Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 27, 2009 3:30 am Hi, we have just had the cut done on our block and suddenly where the backyard is going to be looks a lot smaller than i imagined. We have an 11M backyard which is probably more than a lot of blocks these days-i guess i thought it would look bigger though. I'm wondering if we should have applied to have the 7.6M setback brought forward now. Hoping it will look ok. Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 2Feb 27, 2009 5:57 am hi jspitz, we had our setback brought forward to maximise back yard space, it is now 10m long -- almost as long as yours! It's not huge but a decent amount of space to put some lawn down, some play equipment for the kids and a clothesline!
It'll be fine. Is it an option to get the setback reduced now, or would you have to pay to get the site cut again? "Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions." — Elizabeth Gilbert Living in our new house. Currently scaping the land. Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 3Feb 27, 2009 10:55 am Ours is only 9m deep and, similar to Donuts, we plan to put in a small lawn, raised vegie garden, a fort for the kids and, of course, the mandatory clothesline.
I must admit though that when we visited our block after the cut (and also after the slab) we had plenty of misgivings that everything was too small; for some inexplicable reason everything seemed smaller when there were no walls and/or fences. However, now that all the walls and backyard fences are in place everything seems bigger 'We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.' - Winston Churchill Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 5Feb 27, 2009 11:06 am Hi All...
Now i am feeling we bought smaller piece of land ... our backyard will e 7.5 m deep only. Is that too less? I dont mind a smaller backyard ... but do you think it would be an issue when selling the property. Land Settled 27/04/09. Site Started 30/4/09. Slab poured 21/5/09. Frame up 27/5/09. Building thread : viewtopic.php?f=31&t=15699 Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 6Feb 27, 2009 11:09 am I don't know Jessica, but think about it this way. Do I spend most of my time watching TV or looking after the garden ? I'd go for the first one ..
I think even 5 metre length backyard would be good enough for yous kids to play on. Your lot width would cover the length of the soccer field you'll have at your backyard .. Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 7Feb 27, 2009 11:11 am Mine shall be 11 metres long from the back of the house with a pergola of some sort to the side near the kitchen area.
Friends of mine had their incorrectly positioned on their block by the builder and have only 2 metres which is due to an easement running along the back of their property . They also had to go into the 5 metre setback in the front, which had to be approved etc.. They have an alfresco area to the side. Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 8Feb 27, 2009 12:03 pm The current house that i am living at a moment has a 9m backyard. To me this is enough, so our new house also plan to have a 9m at the back. But when the cut was done, i found that it looks smaller, much smaller than i thought, so i tried to measure it myself and everything look correct, i even measured it once again after they had the slab done, so really not sure where went wrong
I think it may look different again once the fence is up.. my be because a lot of rubbish and dirt around and make me feel small.. Blog - http://clageonewhouse.blogspot.com/ Building Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=10886&hilit=milan I am in, with my husband and my beautiful bunny Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 9Feb 27, 2009 12:13 pm Our backyard will be 127m
Our front yard will be 85m I don't know how anyone can live on small blocks.. but I appreciate that we are all different. Our first house had a block 800sqm and I hated it!! -Sha Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 10Feb 27, 2009 12:25 pm Our backyard will also be 11m long though our block is over 20m wide at the rear, so with the house being positioned as it is, we'll end up having about 228m2 for the rear yard and 40m2 for the side yard.
l found too that when l was looking at the paint markings they did on the block for the slab design, my rear yard didn't appear to look so big, like it does on paper after all Like others have said, l'm sure once the house and side fences go up, the yard will look bigger...l hope it does! lol... As long you feel your yard will suit your needs that is all that matters...there is no set size that determines what is and what isn't "adequate". Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 11Feb 27, 2009 12:30 pm Our first home was on 630sqm and we had about 6m backyard and it was okay for what we wanted then. The new block will give us about 40m front yard and around 100m backyard.
Maybe in ten years time we will want 630sqm again. I think your size sounds fine, but like others have said.. it depends on your lifestyle Built 36sq Plantation "Retreat" on 4460m2 at Spring Mountain, Qld In Living and landscaping.. >>> ... http://retreatspring.blogspot.com Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 12Feb 27, 2009 12:35 pm For me, if you can play backyard cricket, it is adequate.
