PILECAPS

[SAINT007 0]

Hi All,

 

I am in the midst of newly erecting a semi D (about 3360 sqft)

I have undertook foundation system on my end away from my main builder (D&B) due to rising cost and uncertainty of the foundation system. The foundation system designed are RC piles which will be using total of 44 piles (250 X 250mm) . 

My main con has came back with a pilecap cost of 61K for the 44 piles (mixture of 2 piles , 3 piles ,4 piles and 5 piles to a pilecap).They have sighted pricing of pilecap is due to rising cost of raw materials, labour cost increase and large amount of manual work needed. 

Appreciate any advise if 61K is the fair amount for the cost of pilecap (for 44 piles) at current market.

Thanking all in advance. 

[snoozee 97]

if you think it's unreasonable, then get hold of the foundation plans from the PE and send to piling companies to request for quotations and see what they come back with. every project is different due to soil conditions as well as the number, depth and type of piling required so I don't think anyone can tell you if the 61K quoted is reasonable or not.

[SAINT007 0]

Thank you Snoozee for your advise. Unfortunately pilecaps are to be done by builders and it's normally part of super-structure costing. As the foundation system (piling system) is de-coupled from the builder in this instance thus it's the builder that will need to be involved in this instance which is to constructure the pilecaps. (i might be wrong on the above but that's the interpretation I am gathering from the piling company and builder.) 

Most builder have a way to estimate the costing of pilecap with a buffer percentage to it (basis no of pilecaps / no of pilecaps to a pile group).  

The piling system costing is very clear and made know with the foundation plan upfront. 

[snoozee 97]

Look at it this way. You already signed the contract with the builder and I assume it is without having the fixed total contract sum for everything all included. So even if your builder quotes you additional 100k for the pile caps which you feel is unreasonable, what can you do about it? Your house still needs to be built right? Unless you want to terminate your builder and find someone else to take over the project which will give you more headache and delays to project start and completion. 
 

this is why it’s always better to go the architect route to have the architect draw up all the tender specifications and requirements and builders tender the total project sum from the tender documents. This way, you won’t run into the problems you are facing now with uncertain costs. 
 

Sorry to say but you are kind of stuck with no choice but to accept whatever cost your builder quotes you even if you think it’s unreasonable. 

[SAINT007 0]

Yes, it's advisable to go to the architect route and have the specifications drawn up for tender process unless you specifically knows the full process and builder well.  

Thanks once again for your sharing and thoughts.