Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Nov 14, 2011 6:54 pm Not sure if this is the right place to post my questions, it has got something to do with concreting, also related to landscaping as well we drainage issues. Mods you know what to do if I'm in the wrong place OK here you go, Question: Who's right, who's not quite right and what would you suggest? Background info: I decided to get some quotes & ideas for landscaping and concreting while waiting for the builder to finish their slow cooking of my house (god knows when). So far I have received some conflicting opinions regarding what to do with one sideyard facing the neighbour (I'm on corner block). Neighbour's house is sitting proud 3 brick courses higher on waffle pod slab, (mine is stiffened raft), they back filled the side path with crushed rocks and slope towards my house, the worst thing is they don't seem to have any kind of drainage in place, so it directs water onto my house technically speaking. see photos below Quotes & Ideas from concreters: I have a few concreter showed up for quotes, three of them pretty much say "yeah concrete all the way to the fence no worry" but one of them said "I think you've got a problem, concrete all the way will make it worse, this side will end up like a swimming pool". He suggested I should have a 500mm garden bed along the the fence and then build a retaining wall to 500mm high, then concrete around the house, it not only solves the water run off issue from neighbour, and should I decided to have screening trees, it will be 500mm higher already. here is his plan: TBH, I quite like his idea, just not should if he's right or not. He also suggested I should top up the alfresco area as well make it higher. existing slab is almost level with natural ground. What do you think? http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k583/herfo/PB095261.jpg Built: Modified H3nl3y S0h0 Q1 in Melbourne :- Never again Re: Landscaping, Concreting and drainage issues 2Nov 14, 2011 9:26 pm "He suggested I should have a 500mm garden bed along the the fence and then build a retaining wall to 500mm high, then concrete around the house, it not only solves the water run off issue from neighbour, and should I decided to have screening trees, it will be 500mm higher already." TBH, I am not sure that this addresses anything. What is the 1/2 m high wall going to achieve? (unless his main point is the unmentioned ag pipe behind the wall, BUT what about the water on your side - it won't be getting easily into that same pipe!). I would do this: Slope your side land towards the fence as well (min. slope 5%) and then lay a socked ag pipe along the fence. Pipe to be sloped - towards the front by the looks of it (because it looks like the land slopes to front/street gutter??). The ag pipe would be at the lowest point of the land and next to the fence and would be catching all underground water from both sides. Once (IF) your land gains the natural slope (to front), just connect to PVC pipe and get it to a gutter outlet (or create a new one if it doesnt exist on that side). If one pipe won't be enough ( ), just lay two ! You can have soil-only OR some concrete along the house plus soil further to the fence. But definitely no concrete alone (without any ag pipes)! My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Landscaping, Concreting and drainage issues 3Nov 16, 2011 2:24 pm Quote: TBH, I am not sure that this addresses anything. What is the 1/2 m high wall going to achieve? (unless his main point is the unmentioned ag pipe behind the wall, He's a concreter, not a proper landscaper. Anyway he did say I need to run a AG pipe right under the garden bed all the way to the the crossover through the 400mm gap between 2 garages. if that makes sense to you. The retaining wall together with the AG piping should block and catch the run off from neighbours, just like the other h1 member Stevebuild's sideyard (Steve if you don't mind me pinching your photo) Steve's sideyard My sideyard my front yard http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k583/herfo/PB095265.jpg Quote: BUT what about the water on your side - it won't be getting easily into that same pipe!). I would do this: There will be 2 drains put in, first a spoon drain about 2/3 between the alfresco and retaining wall, and a channel grate right in front of the garage door all tap into existing underground storm water pipe. Drain holes location in blue and concrete in red area and garden bed and retaining wall in Green area Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Quote: Slope your side land towards the fence as well (min. slope 5%) and then lay a socked ag pipe along the fence. Pipe to be sloped - towards the front by the looks of it (because it looks like the land slopes to front/street gutter??). The ag pipe would be at the lowest point of the land and next to the fence and would be catching all underground water from both sides. Once (IF) your land gains the natural slope (to front), just connect to PVC pipe and get it to a gutter outlet (or create a new one if it doesnt exist on that side). If one pipe won't be enough ( ), just lay two ! You can have soil-only OR some concrete along the house plus soil further to the fence. But definitely no concrete alone (without any ag pipes)! That's exactly what he's trying to do, but instead of sloping all the way to the fence, he will create a gentle "V" shape concrete path. Would that works? Built: Modified H3nl3y S0h0 Q1 in Melbourne :- Never again Re: Landscaping, Concreting and drainage issues 5Nov 17, 2011 8:02 am First, I would