The architect changes without consultation and now I have to pay

Hello,

I am building with a general contractor. The architect, whom I have seen once, changes the plans as she pleases. Doors are made narrower, she planned a window for the attic, she divided a basement room without an order to accommodate the heating... I was never informed about additional costs by the general contractor. Now I am receiving the invoice for the costs. Since I never received the contracts for work to sign despite multiple requests, I refuse to pay the additional costs. What is the legal situation? Do I have to bear such costs?

Does anyone know about this?

Best regards

Drimu

Hello,

I am building with a general contractor. The architect, whom I have seen once, changes the plans however she pleases. Doors are made narrower, she planned a window for the attic, she divided a basement room without order to accommodate the heating... I was never informed by the general contractor about additional costs. Now I am receiving the invoice for the costs. Since I never received the contracts for signature despite repeated requests, I refuse to pay the additional costs. How does this look legally? Do I have to bear such costs?

I think you are confusing "execution plans" with the contract for work, because you certainly signed the latter, otherwise your general contractor would not have started working at all.

Be that as it may, the GC _must_ have you countersign the execution plans; otherwise, he cannot charge you for changes (only if they deviate from the actual contract for work).

If I interpret your statements correctly, your GC has not yet started with the construction work, so getting external and professional support should be considered. NOTE: what you can avoid in the beginning lets you sleep more peacefully later.

Kind regards

Hello construction expert,

the contractor started in mid-July. The screed was already laid yesterday...

I only signed the building application and the construction contract. Nothing else. I increasingly have the feeling of not being taken seriously as a woman on the construction site.

I had one door widened again. Another door had to be moved to the position I had marked. I noticed the window in the attic early in the plans and had it removed... (all free of charge) There are numerous openings in the house for cables and water pipes that were not used at all... This keeps happening all the time. Meanwhile, of course, I am very worried about what might have gone wrong without me noticing it until now.

This week the plasterers want to apply the final coat of plaster. At these temperatures and constant rain? Is that even possible?

Which specialist would you recommend to take a "look" at my construction before it’s too late?

Best regards

Drimu

Hello Drimu,

...I only signed the building application and the construction contract. Nothing more. I increasingly feel like, as a woman, I’m not taken seriously on the construction site.

Not only there :(

...This week the plasterers want to apply the finishing plaster. At these temperatures and constant rain? Is that even possible?

As long as the shell is closed (shell, windows + roof structure covered), there should be no problems.

...Which specialist would you recommend to take a “look” at my construction before it’s too late?

If you are having your house built in the Bonn, Cologne, or Düsseldorf area, I can recommend a sworn expert; please send me a private message directly.

If your construction project is elsewhere, I recommend contacting the Chamber of Architects, the Energy Agency, or the consumer protection agency of your federal state and asking there for a recommendation for a sworn expert.

If it can also be a non-sworn expert, you can seek support from the Federal Association of Independent Experts.

Both options cost money, no question. Measured against the total volume and the existing lack of knowledge about the requirements in housebuilding (no offense meant, you are certainly excellently trained in other areas), an investment that not only pays off but can also protect against consequential damage and sometimes lengthy legal disputes.

Kind regards

As soon as the shell construction is closed (shell construction, windows + roof truss covered), there should be no problems.

...I believe, if you read her previous post...she means the exterior plaster! Because the screed is in... or is currently being done... which means the interior plaster is already there.

With the exterior plaster, the question of feasibility rightly arises. Most plaster manufacturers specify not to work in rain... furthermore, the temperature must not be below 5°C... neither when applying the plaster nor during the following night... otherwise, significant frost damage threatens... apart from poor adhesion.... in addition, the plasterer MUST first measure the remaining moisture of the masonry... if it is still too wet... then there is no way to apply exterior plaster!

Hello Bauline,

...When it comes to exterior plaster, the question of feasibility rightly arises. Most plaster manufacturers specify not to work in rain... furthermore, the temperature must not be below 5°C... neither during application nor the following night... otherwise, significant frost damage threatens... aside from poor adhesion.... moreover, the plasterer MUST first measure the residual moisture in the masonry... if it is still too wet... then no exterior plaster can be applied!

All correct, no question.

In my response, I assumed—especially since "finish plaster" was mentioned—that the base coat is sufficiently dried (minimum curing time for base coat). It is always advisable to apply the finish coat to the base coat afterwards => air/building component temperature +5°.

Kind regards