ETC

No Jimbo - I’m not a PM - I work for a living and have had plenty of experience on sites and dealing with both contractors and design teams..... I’ve also met plenty of armchair “experts” who wouldn’t know one end of a construction project from another....

If a builder can’t follow simple drawings he shouldn’t be doing the job....plus he could always lift the phone and ask the engineer for a detail.....it’s not rocket science....and yes I’d get rid of any builder who can’t take simple instructions or who can’t read a drawing....if he doesn’t have the patience to wait and discuss a detail with a client or an engineer or an architect I’d determine the contract in a flash.....

And in any case of the builder was genuinely delayed why would he give off.....? If a client causes a delay in a contract there are remedies available to a contractor....this includes delays in receiving information.....and a contractor would be within his (contractual) rights to submit a claim for damages....

Nah......trial holes on an existing house.....rather than hen’s teeth......contingency maybe - trail holes rarely......sorry Big J but this is a builder issue.....

Not mad.....I think you’ve been very patient.....a builder who did this on my watch would get his arse kicked and them some....I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - works that are not in accordance with the contract(ed) works should be removed at no cost to you. I would always use a contract to protect the client and the contractor in instances like this......do you have a written contract?

Me too.....

I’m going to be a bit controversial and go out on a limb and say nope to this T......the builder appears at fault....works not in accordance with the contract should be ripped out and made good at no cost to the client.....and any delay to any timescale project is his responsibility and his alone - and he should know this. Foundations are notorious difficult to determine before works start and should be remeasurable based on rates - whether from a spreadsheet of from agreed rates. Yes - the architect and engineer may ask for additional fees but I’d like to think that any professional worth his salt would be embarrassed to ask for much if he delays in getting the information to the client in a timely manner. There’s no excuse in this day and age for an underpinning detail to take several weeks to deliver....... For what it’s worth - and if you are happy to accept any the mistakes he has made continue. If not move on but be wary of any contractual conditions in relation to contract determination.

The builder will be laughing all the way to the bank with the delay......having said that if the works aren’t in accordance with the contract they should be removed and at no cost to you.....if a builder makes a mistake it’s his issue not yours and any costs associated with the delay should be met by him - not you.....