New build after sales: builder made unauthorised changes

gettingtheresometime

You're best bet is to get a structural engineer to give his professional opinion as to whether the wall is sufficient or needed.


Then you'd be in a better position to argue your case

AdrianC

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

You're best bet is to get a structural engineer to give his professional opinion as to whether the wall is sufficient or needed.

They want the developer to pay, remember?

Je55lay

Thanks. We asked Persimmon to obtain an engineers report to answer various questions we put forward about the retaining wall. They refused and instead sent us an email from their own technical department answering our questions. They responded to the majority of questions with "we are not qualified to advise". The two questions they did answer were (1) what is the life expectancy of the wall (A) 15 years; and (2) what are the consequences of removing this wall (A) the soil and earth will become unstable and dangerous.

HouseBuyer77

To clarify does the the following sum up the situation?

1. Originally there was no retaining wall, simply a steep slope in the garden, all structurally fine, however unacceptable to you.

2. Persimmon dug out the slope to give you two flat areas, requiring the use of a retaining wall to ensure the earth does not move (or maybe 3? Haven't quite following the two tier bit). With that done the retaining wall is crucial to the house structurally?

3. Persimmon made this change without asking you? However did ask some neighbours who gave their permission?

Je55lay

1. Yes, no retaining wall. The slope was far steeper than we were told and we were unhappy about that. The solution we put forward was to move the shed at the bottom and provide some extra paving at the top to maximise the useable space.

2. We already had 2 flat areas, the upper garden and the lower garden. There was a very steep slope between these two which has now been dug out and a 2 tier retainer wall put in, so yes, essentially there is a third flat bit between the two retaining walls but is essentially inaccessible - you can't stand on it. And yes, now they have dug it out, a retaining wall is crucial. They have said themselves if we remove it the soil and earth will become unstable and dangerous. We cannot now remove it. A retaining wall was not essential until they decided to dig out the slope.

3. Persimmon undertook the works while we were out at work. We had no prior knowledge, we had not given consent and all we had asked for was the shed to be moved and a couple of extra paving slabs. The site manager had then attended at people's homes and talked them through it. We were not at home so we had no idea he had come round. 5 of our neighbours agreed they wanted a retaining wall and signed revised plans, 2 of our neighbours wanted it left as it was and did not sign. We knew nothing about it and therefore signed nothing. Persimmon subsequently told the contractors to do the whole row and now we're left with a retaining wall we never wanted which we have to maintain and replace every 15 years.

TDPIX

Firstly, sorry to hear about this situation - we recently bought a new build and have come home to find that garden work had been undertaken and it's a complete pain.

Not to muddy the waters so to speak, although just wanting to clarify - are you saying that when you left for work in the morning, there were no signs of an imminent garden wall at all? And then 8-9 hours later, there was a completely finished garden wall?

I ask because digging the trench for the footings might take 1-2 hours, then the concrete pour for the footings would take 1-2 hours - but would then have to set for 24+ hours, before it can be built on?

It wouldn't seem to 'add up' that they dug the footings, did the concrete pour, and then built on it - and finished all courses of the wall - in an 8-9 hour work day?

If this genuinely was the case, the wall probably wouldn't be stable as it would be built on weak concrete?

(I'm not an expert at this at all, it's worth pointing out - so some of the above may not be completely accurate - but I can't see how it was all done in one session?)

Je55lay

That's exactly what happened. In which case I don't believe there's any concrete underneath at all. No sign of a mixer or any concrete work. Something to ask Persimmon about. Should all retaining walls have a concrete base?

AdrianC

Je55lay wrote: »

Should all retaining walls have a concrete base?

No, utterly pointless on something like this.

gettingtheresometime

Je55lay wrote: »

Thanks. We asked Persimmon to obtain an engineers report to answer various questions we put forward about the retaining wall. They refused and instead sent us an email from their own technical department answering our questions. They responded to the majority of questions with "we are not qualified to advise". The two questions they did answer were (1) what is the life expectancy of the wall (A) 15 years; and (2) what are the consequences of removing this wall (A) the soil and earth will become unstable and dangerous.

That's exactly why I'd want my own expert, working for me, giving me their professional opinion.

Who ever did the engineering work for the site - & very often it will be an out sourced engineering firm - will have the answers but I would want my expert giving me their opinion first.

May cost you some money but might give you a stronger bargaining power

HouseBuyer77

If it can be installed within a working day I'm slightly surprised rebuilding it costs so much! Maybe retaining walls come in different varieties and what you have is cheaper to redo than you think?

Shelling out for a structural engineer to give you a proper report on exactly what has happened here and what is required in future to replace it may be worthwhile.