Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Nov 11, 2012 3:54 pm Hi guys Trying to find the ideal spot for our pergola.... One of the most suitable options in all other ways, would cut off wide access to our back yard and only allow enough room for a gate to allow a bin/wheelbarrow/path etc etc) but would not allow trailer/vehicle of any description. How important is it, do you think, to keep clear access to your backyard for a trailer or whatever else you might need to get around the back?? There is a hope to extend the house in the near future (ie within 24 months) but not sure if that requires "wide" access either?? Ie, most tradies don't need to drive in and timbers etc would get around easy enough. As in, you would still be able to get wider access for carrying things, but just not for anything that has to go across the ground because there will be steps up one side of the pergola and down the other (wheelbarrow/bins that need to move from front to back, if required, we would have to create a little ramp perhaps... or... leave room behind the pergola. Either way, we can get around that, it's the wider access I am querying. What are your thoughts? Is it a 'must' to leave room for wider access?? MInd you, thinking about it as I type, most houses these days really only have narrow side access or a door via their garage to the back yard. Not many have means of getting anything wide through... maybe I'm wrong? HHCIB Re: Access to backyard... 2Nov 14, 2012 7:16 pm I can't believe all these views and nobody has anything to contribute?? C'mon folks.... what do ya reckon?? Important to keep access or not? HHCIB Re: Access to backyard... 3Nov 14, 2012 8:39 pm Some access is a must for me but wheelbarrow access is fine. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Access to backyard... 4Nov 14, 2012 9:03 pm We are on a slope and had plans to encase the easement that runs along the boundary. Though council rejected that request and we to leave an 1.8 metre gap. Then we had to do some backfill and dig two dozen piers, having a bobcat drive along the boundary to the back saved us plenty of time. What was done in a day by the bobcat would have taken a week by hand. A very specific case though. Re: Access to backyard... 5Nov 15, 2012 2:59 pm We wanted to ensure there would be sufficient clear access to get a bobcat in on one side. We may never need to but given our experience in our current property we decided it was a must have. Re: Access to backyard... 6Nov 15, 2012 5:43 pm Thanks for some replies guys - appreciate it. Out of interest, how much room would you need to leave for 'bobcat' access (should we decide t0)?? They're quite narrow things aren't they? (Well, I'm sure they come in varying sizes, but to allow for a small one for a regular 'back yard' job....). Aren't they narrower/smaller than say an average car size?? Or am I way off the mark on that one. HHCIB Re: Access to backyard... 7Nov 15, 2012 5:46 pm Yes they are narrow, but they can be quite tall. So having a structure that it has to get under can complicate things. We were lucky we found a guy with a bobcat/excavator thingy (technical term) that was under the 2m height of our carport. Re: Access to backyard... 8Nov 17, 2012 7:51 am Hmmm... ..... thanks Smithieswife. Our other option is to leave a walkway/access behind the pergola (ie, inbetween pergola and fenceline..... but this then affects the look we were after ( ). There's always some variable thrown into the mix that we can't seem to get right. Our other option is to build it directly above the existing deck directly at the back of our house (we have open living with two sets of french doors opening onto a small deck). But the problem with that is.... that we are North facing and once we put shade up over the pergola, it will cut off the winter/autumn sun streaming in and warming the house up during those months - which I don't want to lose. Hence, why I was going to build it adjacent to the deck and then the outside living area would all be a kind of 'L' shape. Will keep thinking it through, I think by the time we finalise any plans (and get any required permits??) we might have missed the boat for this summer - definitely for Xmas.... so might just sit on it now and take our time to make sure we get it right. Any input/feedback welcome.... (but maybe time to move this over to the outdoor living section). Thanks again guys... HHCIB Re: Access to backyard... 9Nov 17, 2012 10:27 am How Hard Can it Be Out of interest, how much room would you need to leave for 'bobcat' access (should we decide t0)?? They're quite narrow things aren't they? (Well, I'm sure they come in varying sizes, but to allow for a small one for a regular 'back yard' job....). Aren't they narrower/smaller than say an average car size?? Or am I way off the mark on that one. HHCIB Rather than use a bobcat I have hired a dingo for backyard work these are only around 900mm wide and about 1200mm high. See this link http://www.anewhouse.com.au/?p=2437 The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Access to backyard... 10Nov 19, 2012 8:39 am HHCIB - I think the likelihood of you needing heavy machinery these days to come through to the back of your house is probably very slim. Our experience was that we had an old house with septics out the back that needed removing (not something you can do with a dingo or even do yourself with our council). Obviously this is not a problem most people have any more but it was enough to scare us into leaving extra space down one side for all manner of possibilities in the new place. Plus DH wanted a lot of back (or in our case side) yard space. I agree you should definitely not block the Northern sun in winter but I don't think you should stress too much about the side access if you really want the pergola to go where you have planned. Quote: There's always some variable thrown into the mix that we can't seem to get right. I agree and I think that can be the pitfalls of asking questions on forums like this too. Someone always thinks of something you haven't thought of or makes a suggestion which you love but can't work out how to work it in to the design. You can't plan for everything so sometimes you just have to go with what you want and hope for the best. Or compromise and hope you have the best of both worlds. Best of luck. Re: Access to backyard... 