Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 10, 2009 9:35 am Edited: I'm going to add my updates to the house here also and have just edited my existing topic for this....
__________________________________________________________________________ Hi everyone, I'm currently in the middle of a build and was hoping someone might be able to assist with a dilemma I have. The slab has been built quite high off the ground and in one particular doorway (laundry), it's at least 1/2 metre from the ground. Is there any rules regarding accessibility that would require the developer to come up with a solution for it? Or am I stuck with a house that is too high off the ground? The drawings have never suggested this would happen. There's no extra dirt around my property to fill the house up and I've been advised that they will put a dirt step there upon settlement. (It probably needs at least two steps!) Any advice would be great! Re: Height of house from ground 3Jul 10, 2009 10:05 am Ours was quite high too prob about 40cm. Our block was flat too and had no left over soil. I was thinking i would have to pay a fortune to bring soil in. The builder has filled it with soil today . Up to the first course of bricks. Im under the impression that most of them do that. We have seen many in our area with the same issue , each time the builder brought in soil to fill. The builder then does slight grading to allow water to run away from the house. We arent far away from handover. So if yours is like our builder they will fill it later in the process. Just check with your SS, they will let you know. Living in Caloundra Thread****** Lovin my house all finished!!! Now tackling the HUGE task of the Garden- viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14782 Re: Height of house from ground 4Jul 10, 2009 10:21 am thanks guys for replying! I've talked to the SS regarding it and he's only mentioned a step and the fact they won't bring dirt in, only use what is around (which there really isn't any around or left over). I hope that I've misheard and they do the same as you mellybuilding, otherwise I think I'll be having to buy some dirt to build up one side of the house! Re: Height of house from ground 5Jul 10, 2009 10:32 am Crossed fingers for you What state are you in. If your in Qld I have been told where you may be able to get cheap if not free soil!! Living in Caloundra Thread****** Lovin my house all finished!!! Now tackling the HUGE task of the Garden- viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14782 Re: Height of house from ground 6Jul 10, 2009 10:36 am It is a breach of the building guidelines that the drop form any enrac eto have a step greater than 250mm (I think that's the amount) You will find that before handover, the builder has had a final site clean done, and that dirt is moved up to the steps accordingly to meet this condition. A Completion Certificate / Certificate of Occupancy cannot be legally issued if this is not done. Adrian B Re: Height of house from ground 7Jul 10, 2009 10:43 am oh good Adrian! I'm glad there is a ruling about it - I might get my own building inspector to come in to do a report. I'm in Melbourne - building in Tarneit, Mellybuilding. I'm at fixing stage - the plastering has been done, cornicing is yet to be start though. Are you getting an independent inspector to look through? Re: Height of house from ground 8Jul 10, 2009 11:30 am Yeah I will be. Ive picked a few little things so far ( just little nicks in archetraves that sort of thing). But im sure that there are things i wouldnt have a clue as to what to look for. Its more for peace of mind that everything is fine. Hows you build been?? Who are you building with? Living in Caloundra Thread****** Lovin my house all finished!!! Now tackling the HUGE task of the Garden- viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14782 Re: Height of house from ground 9Jul 10, 2009 11:41 am The build has been pretty good - they put some things in the wrong spot but they've either picked them up or I have and they have been pretty quick to fix them! The overall build time has flown - it's been less than two months since the scrape and they're plastering - should be in by August some time at this rate! The only thing I'm not happy with is, they have not allowed me to do any work or hire their people to do any extra work. I know some other builders are very relaxed with that, but mine won't allow it! I'm building with M3tricon - Belize 20. BTW your house looks great - I took a look at the photos! Re: Height of house from ground 10Jul 10, 2009 11:48 am thanks for nice comments!! My sis is building with Coral and they let them get in other tradies. Our builder wont let us bring in other tradies either. Its a bit of a pain cos we have to wait till after handover. But I can understand for their insurance reasons why they do it. Clarendon did let DH do all the home theatre cabling though as thats what he does for work. But he had to fill out heaps of forms show his workers insurance and sign a million waivers. Didnt bother us though. If dh hurts himself most likely it was his clumsey fault anyways!! OHH i love m3tricon homes . I have looked at lots of their displays, Not sure if I have seen the Belize though. We chose our facade with Clarendon after seeing a m3tricon one that looked similar. So after handover we can put stack stone on the pillars like the m3tricon one we saw. Goos luck with everything. Id love to see some pics if you have them Living in Caloundra Thread****** Lovin my house all finished!!! Now tackling the HUGE task of the Garden- viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14782 Re: Height of house from ground 11Jul 10, 2009 11:58 am thanks mellybuilding - good luck with the rest of yours also! I've been using flickr for posting photos up - here's the link http://www.flickr.com/photos/melbedggood/sets/72157612127442284/ Re: Height of house from ground 12Jul 10, 2009 12:11 pm Fantastic!! I just had a look, you werent kidding about the 1/2metre drop What type of soil did you have? what class slab? Like your roof tiles too, are they the boral macquarie range?? Love the facade too. Please dont tell me you are getting stack stone on the pillars? or I will cry with jealousy Living in Caloundra Thread****** Lovin my house all finished!!! Now tackling the HUGE task of the Garden- viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14782 Re: Height of house from ground 13Jul 10, 2009 12:46 pm thanks mellybuilding! Yeah one side is fairly reasonable in height, but around the laundry area you have to have someone hold your hand to get outside the door! I took a photo (yet to put up) of me climbing (no joke there) to get into the laundry! The soil is clay-based so it had a H slab (I think). The roof tiles were from the standard range - Bristile Traditional Magnum. I paid a little extra for the bricks though. It's funny because I've just asked for the facade to be left as bricks for now - it wasn't originally in my build (plans got rejected and I had to extend the portico). So I'm unsure what to do there yet. I rather like the timber finish at the top and was thinking it could look with a nice stain on it...I'm thinking of having a decking path at the front. Re: Height of house from ground 14Jul 10, 2009 2:36 pm mel_b The drawings have never suggested this would happen. The finished floor height is always on the plan, its on the site plan drawing.. There should be two measurements, one will show a location like the footpath or something, the other is on the floor. Re: Height of house from ground 15Jul 13, 2009 10:43 pm Consider yourself lucky they did not dig you into ground like me, you will never have drainage problems or a $12,000 stormwater bill!!! Re: Height of house from ground 16Jul 14, 2009 1:36 am One thing to watch, FWIW, is that any fill is well consolidated before paving etc. We didn't think of this with our last house until, a couple of years later, the paths around the house started sinking.....and just kept sinking...... Cheers zeke Re: Height of house from ground 17Jul 14, 2009 8:35 am Brickie - I might take another look, it didn't look that high on the plans and they had a dirt step allocated for here and the other entrances. Zeke - Thanks for that! I didn't think about the sinking aspect! My parents have a cement roller, I might need to use it to make it more compact. Buldingwithhamra - Yeah only my portico and garage were dug down, so I'm guessing I'm lucky in that aspect. How come the stormwater bill was $12000? Was it the pipes? Re: Height of house from ground 18Jul 14, 2009 12:27 pm I have dont any research on the storm water quote. But the downpipes storm water cost me $2000. The $12,000 is for the paved areas and for a sump/pump. I am hoping they got a zero wrong, but my brother who is in the building industry says it sounds right! I dont understand maybe they gold plate the sump! hi guys. Please be nice. First time home builder in Qld. 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