The Self-Inflicted "Change Order"

Architectural/Building/Construction Lingo: The "CHANGE ORDER"

Until I finished schooling and began working for an architect I was blissfully unaware of the term "change order". Suffice it to say, it is what it sounds like: an order issued during construction which alters the submitted plans and construction.

What you might not realize is that it is always accompanied by an added fee from just about everyone involved. Architects are famous for them and a great deal of air has been turned blue by the people who have to deal with the client and/or architect's whim. When you are dealing with someone else's money it can be easier to be cavalier about change orders. But today I learned what it means to be on the giving and taking end of a change order....issued by yours truly to.....yours truly. And yes, it ended up costing me money.

Here is what happened. When we bought the house there was a lavatory located in the basement in the aqua circle below.

Shortly after we finished the footing pour I stood looking down into the pit where the concrete was fast becoming rock hard. We had elected to lose the lavatory in the basement as the stairs to the basement, once moved, would be in the area where the lavatory had been. But now looking down into the hole I was at once inspired and beset with regret. I noticed the space that had been created by the new foundation just to the left as one walks from the old foundation into the new section. It is shown in violet above. It struck me as a perfect spot for a lavatory.

As we intend to have living space and a workout room in the basement and a lavatory would certainly be a nice amenity. However, if you have a toilet you must also have a waste pipe running to the septic line. The septic line runs from the aqua circle, through the new footing and out to our septic tank. If I wanted a toilet in there I would have to figure out how to get the waste pipe to the septic line. A quick call to the plumber, a consultation with Ron, a discussion with my wife, and the next thing you know.....you have become the victim of a self-inflicted change order.

Enter.....the dreaded concrete chop saw.....again.....price $75.00 plus the cutting disk.

One hour later, covered in slurry, chipped concrete bits, water, and sweat I had this 5.5"/14 cm deep and 6.5" / 16.5 cm wide trench bashed through the footing which had hardened solid as a rock. Oh what could have been avoided if I had only seen this an hour or two earlier!

The make-shift sleeve in place. When the plumber installs the waste pipe to the flange in the floor (not poured yet) he will run the waste pipe through the sleeve and out next to the footing where it will be tied into the septic line.

This is a sneak-peek of the foundation wall framing but it also shows the sleeve in place. The concrete will be poured into the frames and completely cover the sleeve and leaving a chase to run the waste pipe through.