Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Aug 22, 2008 9:45 am Hi everybody,
We have been told that when the building commences the temp fencing will go across the block a few metres from the back of the house. This will leave about 25 metres to the real back fence. I'm thinking that if we put our side fences in we could start on the back of the block landscaping wise. This part will be pretty umm...rustic...(polite for crappy). I just want to even up and build up around the trees to make sort of planter seats and a really informal chill out area. Maybe get some grass going. A path and flatten a trampoline area and a clothes line area for when we move in. It will then make the landscaping when we move in a lot easier and less overwhelming when we do actually get in the house. Our fences will most likely be post and wire. Am I stupid to do this? Better to just wait? Is there some problemn I'm not thinking about? Just wondering about the pros and cons. By the way, when they looked at our soil report the comment was, "This is the best soil I've seen in a long time!" Jo This is the back of the block. Not all the land in the pic, but some of it. http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u353/joles_photo/2008-08-22_17-06-28_22082008197.jpg I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Would you start on the block? 2Aug 22, 2008 10:06 am I'd wait, particularly if you need to get trades into do anything in regards to landscaping....your builder may not like it....remember they have "possession of site" including the bit that isn't fenced off, if there's any damage to anything it may start a finger pointing game.
Secondly, if you start to spend some real dosh on landscaping say....seating, mature plants, features, et al, and the site is not fully occupied things might walk.....either pilfered by the builder, other builders, neighbours. But I'm a paranoid freakazoid. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Would you start on the block? 3Aug 22, 2008 10:11 am I wouldn't start landscaping until they've finished construction - mainly because I don't want tradies trampling my plants etc. After 4 years - we're in! Re: Would you start on the block? 4Aug 22, 2008 10:24 am It's going to be really simple stuff up the back. No plants. Probably nothing that could go missing. And there wont need to be any access through the building site because we have a six metre easement on the side of the block. And there wouldn't be any tradies, just us doing it.
Of course I'd discuss it with builder first. But the block will in effect be split into two and I just thought we could get a real jumpstart. The back part of the block will be 25m x 25m so I don't think there's be any interference. I'm a bit deluded perhaps. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Would you start on the block? 5Aug 22, 2008 10:25 am It all depends on how far the builder wants to go with "possession of site" your giving them the "keys" so to speak. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Would you start on the block? 7Aug 22, 2008 3:31 pm mikkyG joles It's going to be really simple stuff up the back. No plants. Probably nothing that could go missing... Doesnt sound like anything that couldnt wait Sloping block so lots of levelling and maybe a bit of bordering, stuff like that. So I was thinking if it was settled and done it would get some grass cover and be less muddy for DS and the dogs when we move in. The muddier and more unsettled it is at the back, the more likely the dogs are to try to dig out. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Would you start on the block? 8Aug 22, 2008 3:35 pm Any easement at the back that the builder might require access to? mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Would you start on the block? 9Aug 22, 2008 8:06 pm joles ask the builder and let us all know what he says.
I've been considering doing something along the same lines. we have 3/4 of an acre and its a corner block. the builder is likely to be accessing the site from one street and i w as wondering about accessing the back 30 m or so from the side street. well away from the build. Re: Would you start on the block? 10Aug 22, 2008 8:17 pm No Mike, no easement. Six metre easement between our block and the next block.
Kexkez, I will ask them and let you know. I'm glad someone else is thinking of doing this. Was beginning to think I was being stupid! Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Would you start on the block? 11Aug 29, 2008 2:41 pm I don't think I explained what I meant very well. This is how the house will be sited on the block.
