Our side return builder is asking us to pay extra to excavate 150mm beside DPC

[LearningAboutMyHome]

Hey!

 

I wondered if someone might be able to help? I’m not a DIYer but wanting to swat up on our build. Our builder wants to charge us to excavate the alley next to our new side return wall in order to meet the 150mm dpc requirement.
Is this a universal requirement for new walls or is our building control person being tricky?

Should we pay an additional fee to our builders for this or is this part of the build?

(paying 100k for 2x6m side return kitchen and new w/c)

 

*forgot to add we’re partway through the build

 

thanks in advance

 

 

Edited July 15, 2022 by LearningAboutMyHome

[ProDave]

More details?  How big is the extension I read that as 6 metres by 2 metres?

 

Surely you design the wall construction to put the DPC 150mm aboge the ground level?  What do the plans say?

[Roundtuit]

I can't think of a way of your builder justifying an additional charge tbh; it should have been priced in, but even if they did, we're surely only talking about a couple of hundred quid for half a day's work?

[PeterW]

Do you have a photo of what is being requested as I can’t visualize how he’s built a wall without doing that anyway.  The footings will be at least 100mm either side of the wall - is he saying he has back filled it and you now want it opened up again..?

[LearningAboutMyHome]

These are the photos of our build! We’re keeping a side alley access. Does this make any sense to anyone?

[LearningAboutMyHome]

On 16/07/2022 at 08:08, PeterW said:

Do you have a photo of what is being requested as I can’t visualize how he’s built a wall without doing that anyway.  The footings will be at least 100mm either side of the wall - is he saying he has back filled it and you now want it opened up again..?

Theyve allowed the 100mm footing, so I’m not sure what the extra 150mm excavation is for?

[LearningAboutMyHome]

On 15/07/2022 at 22:21, Roundtuit said:

I can't think of a way of your builder justifying an additional charge tbh; it should have been priced in, but even if they did, we're surely only talking about a couple of hundred quid for half a day's work?

No we’re really confused too. 
have added photos in a reply below. 
they asked for 2k to remove patio and excavate 5x3m! That’s surely ludicrous!?

[PeterW]

Single skin doesn’t meet building regs ..! And they aren’t tying the wall in - what plans are they following.??!

 

And how are they dealing with that soil stack ..?!

[ProDave]

..... And the boiler and it's flue.

[Canski]

Tbf that’s a bugger of a steel to get in. It does look like the boiler and svp wall is coming out anyway. Are they contracted to do the plumbing ? Or more to the point have you got a fixed price broken down into stage payments ? It’s a bit early on the project for fabricated extras . 

[Temp]

On 15/07/2022 at 20:01, LearningAboutMyHome said:

Our builder wants to charge us to excavate the alley next to our new side return wall in order to meet the 150mm dpc requirement.

 

The DPC is normally 150mm above ground level (three brick courses). How high have they put it in the wall? You don't really want to lower the ground level outside if that will form a trench that potentialoy fills up with water. Instead the DPC goes higher up and the DPM on the inside laps up the wall. 

 

 

Building Control should be involved due to the scale of the work.  Might be worth double checking they have recieved a Building Control notice at least. 

[LearningAboutMyHome]

9 hours ago, Canski said:

Tbf that’s a bugger of a steel to get in. It does look like the boiler and svp wall is coming out anyway. Are they contracted to do the plumbing ? Or more to the point have you got a fixed price broken down into stage payments ? It’s a bit early on the project for fabricated extras . 

You’re right. Boiler wall and soil stack are temp as we’re living here still!

 

 

[LearningAboutMyHome]

Thank you- this makes sense. Will measure how high up the wall it is.