Builder Didn’t Follow Construction Drawings

Prez2

What’s the accepted practice or procedure if a builder has not followed the construction drawings for certain structural elements on a house build?

Spotted some roof and lintel variations on the build compared to the construction drawings (used RSJ instead of steel lintel specified, doesn’t appear that the steel was tied to blockwork as specified, wooden ridge beam used instead of steel specified). Certifier said he doesn’t see any issues but he’s not an engineer. Said builder is experienced and to trust the work. Builder and certifier have no connection, we hired them independently.

These changes were not communicated to us or the certifier before being done.

Are we justified in requiring a structural engineer be hired to review and inspect works, at the builder’s expense?

Calahonda52

Any pictures?

What is certifier certifying?

Gumbo

Certified is not an engineer.
So who designed the structural elements in the first place?

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058406058/builder-didn-t-follow-construction-drawings

What does the contract say. This is the question that really matters. But who specified the steel, what did they say about the change. who is certify the the steel/structure as constructed?

Te following is all general advice, not specific to your house…etc.

Generally, roof should be tied to blockwork. That's an easy fix. Timber ridge boards are common, I'd be surprised if the designed of the roof put a ridge under high load. What was the spec of the lintel vrs RSJ? In general, RDJs are stronger.

Lumen

I'm no engineer but using a ridge board as a ridge beam would be kind of a big deal.

A ridge beam of any significant length is surely going to have to be LVL or glulam if it's not steel.

Tefral

What form of Contract did you sign with builder? Is it yellow or blue?

Was there a BoQ?

Was there an RFI raised and then the design changed by the engineer?

If it's all kosher and there was a change, you'd be well within your rights to request the saving on the steel v timber.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123381685#Comment_123381685

100%

There must have been some complete over specification if the build can practially go from an RSJ Ridge beam to a non structural ridge board without issue.

Who designed / specified the structural elements, and were they engaged to certify their installation?

Penn

There can be reasons why you'd switch from a RSJ ridge beam to just a ridge board (if you've replaced the loading and triangulation in the roof elsewhere through other changes), but really it should be determined by the engineer who sized and specified the ridge beam in the first place.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123382317#Comment_123382317

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123382344#Comment_123382344

It's not completely clear in OP. But my reading of it was that RSJ was elsewhere - and builder swapped in an RSJ for a lintel.
The ridge I assumed was a smaller steel ridge beam that was swapped for a timber beam, rather than beam to board. The latter is obviously an issue