Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 03, 2009 8:21 pm Sorry this is long...
We were putting in the firebreaks on our block today and noticed a few things that we will need to fix, and we're not sure who should do what, and if it's cheaper to do it before the site works or leave it up to the builder. My partner's cousin does retaining walls,so we'll get it cheaper than the average Joe Blow, but I don't know if the builders themselves get them cheaper anyhow so that won't make a difference. NB: We're in an established area and our land is from a demolished burnt out house. We're in the City of Wanneroo in WA. Pretty much: -The fence is broken in bits here and there - should we fix it now or leave it to the builder? -There is a retaining wall on part of the higher side of the block (it slopes downhill across the width of the block). What looks like has happened is the houses on the higher side haven't got a retaining wall (it's about 80cm-1m higher), so the last owners have put a retaining wall on a collapsing part themselves. Part of the wall is limestone with broken blocks (needs replacing), part is slide in blocks (the only ok part) and part is a tin sheet held by 2 stakes that is buckling. Part of the fence near the front is missing - looks like it's fallen down because there's no retaining wall. At the back there's just sloping sand and the fence appears to be held up by weeds. The whole fence is buckling. Dad said that retaining walls are the responsibility of the higher house (next door). But where there are retaining walls, they are technically on our land, but the majority needs repacing and they need to be put in at the fence line along the rest of the block. I think the whole side needs the retaining walls pulled out and a proper retaining wall on the boundary as it is not structually sound. My understanding is that they pay for the retaining wall and the fence is 50-50. However, if we have to pay for it because what is there is on our land, I am thinking big $$ as there is an established house near the fence at the back..... Not sure whether to leave this to the builder or to sort it out beforehand.... - The other side doesn't look like it needs a retaining wall as it's about 30cm higher on our part of the block and the fence (which is holding it all) seems to be holding it all with no problems and not buckling at all. There's only one hole where it appears the excavator got too close. Would it need a retaining wall added? And if so, we would have to pay right? And get a new fence too? So once again-cheaper to do before site works or leave it to the builder? Also, the fence lines are all great (we found pegs) but it appears when next door built the 2 units, they changed the driveway from single to double, with the double driveway getting wider towards the bottom, so at the edge of our boundary it's JUST inside their boundary line, and as soon as it hits the crossover, it goes further and further into 'our' crossover (if you extend the fenceline) and at the curb is TWO METERS OVER! Now what do we do about that??? We're on a bend so our driveway area is already narrow as it is, so to take away 2m is LOTS! And it's not even straight and is dirty white concrete so it's not like I can live and let live and just try to incorporate it into our front yard because I can't even poor concrete around there to match (if that makes sense). Even though it's council land, we can make them move it right? Should we try and approach the owners or leave it to the builders? I know it will be a problem - our proposed paved driveway is going straight over this..... And finally-our back neighbours are chucking stuff over the fence into our block.... And it's sooooooooo obvious (like, you can see a massive palm tree with branches dropping and matching branches in our yard just along the fenceline, matching garden trimmings to other plants they have, or blue garbage bags that are only just along their part of the fence line). I don't mind as most of it is perishables and most of it is small so we can store it at my place for the garbage collection, but I'm worried they will dump stuff that can't be picked up for free soon, and I don't want to pay to take oil/etc to the dump (as we already have empty grease containers that they have dumped). So how do I approach this without causing a civil war before we even start building? They are the only ones doing it - our other 5 neighbours don't do it.[/list] Re: Advice on fencing/retaining walls/neighbours 2Jan 10, 2009 8:06 am Retaining wall is a tough one... I think because the wall is on your property, it's going to be at your cost... Sorry...
Any fence will be 50-50 with the neighbour... If you are chasing a "flash" fench, each state has a "typical" fence type which the neighbour must pay for half of... If you want anything more than this, but the neighbour doesn't then it's up to you to pay the difference... I wouldn't think the builder would have been contracted to do any fenceing or retaining wall... He can do it, but at a premium! Best talk to him about how he wants the block to be prepared... As for the crossover.... You can check with the city council if it is an approved crossover... I'm guessing it's not, it which case you can simply put a concrete saw threw it on the "boundary" line... I'd talk to your neighbours... And talk to the council about getting your own crossover approved... Not many people do this, but at least if the council have to rip up the front footpath, they will then replace like-for-like because it is approved... I've seen may exposed agg driveways with a strip cut through, and then done in plain concrete because that is all the council have to do to a non approved crossover! As for the rubbish, throw it back!! They know it's wrong so just make them aware you know it's them! Electrical Engineer... Don't hold that against me... And keen owner builder... Mainly the building part!! Re: Advice on fencing/retaining walls/neighbours 3Jan 10, 2009 3:51 pm We checked with the council about this exact same thing and a retaining wall and expense is the responsibility of the house on the lower side, sorry! I would check with council over the crossover, but I'm sure they aren't allowed to be on your side. To the rubbish owners, perhaps just talk to them and ask them not to dump any further rubbish, sometimes the nice approach is the way to go, if not then the rubbish is theirs, I agree, throw it back! Good luck! Versaloc is a mortarless besser block system that still needs a properly engineered footing. If you just do a 400x200 footing it will fail in time. At 17m long you need it… 1 17942 it depends on the natural ground level, if they excavated their boundary wall needed to be built as a retaining wall. If you filled, which sounds like the case then you… 1 7085 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 17149 |