Our GC informed our Structural Engineer that it will be Monday before they start back on the project – nothing like letting 2 great days of weather pass by without taking advantage of them. They’re suppose to do the rest of the underpinning on Monday, then move the incorrectly placed plumbing. He did say that they will be in touch about drilling for the grade beams on Monday – curious as to what they will find. Does anyone want to place a bet?
Tag Archives: Home improvement
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!!
Backed Up
GC informed us that it will be Friday, at the earliest, when the concrete company will be able to pour. He says that the concrete sub is a little backed up. Really? I hate, absolutely hate that I now doubt almost everything that he says and feel as if I can’t depend on him.
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.
Of Course
I found out today that our GC has yet to give our bank the required updated insurance information – why am I not surprised?
Save us Some Bricks
Nothing much to report however we did notice all of the bricks that will be removed from the existing house and thought that maybe we could find a way to use those, possible accent feature on an interior wall? Who knows? We like the idea though. Julie asked the GC if he could try to set them aside when they’re being removed. His remark, “we’ll do what we can”. Nothing more, nothing less. I have a feeling it isn’t going to happen. Great thought though and I would hate to see them go to waste.
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 