11Nov 19, 2012 2:50 pm There are also a few mini excavators usually with zero swing that have expandable tracks that allow them to compress their tracks to 900mm and expand to 1200mm. Check out this video, it shows what I mean about halfway http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVwXiAeVVaU Quite a neat trick, and very compact. Re: Access to backyard... 12Nov 19, 2012 4:22 pm Thanks so much Smithieswife and CandyCandy. CC - thanks for the video - good to know something like that is out there.... just in case Smithieswife, you are spot on - and thanks for kind of easing the burden of the decision-making. A) I don't think we will need access either but DP has reservations about blocking it off (and mum and step dad added to his concerns ). B) Really, the only reason that we might ever need access is if our dreams come true and we were ever able to afford to put in a pool (we can dream). But... C) I have thought of a way that we could either level the ground so there are no steps involved (it is only one corner of our yard that is slightly (one step) lower so we could just fill it a bit to make it level) - so that if access was required, we could probably manouvre it through the pergola (if we allow for height, OR remove top beams if needed). And/or ..... D) we back onto a school yard and the area behind us is primarily unused and there is a chance we could access via the back fence if really, really needed. So..... I think we will go back to our original ideas of having it off to the side, that way we can keep our winter sun coming in through the back doors and have an 'L' shape outdoor area. Now.... on to the the next associated dilemmas . (Ie overall design and how 'fancy' we want it to be?? How big?? How to incorporate (or allow for) a future outdoor kitchen?? What type of screening and flooring?? ). But these are all the fun parts, I think the hardest/biggest decision has been made. Thanks heaps Smithieswife, your post really helped. Yours too CC. HHCIB Re: Access to backyard... 13Nov 20, 2012 7:37 am Quote: HHCIB - I think the likelihood of you needing heavy machinery these days to come through to the back of your house is probably very slim. This may well be true - but I still think wider access to back yard is very useful. Wide enough for a trailer to get through - through garage is ok if you can have a roller door at the rear of garage or some other access - things like getting bark chips, top soil etc to your garden - much easier if you can do direct trailer load and not take wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow up the narrow side access. Re: Access to backyard... 14Nov 20, 2012 8:58 am No worries, HHCIB. Keep us updated on how it all goes. Re: Access to backyard... 15Nov 21, 2012 12:54 pm If you own a trailer or a boat, then being able to store it off the street is handy. Also, if you ever need to sell, then side or rear access can be your point of difference from other houses on the market. Not saying having side or rear access will increase the sale value of the property but it can be used as an additional selling point for prospective buyers. Re: Access to backyard... 16Nov 21, 2012 5:23 pm Thanks for the input KiD..... No boat unfortunately - and no trailer at this stage. We will still have quite a length of driveway should we ever accumulate anything along these lines - so we will have off street parking in that regard. And.... we actually have room on the other side of our house (at the front) should we want to create an extra driveway - which we have been thinking might come down the track when kids start getting cars - but that's a while off. It's just that you wouldn't be able to get get a car/trailer etc around into the back yard. But... maybe can now if we just make a few modifications (not that we want to ideally traipse a trailer or bobcat etc through our lovely pergola/living area - but.... it might be possible should we really need to. But parking anything along these lines - off the street - isn't an issue. Thanks also Helyn...... as I said, it might actually be doable - depending?? Mind you, at the moment whenever we need a trailer we borrow my step dad's and it's a small trailer - very narrow. So if we got something like that it would probably be able to get through - as long as we work out the 'step' issue which we think we can?? All food for thought still.... but thanks guys. HHCIB Re: Access to backyard... 17Nov 23, 2012 7:17 am We're only going to have 1m of side access to our house, it should be ok these days as many heavy equipment companies recognise the need for compact equipment have designed accordingly. A dingo maybe small but it will get most suburban household landscaping jobs done. Re: Access to backyard... 18Nov 30, 2012 12:15 pm If you wanted to do some serious digging at some point like say for a pool, they can use a small crane to get the bobcat in (it add extra costs sure) all take down the pergola and then put it back up. Re: Access to backyard... 19Nov 30, 2012 5:07 pm Hi Veefy.... Had thought of pulling down the pergola etc (it was just the steps up/down that would maybe have been left as an obstacle?? Hadn't thought of craning in a bobcat. Sounds like we will have options if we ever did need to get access..... good to know. Thanks for your input Veefy. HHCIB For reference, this is the Austlii reference. My take on this is, that they would be breaking the law denying access to a homeowner in Victoria, or their agent from having… 1 9070 The only thing to add to these comments is that where possible it's always good to try and work with people than just say "no" because you can. Having someone… 4 17107 |