Drop edge beams-retaining walls

Ahlam01 · Dec 25, 2020 8:39 am

Can someone help me out please? We have spoken to a few VB and their solution to our land has been to do a cut and fill with retaining walls. Our land has a gentle slope from the front LHD across the land to the rear RHD overall it’s a 2 metre fall. The cut and fill will mean our grand house will sit roughly 600mm into the land ultimately be sunken in and have retaining walls on one side. The rear having a few steps down to the yard. We are on a 670m block and don’t want to waste land. There had to be a better solution. Anyone have any tips/pointers on how I can achieve a better outcome please?

StructuralBIMGuy · Dec 26, 2020 10:30 am

Seasons Greeting
There are always construction/engineered solutions at different pricing points for retaining,
options include retaining on the boundary, under the house and in between.
Start with a survey, geotech report and 3D Bim engineering Here
Slab, retaining and formwork cost$
The unit rates for material costs are $/m, $/m2, $/m3 etc, material costs can be found on the internet
including Labour costs $/hr, $/day, $/Task
OT, you need to put up more/better information, data/proofs in order to get a response ( please no PMs)
The better the information you put up the better the response, BTW, it also helps others
Cheers
Chris

Ahlam01 · Dec 26, 2020 12:43 pm

Thanks for your reply. It’s early days for us with our various VB but the only ones who are doing the prework is boutique and we are trying to negotiate a different solution which I know can be possible. I’ll try and post a siting image of the house, I think it also includes contours.

Ahlam01 · Dec 26, 2020 12:45 pm

Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅

This is what I have so far from potential builder.

StructuralBIMGuy · Dec 26, 2020 10:15 pm

Thanks for the image at a quick glance what's included are Contours, cut line, House outline... that's not enough
I would recommend you get your own proper survey, geotech report and preliminary engineering from which
generate a proper site plan factor in approx. details, species, quants and prices for,
earthworks, retaining, footings, piling, service runs, FFLs, driveways & paths, Stormwater, etc.
Make sure all builders are on the same page when quoting. Have all the information on hand and put the Salesman to the test... soon as alarm bells start going off ... walk out.

Cheers
Chris

Ahlam01 · Dec 27, 2020 11:28 am

Chris you are an absolute champ. Thank you so much. Can you point me in the the direction of what comprehensive list of tests, reports and surveys I can get done that no VB or PB can refute almost like a benchmark recognised by the industry. I’m willing to spend money on that and keep that as a reference in my own pocket then have to rely on the words of others.

Once again thanks a million
Cheers
Helen

StructuralBIMGuy · Dec 28, 2020 11:44 am

Most offices have closed down, end of year break... But the internet and data flow never closes
Start your own research and desktop study here
what are digital soil maps
what are digital intramaps
what is GIS and BIM integration

A word of warning, BIM in housing is fragmented by choice Why?
Some perspectives?
Builders offer up free sketches, but owns copyright, stopping you from going elsewhere.
Once you start paying builders Costs eg Preparation of plans Agreement form, (PPA$) then they will release limited drawings, Data with no proofs at which point you are locked in.
The final contract, drawings, docs, $ticker $hock warrants Data/proofs...Forewarned is Forearmed
OT
Perspective...How much data/information is initially released? from the
Designer- Colour rendering of a French provincial Façade
Salesman- Just enough to put the deal on the table which is what you have and then Sign the PPA for geotech, engineering,etc
LOL, What Does French provincial Façade (words) have to do with a site plan..Absolutely nothing
Builder- make up margins/profits, on Variations/Changes and the big ticket items ie FACADES, COMPLIANCE, SITEWORKS, ENGINEERING after PPA.
If common sense dictates you should be dealing with those items, ie Siteworks, on difficult block first, then ask 3 builders to sharpen their quoting pencils.
I'll put some GIS _BIM-> Data-> Cost examples up to inform when time permits
Cheers
Chris

kdr2020 · Jan 16, 2021 11:22 am

Ahlam01

Can someone help me out please? We have spoken to a few VB and their solution to our land has been to do a cut and fill with retaining walls. Our land has a gentle slope from the front LHD across the land to the rear RHD overall it’s a 2 metre fall. The cut and fill will mean our grand house will sit roughly 600mm into the land ultimately be sunken in and have retaining walls on one side. The rear having a few steps down to the yard. We are on a 670m block and don’t want to waste land. There had to be a better solution. Anyone have any tips/pointers on how I can achieve a better outcome please?

You could be describing my situation!! The builder (Burbank Homes) has come back recommending a Cut & Fill with DEBs & Retaining Walls. We wanted a single level house and we look like having to settle for a small split (3 stairs) inside the house. Did you manage to find a better outcome?