Ours will be approx 30m x 25m with an area at the side of the house approx 15m x 7m..... plus about 15 x 4m from the fence on the "dead" side for all our utilities (water tanks, bins, clothes line, hot water). But we wanted space and a big block. The size of donuts yard is great, room to play and garden. But if there's no kids or dogs then a smaller garden is good too. I don't think it's the amount of space that matters, is how the space is used, set out and designed that's important. Everyone is different! I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 13Feb 27, 2009 12:57 pm I often wonder if ours will be big enough too.
We have just under 1/4 acre block, but the house takes up a good bit of that, plus the granny flat out the back takes up a few more metres too. We would have loved a big block, like an acre, even half an acre. But in the estate that we loved, the building envelopes were not suited for us to use, as they were so small and we could not have fit the Grandview on there, let alone a granny flat ! We have a slight diaganal at the back, so from the shortest point we have 12.3m, and from the longest poit 15.36m. And its 20m wide. But looking at the block, it doesn't look big really. Maybe it will once we get in there, but I don't think it does now. Our house takes up the whole building envelope actually ! Building in Brisbane SW Suburbs Started on site with plumbing on 30/3 - Lock up 2/5 - 15/6 Recd Fixing Invoice - 18/6 Painter to start ! Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 14Feb 27, 2009 1:38 pm Great question jspitz. My partner is now having a freak out we didnt get a big enough block for him after seeing the slab. Ours will have about 20 metres to the back fence. He is coming off 40 acres so 1200m2 is tiny to him.
enigma_brennan - Your comments have given me some confidence now. I will have to show him. We too will have a few vegie gardens. Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 15Feb 27, 2009 1:53 pm Everyone has different ideas re backyard but I think that is more than enough room to play and entertain but not so much you are slave to your backyard and/or using too much water. I think the majority of people are moving towards small useable private space so i don't think its a resale issue at all Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 16Feb 27, 2009 1:54 pm Ours is 15 m deep - some of that will be taken up with a shed and the rest with garden. The outdoor entertaining area under a pergola is at the side.
House is set back standard - with our council anyway - 6m from front of block How deep you need the yard, apart from personal choice , also depends on how wide the block is, of course - a block which is only 10m wide would obviously need more depth than one which is 20m wide to acheive the same space Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 17Feb 27, 2009 2:10 pm It is different for every person - like homes I suppose. Our back yard will be around 40m by 40m - big enough for DH to already plan vegie gardens, inground pool with separate cabana / bbq area backed up with a small quarter scale soccer / cricket ground. Can you tell DH is very excited about planning the backyard?
I have carte blanche in the home he has the final say with all outside - fine with me Some things are worth waiting for. Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 18Feb 27, 2009 7:17 pm Whether or not it's big enough depends entirely on what you want to use it for. Everyone has their own opinion on the "perfect" size back yard, but those opinions are completely irrelevant unless they plan to do the same things you do... (did that make sense? )
If you want to keep chickens, grow all your own organic produce, breed pedigree dogs, have a pony each for your five kids and install an inground swimming pool, then it's too small. If you hate gardening and mowing, it's probably too big. Unless you like the totally concreted look. If you can tell us what you want to DO with your yard, then maybe you'll get some useful feedback from those who have similar-sized spaces, or who have some of the same features in their yards. Otherwise, since we all love to talk about ourselves, we'll just all go on telling you how big OUR yards are, why that's the perfect size, and you'll really be none the wiser. Re: what is an adequate length of backyard??? 20Feb 27, 2009 7:25 pm sha well said Kek!! -Sha Ditto! Ours backyard is 20m wide and 13m deep, plenty big enough for Us Happy at Home DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair That laser level looks lovely! We bought one for less than a quarter of that price off eBay. It worked really well for us and it's still going now, five years later. After… 1 16716 It's possible but a soak well is usually much larger. Your 'soak well' only holds 424 litres when full. What is your soil type? Soak wells need sandy soils. 10 9013 Need advice on the backyard plan above. Should I excavate and cut all of the dirt to level with the house slab or semi-excavate as per photo above? Both left and right… 0 24873 |