On the left is the neighbouring block. On the right is a six metre easement and the other side of that is open land that won't be developed for a little while. (last stage in our section) The part of the block I'm talking about starting on before/during the build is from a few metres behind the house to the back fence particularly back toward the trees. The builder's temp fence apparently will go a few metres behind the house. Jo http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u353/joles_photo/SCAN002.jpg I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Would you start on the block? 12Aug 29, 2008 2:48 pm OMG!!! Look at that backyard! Forget your upgrades Jo, go the pool, inground trampoline, pool house and mini forest. Love it, you are soooo lucky to have that space. Your DS is going to love it! Happy at Home Re: Would you start on the block? 13Aug 29, 2008 2:57 pm House-To-Be OMG!!! Look at that backyard! Forget your upgrades Jo, go the pool, inground trampoline, pool house and mini forest. Love it, you are soooo lucky to have that space. Your DS is going to love it! I thought I better post this so people kind of got what I was talking about. I tend to lose people without using pictures. So should I start on the block or not??? As for the swimming pool, we have one at the country club dahhhling. DS already has a big caged tramp in storage but I'm thinking about inground. Probably do half basketball court and maybe a cricket pitch type thing. DS plays cricket nearly every day. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Would you start on the block? 14Aug 29, 2008 3:02 pm Well he is going to love it! Get him to dig the hole for the tramp!
I would say yes, start on the block now but check with your builder first so they know what your plans are. If they are going to put a temp fence around then it seems like they won't go onto the back part of the block but I'd hate for you to start and then them ruin it. Would be great for you to move in and have some of the backyard done. I bought our pool today. Yay! Happy at Home Re: Would you start on the block? 15Aug 29, 2008 3:03 pm Joles, if your going to start with leveling and general clean up etc why don't you start and see how it all is effected by the build. If the builder doesn't have a problem with it I can't see any major probs.
If you start with minor stuff, that doesn't reallymatter if something happens and you can judge from there. If you are going to check on progress of the build all the time and your there most days you'll be keeping a good eye on the garden anyway. You will look for things to do when you visit..........my goodness on our last build we would go in and sweep the slab while the walls were going up and pick up rubbish. We couldn't help ourselves and it all goes into the time it takes the builder to do it. One less thing and we new our site was always clean so no damage could be done by things ****** around. My hubby is AR and OC, some of it has rubbed off on me and these stupid things make us happy. Re: Would you start on the block? 16Aug 29, 2008 3:05 pm gweluphome My hubby is AR and OC My hubby is neither of these he's as casual as can be......don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing but it balances us as a couple Happy at Home Re: Would you start on the block? 17Aug 29, 2008 3:11 pm http://www.hiddenvalleyaustralia.com.au/land_home.html
Is that you Jo tearing up the road and pulling into the Country Club? Lovely spot. Going to go for a drive out there soon Happy at Home Re: Would you start on the block? 18Aug 29, 2008 3:11 pm Go for it Jo ... it is a huge block so if you have the time now you may as well do it. Only negative I can think of is that the tradies might take to eating their lunch on your tree seats! Re: Would you start on the block? 19Aug 29, 2008 3:24 pm This is the grand plan. Going back to uni next semester to finish a few things off. I'll have heaps of time to keep on top of the build and get things done around the block. But come mid next year I'll be back at work full time. Mum is in her sixties and gets tired alot quicker than she used to. It will be difficult if it is all left til after handover.
Preperations for the dogs is of prime importance. They are too big to bath all the time because they are filthy and they are indoor/outdoor dogs. But as Lyn said being up there, while not in the builder's way, is good for seeing what's happening. The occasional treat for the tradies can't hurt. Someone at M actually mentioned doing this earlier on but will definitely check it all out with them. There'll just be so much serious gardening to do around the house when we are in I'd like at least the back part sorted with a little cover over the ground so the whole block isn't a bog all at once. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Would you start on the block? 20Aug 29, 2008 3:27 pm House-To-Be http://www.hiddenvalleyaustralia.com.au/land_home.html Is that you Jo tearing up the road and pulling into the Country Club? Lovely spot. Going to go for a drive out there soon Toni, when do we get to see the pool you've decided to go with? I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Bought in Nov 21 at the height of the market (classic). Good area, atrocious floor plan. BUT has land out to the left-hand side that we can extend out on (see second… 0 8771 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 39691 Hi It came to my attention after the handover that - The facade cladding on the face and the side are not straight. -The face tapers down by 50mm from left to right and… 0 2458 |