have already paid!
Thank you very much in advance for your opinions and responses and for your effort!
Best regards to all fellow builders!
we are currently building a single-family house with a general contractor and have registered here to possibly get your opinions from time to time.
Right at the start of the construction, we did not fully agree with our general contractor on the final invoice for earthworks.
Previously, we were informed in writing that the additional costs for earthworks were estimated and that the exact billing would be done after the completion of the measurement survey. We agreed to the mentioned extra cost. The site manager referred to the soil survey for the earthworks and calculated the amount of topsoil removal and backfilling with crushed limestone based on this.
However, the actual amounts of topsoil removal and backfilling were different because the subcontracted civil engineering company did not find the depth of topsoil removal necessary. At the same time, I must mention that, at our request, more excavation was done on the site than initially discussed with the site manager.
In the final invoice, we were then told that no additional costs would be charged to us and that the previously calculated cost estimates remain unchanged. I have asked the general contractor to provide us explicitly with the invoice from the civil engineering company. However, the general contractor is refusing to forward this invoice to us, stating: "A healthy amount of mistrust is good, but no trust at all...!" Instead, we only received a cost summary from the general contractor, which is no longer transparent for us.
What do you think? Is the general contractor allowed to withhold the final invoice from the subcontractor? After all, this concerns additional costs of about 7,000 euros (around 7,000 €), which unfortunately we have already paid!
Thank you very much in advance for your opinions and responses and for your effort!
Best regards to all fellow builders!
I don’t understand? You hired the general contractor (GC) to carry out the additional work at a fixed price based on your survey. Now you had more excavation done, are getting it for the same price, and still want to see an invoice between the GC and the earthworks contractor that doesn’t concern you? You should be glad you don’t have to pay any extra.
So, you had more area excavated than necessary for the house?
These are in-house tasks that you arrange directly with the civil engineering contractor, meaning you should receive a separate invoice from the civil contractor for the additional square meters. The general contractor has nothing to do with this, right?
In my opinion, there is no offsetting here because everything related to the plot of land is your responsibility.
These are in-house tasks that you arrange directly with the civil engineering contractor, meaning you should receive a separate invoice from the civil contractor for the additional square meters. The general contractor has nothing to do with this, right?
In my opinion, there is no offsetting here because everything related to the plot of land is your responsibility.
Hello Wastl,
the site supervisor initially calculated the measurement based on 0.55 cm (0.22 inches) of topsoil excavation, but in reality only 0.35 – 0.40 cm (0.14 – 0.16 inches) were excavated. However, at our request, an additional 1 meter (3.3 feet) width was excavated for the future terrace, as well as extra space for one more parking spot than previously agreed. I recalculated using a simple proportion and estimate that the earthwork costs are about €1,000 lower, so it might be worth following up on this.
Thanks in advance for your response.
Enjoy the holidays!
the site supervisor initially calculated the measurement based on 0.55 cm (0.22 inches) of topsoil excavation, but in reality only 0.35 – 0.40 cm (0.14 – 0.16 inches) were excavated. However, at our request, an additional 1 meter (3.3 feet) width was excavated for the future terrace, as well as extra space for one more parking spot than previously agreed. I recalculated using a simple proportion and estimate that the earthwork costs are about €1,000 lower, so it might be worth following up on this.
Thanks in advance for your response.
Enjoy the holidays!
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