Basement walls from 1935

[Enannananna]

We are in the process of replacing windows in the basements of our housing cooperative. At the same time, we are taking the opportunity to make the window openings larger for better light intake, which means that concrete walls from 1935 will need to be cut. Now the builder has emailed that he wants more payment because the wall contains "...unusually large coarse aggregate, including larger stones/rock fragments. We had assumed the walls were made of standard concrete." Is what the builder writes correct, i.e., could one not expect this in a basement wall of a two-story wooden house built in 1935?

 

[Maestrono]

That was the dumbest thing I've heard. What does the agreement look like? In 1935, they probably threw in whatever was available in the concrete as ballast. Not exactly standardized castings then. The craftsman should be aware of that.

 

[cpalm]

What is the next observation?
"The walls bore a little more load than we had calculated"?

 

[grovspacklarn]

He can start by explaining exactly why this means extra cost in terms of time or tools - that is, explain specifically what it is he wants more payment for.

 

[Enannananna]

He can start by explaining exactly why this means extra cost in terms of time or tools - that is, explain specifically what it is he wants more payment for.

He claims that it is extra wear on the saw blade.

 

[Chokladmonster]

I think it looks like a classic concrete wall from the 20-30s. It has coarser ballast than how it would be made today. The builder with a little experience should know that.

If it's a fixed price, he has nothing to argue with, if it's on a running basis where millimeter wear on the blade should be measured and billed, he should have reasonably done this in the first billing. Sounds like he's trying to pull a fast one.

 

[Centano]

As mentioned, it appears to be a normally cast wall from the 1930s. It would have been interesting to hear what the builder expected in terms of concrete for the wall considering the year.

 

[grovspacklarn]

He claims that there is extra wear on the saw blade.

Great, then it can't be that much more expensive - saw blades don't cost that much - a few thousand here or there