Thread: Laitance on a new slab - how to approach removal/repair?

Originally Posted by Scouse

Black cats? I think I've killed a million of them.

We've owned this house for 3 years now & it's been disaster after disaster since then.

G'day Scouse,

Jesus Christ what a string of outrageous fortune based events your family have had to endure with your house, and during transit to and from!!!

How many lucky rabbit's feet have you strung around your neck. It was not too lucky for the rabbit's though

Kind Regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by V8Ian

What was Ron's involvement in all of that, Scott?

Well, he has been over here a bit lately......






I had another inspection of the slab carried out yesterday. The guy had an aluminium rod with a large flat tip on it which he used to prod the surface, mainly on the edges where the shed frame bolts down.
Needless to say, he wasn't too impressed with the top few mm just crumbled away.


He dropped it down in a few other areas (only from about 4-5cm) & the surface just chipped away. At a very rough guess, he said the surface appears to be about 10mpa in strength.


He was also concerned with one of the surface cracks (pictured below) which was too deep for his liking. He's worried that another slab on top of the existing one might 'break it's back' & he'll be talking to an engineer in regards to reinforcing the connection between the new top slab & the existing slab.
If the engineer doesn't like the existing slab, then it will have to be torn up & the whole slab started all over again.

Hi Scrouse

Just pickup on your thread, what a mess!

The cost of that slab is entirely the responsibility of the people doing the job until it is inspected and ticked off by your local building inspector.

But I may have missed some fine point where this job wasn't being overseen by your local ? Shire ? Council, then you will need to get some serious legal advice.

If that was my slab what would I do? Make sure there is a proper footing around the outside edge that under pin's the whole edge of the slab then pour another slab of at least 75mm to 100mm with reinforcing, on top of the damage.

Sorry if I am coming across as a arm chair expert, but I have enough to do with concrete to see me out, after the helping of building a Herringbone Dairy and that is a lot different to a home with a flat slab, as as Dairy needs to have slopping floors and yards to drain the water away.
.

Originally Posted by wrinklearthur

Hi Scrouse

Just pickup on your thread, what a mess!

The cost of that slab is entirely the responsibility of the people doing the job until it is inspected and ticked off by your local building inspector.

But I may have missed some fine point where this job wasn't being overseen by your local ? Shire ? Council, then you will need to get some serious legal advice.

If that was my slab what would I do? Make sure there is a proper footing around the outside edge that under pin's the whole edge of the slab then pour another slab of at least 75mm to 100mm with reinforcing, on top of the damage.

Sorry if I am coming across as a arm chair expert, but I have enough to do with concrete to see me out, after the helping of building a Herringbone Dairy and that is a lot different to a home with a flat slab, as as Dairy needs to have slopping floors and yards to drain the water away.
.

The plans go to council & they approve those before construction commences.
They then come around after the formwork/reo/pier holes are done & sign that side off.
They then come back once the whole shed is complete & finalise it.


I know who needs to pay for the repair, it's just taking a long time going through the appropriate channels to have it done.


I was wanting another 100mm slab (with F72 mesh) on top but the latest inspector has some concerns about the bottom slab being able to support the top one.






BTW, the 'r' in Scrouse is silent .

What a nightmare, house included and with a young family and all.

I've just had a similar saga with a Concretor over the foundations for a 52 m tower. After much vigorous debate, out came the jack hammers.

Good luck, personally I would be seeking to have it ripped up.

Time for an update.



The building inspection has been done, advised to have an engineer to inspect the slab to make sure it will be strong enough (even though he said he would talk to one...).

The inspector also tells me to start the NCAT process & any changes can be done after submission.
Paperwork submitted & then, surprise, surprise, I get a phone call from the shed concreter the next working day.
"Oh, if you just want a slab on top, we can do that for you" & "no need to go to the Tribunal, that will just drag things out". I tell him "he must be joking (or words to that effect) - how can it drag out any more, I suggested this to you nearly 4 months ago. Anyway, I need to have an engineer involved now".

Called a few local structural engineers, most didn't return my call but found one who said he'd come out the next day (Saturday) at 1pm.
1pm on the dot, he arrives - I tell him I'm shocked that someone has arrived when they said they would. And he's a bit of a 4x4 nut, 2nd (?) generation Pajero with bush striping so had a chat about a few places around Sydney.

Anyway, he says the slab will be fine for another slab on top but advised on using a bonding agent between them rather than plastic as suggested by my other concreter.

I sent this new report to the shed company last Friday & asked them to think of a reason as to why I should let them carry out the repair instead of having the Tribunal sort it out. I also told them that my out of pocket expenses is now close to $3000 so far.
Needless to say, the silence is now deafening.......




It looks like we'll meet in 3 weeks time for a hearing but, from what I hear, not much is done at the first hearing.

I was talking to someone about this last week. Their response was, if there is room, pour another slab beside this one and use this one as a hard stand for your vehicles.

There is plenty of room but then I'll have a shed where I don't want it.