Morningside Renovation

Our Journey Through The Renovation Process Of Our Future "Forever Home" In Morningside (Atlanta,GA)

Tag Archives: basement


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But It Makes More Sense

I sent an email to our GC today asking for a copy of the mechanical plans, he said that isn’t done with residential construction and they always figure it out on-site?  Damn, that scares me every time he says something about figuring it out on-site. 

I mentioned that water was STILL getting into the back bedroom and that we would not be paying for any damage that this creates and that I’m expecting him to do so. 

Also, showed how it would make more sense financially for him to remove the basement slab that he incorrectly poured and do it the correct way as well as what was in the plans versus the new framing system and all of the other various modifications that will now need to be made.  I asked why he wouldn’t consider it and I’m anxious to receive his answer as it truly does make sense to start over. 

I’m starting to have concerns if the job is even doable financially from the numbers he provided us. I think that I’m going to have a couple of people look at them and give me their thoughts to see if it can be finished.  I just wonder why else he would be stalling? 

More great news – I found out that another completed job of his is unable to receive a Certificate of Occupancy because of code issues, and I heard about ANOTHER judgement in which he is in default.  Not sure if this is one of the ones I previously found out about but damn this is scary – what are we doing?  Julie keeps persuading me to give him an opportunity to let him make it right but I wonder if he has the ability to be able to do so?


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I’m Really Trying

Our GC supplied us with 3 joist/flooring system alternatives since we won’t be able to use the originally designed system.  Still, none of these will give us what was in the plans with regards to ceiling height, why do I feel that I’m getting pressured into settling for something less than what was originally intended as well as highly achievable?  I’m trying to accept these options but it’s hard to get past that fact.


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I Hope He Understands

Today I sent an email to our GC letting him know that we want to stick with the construction plans as drawn.  Further, that I wasn’t comfortable with the way the carport slab was poured, being that it slopes to the house and that there isn’t an elevation change between it and the basement slab, both noted on the construction plans. I’m also wondering if the supports he put up for the existing structure are permanent or temporary – I hope temporary. 

All of this is starting to make me curious if there are other issues with the work that he has already done and we just aren’t knowledgable enough to know about it?  I would love to know all that Mike Holmes would discover – although I think even he would be overwhelmed.


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Poor Pour and Not the First Time

I asked the architect today about his initial plans with regards to the foundation pour and would he be concerned about the carport foundation slab being flush with the basement slab.  He was very quick to point out that it was a poor pour.  YIKES!!!!.  He said that he’s unsure how to handle this – I do, rip it up and do it correctly.  Also, found out that this isn’t our GC’s first time to have foundation problems and even more concerning is that he is currently dealing with the same issues at another house. 

I need some help, someone who can give me some guidance without having an agenda but is knowledgeable about construction.


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Like the Attittude

I received an email today from our GC basically saying that he agreed that the current pour of the carport wasn’t correct and that they will figure something out.  Possibly add a curb to it – I’ll need to find out more about it but hopefully this will achieve what was in the plans.


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I Don’t See How This Could Be Good

So I went by the house today after work and besides the fact that the retaining wall for the carport is in the wrong spot, I also noticed that the carport foundation is even(flush) with the basement foundation, plans call for it to be 1″ – 2″ lower with a gradual decline to aid with channeling water away from the house.  If that wasn’t bad enough, the carport foundation slopes toward the basement, basically channeling any water towards the house.  How does this happen and why am I the one catching it?


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Hope this Helps

Our GC informed us today that because of the issues surrounding the pour they are going to dig closer to the existing house to try to gain more square footage and hopefully achieve what was written in our plans.  He said that his engineer is working on the plans now so hopefully we’ll be able to come closer to achieving what we wanted.


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The Meeting

First, it is hard to believe that we’re spending so much money with someone to construct our home and this is the first official meeting that we’ve had.  We’ve tried but he has repeatedly told us that it wasn’t necessary yet and has basically made it feel as if we were being unreasonable and somewhat crazy for wanting to do so.  Anyway, our first meeting and it is to discuss all of the issues created with the slab as well as the framing.  Where do I start?

I let him know that I was pissed(politely), and that I couldn’t understand how any of this could happen.  As for the footprint of the slab not being correct, he said that it had to do with the elevation in the plans (he ignored my comment about field verifying) and that they couldn’t dig closer to the house.  Not sure why?  They did the first time they excavated.  Then he admitted that this was the first time that he had ever connected an existing structure with new construction.  What?  Why didn’t he tell us this when we first met with him and asked him if he had ever worked on similar jobs before and his response was that he was quite experienced and comfortable with it.  Also, if he didn’t know what in the hell he was doing why didn’t he at least enlist someone’s help that does have the needed experience?  What have we gotten into?

As for the carport wall and slab being incorrect, he said that he “honestly doesn’t know why it was done this way” but he did agree to remove the carport retention wall which now we might move further back to give us more carport area.  We asked him about the ceiling height and he said that he had checked it and it was correct – good at least it was dug deep enough.

In regards to the plumbing he couldn’t explain how it ended up in the bedroom but he offered to have it moved into the correct location if we paid for it.  Seriously?  You or your subs screwed it up and you want us to pay for it?  He then said that we could leave it where it is and just make the bedroom in the basement smaller by 2-3 feet – it’s already a pretty small bedroom – what is he thinking and the guts for him to even suggest that we pay and or make a heavy sacrifice for his mistake.  This ultimately would affect the value of our home as well if we ever decided to sell it. 

We said that we would get back with him shortly, I literally thought that I was going to go crazy because I was so mad.  The carport retaining wall will be removed so we’ll decide on the rest and get back with him but my feeling is that I want the whole thing either ripped up or him off the job and he can refund us what we have paid that he hasn’t done correctly.

Last, I asked again for Lien Waivers and of course he said that he would get them to us.  I’m not holding my breath.