Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Aug 21, 2023 11:33 pm Hi! First time builders here, currently building a new house in Victoria and are a bit stuck on questions around existing fences and retaining walls. We’re building in an older area, with existing timber fences that are about 30 years old. Prior to starting the build, the ground was level with the bottom of the fence. The land has been built up so the slab is raised. On the plans and building permit, it specifies a retaining wall alongside the fence (there is about a metre between the fence and the hose) On the contract, under “customisations and upgrades”, it says “Retaining walls have not been priced unless nominated on the quote.” We are almost at completion now and the fence is almost half buried on the house side under soil - essentially, the old timber fence is acting as a retaining wall. For us to build the retaining wall now ourselves will be significantly more expensive than of we’d done it at the start (which we would have, had we understood it was our responsibility, if it is). My questions are - * if the retaining wall is in the plans and permit, should it be the builders responsibility to build it? * can the builder build up the soil against a fence like this, or do they need to clean it up so the fence is clear? * who can we reach out to for help/advice on this? Thanks for reading and any advice you can provide Before start Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Current Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ CurrentLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Existing fence and retaining wall questions 2Aug 22, 2023 12:05 pm The present condition is unsatisfactory and the retaining wall should have been built by the builder. If the builder genuinely wanted to exclude the retaining wall then the builder should not have started untill you built it. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Existing fence and retaining wall questions 3Aug 22, 2023 2:58 pm Lgd Hi! First time builders here, currently building a new house in Victoria and are a bit stuck on questions around existing fences and retaining walls. We’re building in an older area, with existing timber fences that are about 30 years old. Prior to starting the build, the ground was level with the bottom of the fence. The land has been built up so the slab is raised. On the plans and building permit, it specifies a retaining wall alongside the fence (there is about a metre between the fence and the hose) On the contract, under “customisations and upgrades”, it says “Retaining walls have not been priced unless nominated on the quote.” We are almost at completion now and the fence is almost half buried on the house side under soil - essentially, the old timber fence is acting as a retaining wall. For us to build the retaining wall now ourselves will be significantly more expensive than of we’d done it at the start (which we would have, had we understood it was our responsibility, if it is). My questions are - * if the retaining wall is in the plans and permit, should it be the builders responsibility to build it? * can the builder build up the soil against a fence like this, or do they need to clean it up so the fence is clear? * who can we reach out to for help/advice on this? Thanks for reading and any advice you can provide Before start Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Current Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ CurrentLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I would argue that it sounds like the builder has excluded retaining walls from the contract, which is something project home builder's typically do and it is now your responsibility. However, what they should do is a site scrape and remove the excess soil from the boundaries away from the fences to leave those areas clear, thereby allowing you to construction your own retaining walls and then you can backfill to level the sides. It's rather messy and lazy to leave all that soil there but they are obviously trying to save themselves money. I would also assume that there should be side drainage ( check your hydraulic plan) and they should be leaving the levels so they are compatible with the drains ie if the soil is too high then your drains will be buried. Anyway, best of luck Simeon Architectural Homes & Duplexes - specialising in custom designing homes to your budget Get a Free Onsite Consultation Today or send a PM for information, questions or advice. Re: Existing fence and retaining wall questions 4Aug 22, 2023 4:08 pm Great example for the value of independent pre contract review Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Existing fence and retaining wall questions 5Aug 22, 2023 4:59 pm building-expert Great example for the value of independent pre contract review Couldn't agree more! Having an independent person who understands contracts and construction who can raise questions, especially about the exclusions list is so important. Whenever someone sends me a contract for some advice I always look to see what isn't included first as that can be very revealing. Architectural Homes & Duplexes - specialising in custom designing homes to your budget Get a Free Onsite Consultation Today or send a PM for information, questions or advice. 2 7546 Not sure what council area you are in. Some LGA's allow zero lot retaining walls. This usually occurs in greenfield developments but not often in established areas. You… 1 8257 Thank you again Simeon.. I will call my certifier for that. Have a good day 4 5197 |