error on wall dimensions

[Itsmee help]

apologies but this is a mainly a rant in the hope that someone can help save my sanity.
Firstly I’ll start with I was told by multiple family members for years that I could ask them for all relevant advice on housebuilding - renovating. We were not new to this whole thing. We’ve renovated two houses completely ourselves.
And that’s were the good part of the story ends ,

we planned an extension & renovation of a timber framed bungalow. The new bit is all singing and dancing . All looks amazing if we ever get that far......

Founds dug, all poured and footings went in. It seems tho that between marking out and building of the block up they are now too narrow on two of the walls. Is this our fault or his ?

 

[bernardgreen]

If the foundations match the drawings provided to the groundworker then the person who drew the drawings is at fault.

If the foundations do not match the drawings provided to the groundworker then the groundworker is at fault.

 

[Notch7]

It all depends where the error originated.

If the builder was given dimensioned plans which show correct dimensions, then the builder is wrong.

If you engaged a groundworker and separate brickie, then thats more complicated.

How far out are we talking?

If you have only got blockwork up to damp, then re doing 1 run of foundation etc may not be too expensive. The problem is if its the builders fault abd he refuses to accept that, you end up in a stalemate with no progress, possibly for 6 months or more.

 

[Itsmee help]

Ok thanks for that notch7, from what Your saying then it maybe won’t be a big deal then to add another 100wall to what’s there ? I’m waiting today on a builder to come offer his opinion and fingers crossed take it over.
Thank you for your reply !

 

[Notch7]

Ok thanks for that notch7, from what Your saying then it maybe won’t be a big deal then to add another 100wall to what’s there ? I’m waiting today on a builder to come offer his opinion and fingers crossed take it over.
Thank you for your reply !

Well.....maybe! There isnt much info to go on.

Do you mean you have 1 wall that needs moving 100mm? -if so it might sit on the existing foundation, but bear in mind thst becomes eccentrically loaded, so the load will have an influence.

It is possible to put in an adjacent foundation, but the pain is having to do a hand dig and paying for a small concrete load etc. Im not sure whether its possible for a wall to straddle 2 foundations, maybe if they are locked together with re-bar, I dont know.

If the slab is poured already that adds another complication......

 

[^woody^]

This side of the line, that side of the line, the line is the centreline ...... it happens

It depends on how far out things are as to whether some additional concrete or blocks can be dropped in, or the foundation wall oversailed if not too much.

 

[Itsmee help]

Builder has just left, he’s in agreement we have more than enough room for the 100 wall built internally and tied into original footing , so I’m certainly a whole lot happier. That’s the pressure off that part.

today’s builder and now yesterdays concrete slab rep have said that a slab floor is highly unnecessary and it was our architect being overly fancy that suggested it. They’ve both recommended hardcore and poured concrete can I ask maybe would you know why. Is it just much better insulated ?

 

[^woody^]

concrete can I ask maybe would you know why

Because its easier for the builder.

Never change a specification on the builders say so without confirming it with the designer or the buioding inspector first.

And if you do change a specification then always ask what the cost reduction will be for you.

 

[Itsmee help]

Thanks a lot woody. The slab concrete rep says That since It’s an extension and our original founds Are not deep themselves it would be wholly unnecessary. He says if we want it slabbed as original drawing then he’s more than happy to carry on as instructed but in his opinion wasn’t warranted ?

 

[^woody^]

Presumably you are working to approved plans, if so you need to confirm with the building inspector if you want to do anything different.

A rep is a rep not a designer, so wont have any responsibility if what they say you can do (or what they think) turns out to be completely wrong.

 

[John D v2.0]

What's the difference between a slab and poured concrete? I thought pouring concrete is how slabs are created? Or do you mean beam and block, or insulation under/over the slab?

 

[Itsmee help]

Thanks again. I’m going to call building control in the morn and check what they are happy with hoping also to speak to the architect and have him answer as to why the other two are disagreeing.

 

[noseall]

today’s builder and now yesterdays concrete slab rep have said that a slab floor is highly unnecessary and it was our architect being overly fancy that suggested it. They’ve both recommended hardcore and poured concrete can I ask maybe would you know why. Is it just much better insulated ?

As said previous, A floor slab and poured concrete are essentially the same. We haven't a clue what you are on about.

 

[Itsmee help]

150mm deep prestressed concrete slab floor was the exact detail in the original quote : versus the suggestion now of hardcore, tamped down before pouring then concrete.

 

[noseall]

150mm deep prestressed concrete slab floor was the exact detail in the original quote : versus the suggestion now of hardcore, tamped down before pouring then concrete.

You mean a suspended concrete block and beam floor?