ᐅ Plot with a slope. Planning to build a bungalow with a double garage.
Created on: 1 Feb 2017 12:20
2
2000youandme
Hello forum members,
I own a sloped plot of land where I plan to build a bungalow with a double garage.
The construction contract has already been signed with a building company.
In the contract documents, the double garage is directly attached to the house, and the contract states: "The bungalow will be founded on a slab-on-grade with strip footings or approximately an 80 cm (31 inch) gravel cushion foundation to compensate for the slope of the site."
Now the plot has been leveled. The slope measures approximately 2 meters (6.6 feet) in total. After that, I was sent a new drawing showing the garage detached from the bungalow, with a walkway between the garage and the house, and the house positioned lower down the slope. I informed the builder that I want the original design as planned from the beginning, with the garage and bungalow connected and at the same height. However, the company was not happy with this. Now I have received a work order stating “install 175 cubic meters (6,183 cubic feet) of compactable gravel base layer beneath the footing as additional slope compensation” at a gross price of 7,392 euros, which I am supposed to sign.
Am I required to cover the cost for the gravel?
The contract drawing shows the garage attached to the house, and the land has always had this slope. Approximately 80 cm (31 inches) is given as an estimate and shouldn’t mean a maximum of 80 cm, right? From the start, I informed the company that the slope of the plot is about 2 meters (6.6 feet).
I would greatly appreciate your opinions.
Kind regards
I own a sloped plot of land where I plan to build a bungalow with a double garage.
The construction contract has already been signed with a building company.
In the contract documents, the double garage is directly attached to the house, and the contract states: "The bungalow will be founded on a slab-on-grade with strip footings or approximately an 80 cm (31 inch) gravel cushion foundation to compensate for the slope of the site."
Now the plot has been leveled. The slope measures approximately 2 meters (6.6 feet) in total. After that, I was sent a new drawing showing the garage detached from the bungalow, with a walkway between the garage and the house, and the house positioned lower down the slope. I informed the builder that I want the original design as planned from the beginning, with the garage and bungalow connected and at the same height. However, the company was not happy with this. Now I have received a work order stating “install 175 cubic meters (6,183 cubic feet) of compactable gravel base layer beneath the footing as additional slope compensation” at a gross price of 7,392 euros, which I am supposed to sign.
Am I required to cover the cost for the gravel?
The contract drawing shows the garage attached to the house, and the land has always had this slope. Approximately 80 cm (31 inches) is given as an estimate and shouldn’t mean a maximum of 80 cm, right? From the start, I informed the company that the slope of the plot is about 2 meters (6.6 feet).
I would greatly appreciate your opinions.
Kind regards
P
Peanuts742 Feb 2017 06:36If you signed for about 80cm (31.5 inches), it’s likely to be a real problem. If it was already verbally agreed beforehand that it should be 2m (6.6 ft), it would have been better to include that in the contract. As it stands, you will probably have to pay the price for this mistake. Be glad that you don’t face an excessively high bill, and remember for the future: many construction companies make many verbal promises and say everything is no problem, but they usually leave out the part about extra costs.
So from now on, always get everything in writing.
In your case, I would suggest considering a contract termination (even if you don’t want to) and see how the builder reacts. You can make it clear that no agreement seems possible if they cannot build the house as agreed in the contract and you don’t accept their significant changes.
So from now on, always get everything in writing.
In your case, I would suggest considering a contract termination (even if you don’t want to) and see how the builder reacts. You can make it clear that no agreement seems possible if they cannot build the house as agreed in the contract and you don’t accept their significant changes.
2
2000youandme2 Feb 2017 18:41Thank you very much for your help! We have reached a compromise and come to an agreement.