try and have a chat with my neighbour telling him without any drainage his house might get flooded if we have excessive/extended periods of rain. Maybe they did not actually think about it. The idea of having the garden bed in my opinion will purely be for aesthetics. At the end of the day, if you have proper drainage and the concrete slope away from your house you will be fine. May be if you want peace of mind, you can raise the level of the concrete a bit more than you actually need it to be. Re: Landscaping, Concreting and drainage issues 6Nov 17, 2011 5:57 pm thegourou20 First, I would try and have a chat with my neighbour telling him without any drainage his house might get flooded if we have excessive/extended periods of rain. Maybe they did not actually think about it. I think they will tell me to sod off. The house next door is a so called builders ready built house, still vacant, the for sale sign has been there since the very beginning. I know who the builder is though. Quote: The idea of having the garden bed in my opinion will purely be for aesthetics. At the end of the day, if you have proper drainage and the concrete slope away from your house you will be fine. May be if you want peace of mind, you can raise the level of the concrete a bit more than you actually need it to be. If I have the choice, I would rather have a full width of concrete path so that my little boss can practices his tricycle drift there, unfortunately, as you can see from diagram 1, I cannot build up that area due to the builder's stupid slab foundation and 1 brick course dam-proof construction. My concrete path must be at or below the house slab rebate according to Guide to Standards + Tolerances. I'll need to plant some screening trees in pots there anyway, so a raised garden bed kinda make sense, it also saves me some precious life time waiting for the screening tree to grow higher. Diagram 1 Diagram 2 Would this be a better option? Diagram 3 Built: Modified H3nl3y S0h0 Q1 in Melbourne :- Never again Re: Landscaping, Concreting and drainage issues 8Nov 18, 2011 8:42 am Hey Emery, if you want your kid to be able to have the full width to ride his bicycle, then why dont you have it like diagram 3 but have the "shower grate" type drainage running all the way along the fence. It might be a little bit costly but it will look nice and you will have peace of mind. Re: Landscaping, Concreting and drainage issues 9Nov 18, 2011 11:52 am Going from the site plan you already have a storm water pipe in the middle of that section of land anyway. IMO it would be easier to put the drain inline(in the middle) and have the fall toward the garage as that is where it appears to be going anyway. EmeryBB I cannot build up that area due to the builder's stupid slab foundation and 1 brick course dam-proof construction. I cannot see why this would cause an issue. Reserving space for a long winded/detailed answer but I thin Diagram 3 is suitable. If you want a garden bed I can draw up something that may work. It is all going to depend on the depth of the current storm water pipes, regardless of which option you take. I would dig them out tat the garage and alfresco to measure how much depth they have and how much fall there is before doing anything. Re: Landscaping, Concreting and drainage issues 10Nov 18, 2011 1:45 pm thegourou20 Hey Emery, if you want your kid to be able to have the full width to ride his bicycle, then why dont you have it like diagram 3 but have the "shower grate" type drainage running all the way along the fence. It might be a little bit costly but it will look nice and you will have peace of mind. Hi thegourou, is this what you mean? so you reckon that channel should be able to handle the waters from both sides? Built: Modified H3nl3y S0h0 Q1 in Melbourne :- Never again Re: Landscaping, Concreting and drainage issues 11Nov 18, 2011 10:12 pm chrisandkate Going from the site plan you already have a storm water pipe in the middle of that section of land anyway. IMO it would be easier to put the drain inline(in the middle) and have the fall toward the garage as that is where it appears to be going anyway. That's what the other 2 concreters said, a grate style drain near alfresco and a channel grate right in front of the roller door. chrisandkate EmeryBB I cannot build up that area due to the builder's stupid slab foundation and 1 brick course dam-proof construction. I cannot see why this would cause an issue. It's not an issue as long as I don't concrete it higher than the bottom of the first brick. It is in the Part 3.3.4.5(c) of the BCA, Damp-proof course-installation states that "the height of a damp-proof course, or flashing serving as a damp-proof course, must be not less than 150mm above the adjacent ground level; or 75mm above the finished surface level of adjacent paved, concreted or landscaped areas that slope away from the wall" Quote: If you want a garden bed I can draw up something that may work. Wouldn't mind some new ideas, it's mainly for planting some screening trees there. Thanks Built: Modified H3nl3y S0h0 Q1 in Melbourne :- Never again Need more photos from around the house including your gutters. We have had 3 of the wettest years in a row for some time so that wouldn't be helping 3 6949 Hi there everyone i was hoping to get some details and some clarification on some potential defects that may have occurred our recent bathroom renovation. 1. There seems… 0 6968 It will be neat but you won't have much freeboard. At least they are not weep holes. Are you in a high intensity rainfall region? The regulatory slope is only required… 3 8267 |