I recently was involved in a small boarding house project that undertook defects work. Access was required from the allotment boundary to the main entry door. As the house was elevated from the street frontage, a stair was proposed at the main entry door with the application of a wheelchair platform lift. Although a ramp was suggested early on, the client decided that the ramp would not be installed in order to maintain the building’s aesthetics.
Although this sounds simple enough, hoping to reduce construction costs, the builder did not construct enough step treads for the staircase. They failed to understand that removing the two treads meant that the path of travel (RLs) from the property boundary to the stairs/platform lift would be steeper than what was required.
This slight ‘cost cut’ resulted in the necessary modification of the stairway and provision of additional walkways, footings, slabs, and retaining walls. Additionally, new works had to cross finished grassed areas and manicured/designer landscaping.
The defect works delayed the OC an additional three months. Architects were re-engaged to issue new drawings, and the client was forced to submit S96 with the council, which resulted in additional total costs of over $100,000.
Remember, shortcuts are not always shortcuts.