After inspecting our new slab the Structural Engineer we hired feels pretty confident that the slab doesn’t have the necessary grade beams which were in the plans. How is this missed? My opinion, lack of supervision and possibly cutting corners. Question, what is to support the fireplace on the above floor? I think I know the answer, nothing. Glad that I caught it now instead of 5-10 years from now. And… the recently RE-POURED walls for the carport, well they’re actually foundation walls and not retaining walls. Meaning that our Structural Engineer will need to redesign our carport/deck plan – thanks Mr. Architect, great job. Oh, and I forgot to mention, the walls aren’t deep enough which means that we will need to redesign the plan since our GC has stated that he won’t dig it up. Totally doesn’t make sense with his stance, he screwed up so wouldn’t one think that he should replace it. Please make this stop, please!!!
Tag Archives: Carport
Footings Poured
The footings which will eventually be part of the foundation wall system to connect the existing house with the expansion were poured today. Yes!!!! 
Our Structural Engineer says they look great, however you would think that after all of the other previous bad pours and mistakes our GC would have been there to at least supervise. Nope, once again he left it to his subs. It is no wonder why we have had so many issues.
At least Max enjoyed seeing the cement truck, he was even able to press a button to extend the boom – what simple things that can make a 3 year olds day. At least he’s loving all of this and thankfully he’s too unaware of the sh!t storm his mom and I’ve been through with our GC throughout this whole process.
Being positive, while I’m still highly frustrated, at least we’re finally taking a step forward. Next up, foundation walls and then the slabs!!
That Explains Things
Our GC told us that they are supposed to finish the excavating for the footings as well as the grading today and they will pour either tomorrow or Thursday. We’re still trying to get them to drill for the grade beams, however their reluctance is puzzling. Our luck they didn’t do it but again, I don’t understand how they could make this mistake since they’re on the plan, but that hasn’t prevented screwups so far. I did have an interesting conversation with one of the subs today. I stopped by this morning and asked them about some of the previous mistakes and he told me that the majority of the time our GC leaves the decisions up to the subs and that they very rarely see him at any of their jobs; before, during or after. Yep, confirms my suspicions of there being a lack of supervision. 15% for sitting on his rump and quarterbacking from his desk – just answers so many questions as to why a lot of the issues/mistakes/screw ups weren’t caught.
Another Sacrifice
We found out today that we will now only have 1 entrance connecting both basements, I would rather not expand on it but I’m sure you have an idea as to the root of it.
Our Structural Engineer is still concerned that we don’t have the appropriate grade beams laid within the foundation however the concrete sub “thinks” they did it but did admit that he was unsure. Our GC? As expected he remained quiet. He has no idea being that he didn’t visit the site from grading until the day framing was to begin.
Tip to All: Make sure you have a good Construction Manager as well as GC. One who will visit the project, takes an interest in it and values his clients.
Dig It Out and Shore It Up
Our Structural Engineer met (spoke) with our GC today and was informed that the majority of the dirt has been removed which will give them the ability to properly connect the expansion with the existing structure. Now they will need to build temporary supports to support the existing structure as what was previously constructed by our GC was insufficient and basically put the existing structure at risk of collapsing. 
Better Than Any Toy
What is encouraging is the fact that she laid out the order of what needs to be done as well as how to do it. She pressed our GC for a schedule, yep, you guessed it – he couldn’t even begin to provide one. I hate this feeling that has been created. It’s becoming obvious that our GC has basically drawn a line in the sand that there are two separate parties at work on our house. Us along with our Structural Engineer, and then him and his subs – we’re supposed to be working together as a team. I don’t like this setup and I’m growing highly concerned as to where this is going to lead.
At Least Now the House Won’t Collapse
The temporary and proper temporary supports for the existing structure were constructed today, not as our Structural Engineer drew them but they are sufficient. Seriously? Can’t even simple drawings be followed? This is almost a joke, it’s as if our GC and/or his subs just don’t care.
No Idea and No Plan
Our Structural Engineer had a field meeting with our GC today. In her report she stated that he admitted that he didn’t have a plan or an idea as to how to connect the existing house with the new addition or underpin the foundation. He knew he needed to pour the foundation wall and connect it to the house for structural support as well as for waterproofing but he just didn’t know where or how? Concerning, when was he going to ask someone, is that why we’ve been on hold for weeks? Basically it came out during the meeting that he had no idea how to properly put in the foundation and shouldn’t have poured it.
It just won’t end, we also found out today that one of the walls in our carport should have been poured as a retaining wall but instead it was built as a foundation wall. So now our Structural Engineer will need to go back and redesign the framing plan to redistribute the weight of what is hopefully going to be built on top. Not sure if it was our GC or architect who screwed this up – thanks guys.
I wish that I could say that was all, however we also discovered that our GC not only forgot to install a drainage system for the basement but also, and for the 2nd time, he forgot to stub for the wet bar.
I’m going to bed, I can’t even imagine how it could get worse but that is one place where our GC continues to amaze me. How can one screw up so much? It’s as if he just doesn’t give a crap about it.
A New Start
While I was instructed (told by Julie) that I couldn’t attend because of my anger towards our GC, Julie and our Structural Engineer actually met with him this morning and initially it seems as if progress was made – Wonderful!!! Our Structural Engineer had a slew of questions for him regarding his plans for the joist system, support of the existing structure since he removed the majority of the original support columns, various load bearing wall questions as well as a few about the carport foundation wall. Unfortunately but not surprising, both of them told me that it seemed as if it was all Greek to him and he actually kept making the statement that his plan was to “figure it out as we go along” – same line I’ve heard from him so many times and look where it got us.
As for the progress, he agreed to remove all of the framing this Tuesday as well as clean out the existing basement and then the Structural Engineer will meet with him and the foundation guy to discuss the next steps. Our Structural Engineer will design the framing as well as the roofing plan versus the one supplied by our GC which he admitted was created by a computer at a building supply store and not an engineer as he had previously stated…and billed. Our GC also said he was unaware that there were 2 entrances from the new to the existing basement – clearly marked on the plans and JUST discussed in our meeting on May 17th. I’m wondering if when he is faced with something confusing or for which he doesn’t have an answer if his solution is to act as if he forgot about it and hope that it doesn’t come back up?
Bottom-line, progress was made. We’re moving past what was previous done or not done. We’re making sure that everything is structurally sound and we’re going to get this house built!!! At least that’s the plan.
Morningside Renovation 