Desperate - House is getting too small!

Hello,

The thing with the chimney is actually not difficult, because the architect did include a chimney in the building plan (I mean one that WE specifically had built). He even told my wife several times that we could put a smaller wood stove in the basement hobby room. So he definitely knew that we would get one or even two chimneys, and yet he didn’t inform the shell builder. As laymen, we didn’t even know which pipe is needed in the flue chimney.

Yes, that can very well become difficult. What if the architect and the shell builder shift the blame on each other? Can you prove that the shell builder was informed?

I would be interested to know how things are supposed to proceed now? The niche for the kitchen now has the dimension in the shell construction that it should actually have when "finished." That means: the ordered kitchen doesn’t fit. A wall in the living room that, according to the plan, should be 3.00 m, is only 2.60 m. We roughly calculated and about 8-9 sqm of total area seem to be missing (looking at the whole house). The house itself has just under 120 sqm of living space.

The fact is: the small shell builder might go bankrupt if he has to “fix” or redo everything. And what do I get out of it? I’m also under credit and time constraints. Above all: how should the house be made bigger afterward? The floor slab is fixed.

First of all, both should be insured; the architect through his liability insurance and the shell builder through the construction performance insurance. If both have managed their business seriously until today, bankruptcy won’t happen that fast.

Then, at least according to my understanding, construction should be stopped temporarily and the building should be measured by an expert. If your suspicions are confirmed, a discussion between architect - shell builder - expert - client has to consider whether and under which "acceptable losses" the status quo can be used. If no consensus is found here, demolition must be considered ... after all, only part of the shell is standing. In between, in my opinion, there is nothing...

Best regards from the Rhineland

Hello,

...., because we are in the Bauherrenverband....

I can hardly believe that. Both Bauherren-Schutzbund and Verband Privater Bauherren provide enough informational material where one can get informed before starting a BV!
I would rather consider the post a fake.
Otherwise, it is another example of how one should not do it! You really can’t be that naïve.

Outer dimensions: The batter board is provided/erected by the surveyor. But even they can make mistakes or be wrong! Who is flawless?
What kind of "pain" is it for a builder to check the outer dimensions with a tape measure? Ten minutes of work. In case of doubt, clarify before pouring any m³ of concrete!
Certainly, one can take the position that it is not the builder’s responsibility. That is actually true.
But: Prevention is always cheaper than curing afterwards!

Best regards.

What wall thicknesses have been agreed upon in the execution plans? How thick are the walls now? Has nobody measured the floor slab or the cellar?