phased development, changes to joist specification- your thoughts on what I can do

[ndlyon]

apologies if my previous garbled message makes it on here too I was cutting and pasting and it disappeared.

I am on the third phase of a Kier development. There are nine houses the same shape. We all have the same problem with our floors, noisy excessive movement etc. We have had to move out to let them rip our ceilings down and fix the plasterboard noise. But there is still too much movement and noise in our house.

We know our joists are spaced at 600. A friend has moved into the fourth phase with the same dimensioned house just windows in a different place. Theirs are spaced at 450 verbally he was told it was for safety as there had been a few problems in our phase but they were all fixed and everyone was happy.

How do I phrase the question to my snagging rep so he cannot give me a wishy washy answer that hides the fact that after finding the defect in our properties they have put stronger floors in the new phase but are pretending they haven't. And would this give me leverage to get all our homes sorted out so the 4m span floor doesn't feel like you are standing on a trampoline when someone else walks in.

I would appreciate any guidance as even the cat makes the floor bounce and he doesn't weigh more than 5 kilos.

Thank you

 

[NewHomeExpert]

Your "snagging rep"? that's a new one on me.
You should employ your own independent professional snagging inspector.
He will carry out your instructions and act on YOUR behalf.

Joist should not deflect and the modern TJI type joists the manufcaturer's design should be religiously followed.
The most important detail is the span joist centres.
The joist design will be based on live and dead loading taking account of the joist depth, type and span.
As you said, the phase you live on has not been correctly built and your home must be investigated and put right.
As you state that Kier have moved you out and taken down your ceilings they will know what centres the joist are at.
If they didn't then correct this, a known issue to them, whilst they had the chance, then they are useless!.

If your joist are mnot at 450 centres, you need to WRITE to Kier head office with details of ALL your experiences and send a copy to the warranty company (NHBC or whoever). If your floor is bouncing as much as this, it is only a matter of time before it collapses!