Morningside Renovation

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

Tag Archives: Carport


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We Should Just Start Over – long one but interesting read

So this morning I met with our GC and his concrete sub at the house to discuss the issues with the recently poured carport slab being in the wrong location as well as the lack of an elevation change between the basement and carport slab.  Basically the purpose was to provide me a solution that would resolve the potential water issues.  They certainly provided me with a few options, however none of them gave me any comfort and basically  their “solutions” all revolved around accepting structural modifications to the house which would affect the overall plan as well as value of our home.  They couldn’t give me an answer as to why such a mistake would happen however they did agree to pull the slab up as well as the foundation wall which was poured in the wrong location by three feet.  Before leaving I had a conversation with our GC basically letting him know in person that I wasn’t happy with all that has transpired and that my confidence was fading fast.  Interesting response on his end, acting like such an arrogant donkey he told me that our house wasn’t going to be perfect, Perfect.  And that we were just going to have to learn to accept some things.  Okay, Julie and I are more than prepared to compromise and we’re well aware that there will certainly be instances when we will be required to deviate from the original plan however this mistake is inexcusable.  It was poured wrong and that mistake could very easily present moisture issues down the road.  I’m not sure how to take his statement, but it certainly rubbed me the wrong way.  We’re spending a lot of money with him and had a lot of faith in his abilities but now he is basically telling me that we need to make sacrifices that would affect the value, plan and structural integrity of our future home.

So, I stopped by the house on the way home from the office. I just wanted to look at everything again and I guess a big part of it had to do with me wondering if there were any other mistakes that I had missed.  Having very little construction knowledge I really didn’t know what I was looking for but I do have the ability to work a tape measure.  After measuring the various rooms and noting the differences in actual versus what was on the plans I decided to measure the ceiling height.  I’m not sure why, especially being that just a few days ago our GC told us that the ceiling heights were fine, but I did.  Expecting to find a height of 96″+ I was shocked when my measurements were from 92″ – 94″. 

 Add sheet rock, flooring etc…and we’re basically looking at a finished ceiling height of 7′ 6″ versus 8′, that’s not even considering the mechanicals that will need to be run throughout. Mad, angry, dumbfounded, confused – I can’t begin to express to you all of my feelings.  How could they not dig deep enough? How does this happen?  This is basically the second time that they didn’t dig the basement foundation deep enough.  This makes no sense to me. 

To only add insult to injury I decided to spend a few more minutes looking at the framing.  Oh boy, again, I don’t know much about framing but I would imagine that the walls would need to reach the joist and that everything is level, especially the floor above – not so with our house. 

What’s even more disturbing is that some of these walls are load bearing.  Further, the exterior walls are mixed with #2 & #3 grade lumber, which I quickly found out once I got home and looked at the building code that this is entirely against code.  So for almost a month it has been like this and either our GC knew about it and just didn’t tell us or he didn’t even notice.  I really don’t know which is worse in my mind. 

I can’t begin to express all that I’m feeling however I did send our GC an email letting him know that I wasn’t happy about the slab not being poured at the correct depth as well as the significant deviations from the plan and the framing issues, being such I wanted both slabs removed and for it to be constructed according to the plans.  This would alleviate a lot of the issues, both depth and footprint.

I’m curious as to his response especially after the way he acting today, however I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t be in agreement.


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We Pay For You Being Incompetent? Naw, Not Us!

So today Julie and I met with our GC at San Francisco Coffee Shop to discuss all of the issues going on at the house and how we can resolve them and hopefully move forward.  I prayed a lot before the meeting for the strength of silence and to be reasonable but from the moment he walked in it proved to be difficult.  Forget the fact that he was late and sat down with his arms crossed while leaned back in his chair, it was more of his defensive and aloof disposition while making us feel as if we were crazy and the ones being unreasonable that tried my patience as well as tested my limits. 

The purpose was to discuss and resolve the issue of the basement not being dug deep enough and how could we accomplish what was on the plans, an 8′ finished ceiling in the basement.  He was quick to shift the blame to everybody except him; architect, subs, property, etc… but when I pressed him further it basically came out that he measured/calculated the needed depth incorrectly and never came back to oversee the work of his subs.  While he was quick to pass the buck to everyone but himself, he is supposed to oversee the job, what really ticked me off was when we started discussing the various options that would bring us closer to that which is in the plans.  It was quickly obvious and then blatantly so when he informed us that he was not going to pay for his mistake.  If we wanted what was in the plans as well as discussed numerous times then it didn’t matter if he messed up, it would cost us extra, we would be the ones having to pay the extra money for a new joist system. I’m not sure if it was his arrogance or ignorance as to where his standing originated but after using a fairly elementary analogy we eventually had an agreement.  Basically it was decided that he would pay for the new joist system as well as take the construction through framing and roofing all under the guidance of a structural engineer hired by us.  After all was completed we would evaluate everything and decide at that time whether we would continue to move forward with him, my hope is that we would – probably stupidity, but I still want to believe in this guy. 

What got me was his parting shot, he had the nerve to tell us that we had to use him, that we “had no other option than to stick with him”, that we either would have to stick with him or sell it.  What an arrogant ass.  I thought we were moving forward and possibly starting to move forward despite his attitude but to level such a stark comment was beyond professional.

One other interesting fact from the meeting with our GC, I would think that he has a fairly good idea about our plans.  As we discussed the plans it came out that he had no idea that we were planning on connecting the existing and new basement, even though it is in the plans along with being discussed verbally and in emails numerous times.  He then arrogantly informed us how that couldn’t happen but quickly backed off as I showed him on a napkin that it was achievable.  I guess all of my experience of building a bird house when I was a kid paid off. 

How? How did we, No how did I let this happen?  How did I put us in this position?  I thought that we had done the needed due diligence, we talked with his references but the guilt of putting Julie and myself in this position is unexplainable.  I trusted him, thinking back there were little signs that I should have read, but this experience has become all of the bad you ever hear about dealing with contractors.   Sure, I blame him, but I blame myself. I feel that I’ve tried to except some of the mistakes but this one effects not only the functionality of the house but also the value. 

Sad thing is that he’s correct, we’re trapped.  He knows it and I truly feel that he’s taking advantage of it.


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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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Pull it up and Get it Covered

Julie informed our GC today to go ahead with pulling up the carport slab as well as removing all of the previous concrete debris from past pour failures since he just had piles/chunks of it scattered throughout the backyard which we were concerned was creating a potential safety hazard for neighborhood children.  She also asked him to cover the unused lumber so it wouldn’t get wet.  Hopefully he’ll be able to salvage some of the lumber, I would hate to see it all go to waste.


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Lack of Communication or Just Incompetent?

I received a rather rude email from our GC today, his response to me asking that the carport slab be pulled up and poured correctly and re-poured as according to the plan.  Basically his feeling is that I’m being unreasonable for asking this and we should be satisfied with it. The slab was poured incorrectly and can definitely present a water issue with the house, it’s not our fault that he did it wrong.  

I also asked about the repeated delays, his crew has yet to work more than 3 days in a row, of course he wouldn’t address that question.  The carrying cost is costing us a lot of money, we were originally supposed to be in the house in May however now we are at least 4 1/2 months away if they hustled. He also chose not to respond to my request for a meeting to discuss how we can prevent further problems and delays – a lot of the issues that have arisen had already been discussed numerous times and should not have occurred.  Really makes me wonder if there is a lack of communication between our GC and his subs or if it is just simple incompetence?


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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.