Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 26, 2010 12:19 pm Our slab goes down next week but I'm already getting stressed...lol. That didn't take long...lol. The builder has created a flat area for the slab but we need to get the rest filled in at some stage for a complete flat block. To make part of our block flat we will need to get a retaining wall along 2 sides of the property. It looks like it will be over one metre high so will need a permit. Our block is higher than the neighbours but is level on the boundary. so we need to fill it in on our side. But where does the retaining wall go - on my property or on the boundary? The fences I'm guessing will need to go on top and I assume we pay for the retaining wall as we're the ones that need it. That's okay. Who do I contact to get it all looked at professionally? Is it a structural engineer I contact? Is it a landscaper that does it? Or is it someone else? I'm completely stumped. Can anyone recommend someone???? Hope someone can help Life is; then you tell yourself a story. Re: Retaining Wall - who do I contact? 2Mar 26, 2010 1:25 pm If it's over 1m high you would need to get a permit, so best bet is to head to a building surveyor (such as master builders if you are in Vic). You can't build retaining walls right on the boundary, they have top be 150mm in from boundary and then the fence goes right on the boundary. If it's over 1m high you will need to get engineering done. Most engineers would have just a standard though (I know mine does) and he just prints it off as needed (nothing get's changed). Re: Retaining Wall - who do I contact? 3Mar 26, 2010 2:30 pm There is nothing preventing you from building your retaining wall on the boundary and the fence on top of it. As long as your fill is contained on your side of the boundary, then it is fine to build the retaining wall on it. Re: Retaining Wall - who do I contact? 4Mar 26, 2010 2:37 pm Thanks guys. I'm so new to this so bear with me. I feel so dumb sometimes...lol. Gotta learn somehow hey Here are some sketches of the back portion of our block looking side on. Which is the most likely scenario for the retaining wall?? A, B or C (no laughing...haha). I know MBBN you said the retaining can't go on the boundary, so I was curious which of A or C would be the most likely. But then matty you reakon you can have it. I guess I'll have to ask the council. Confusing issue...LOL. could you put a wooden fence on a concrete retaining wall? Okay I'm really starting to see how important it is to get a structural engineer to look into this for me. Eek! I'm leaning towards concrete sleepers, but I still need to research it all. A Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ B Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ C Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Life is; then you tell yourself a story. Re: Retaining Wall - who do I contact? 5Mar 26, 2010 5:08 pm Hi oze I apologies in advance as I don’t have any useful advice but going to bump in and ask more questions – sorry!!! We are having a very similar situation where the house as set up by our builder will be raised on a sand pad and being a fairly wide house the pad will be 1m where the garage sits (right hand side of the property). From the garage we have another 4.5m to the right side boundary and the land drops further. The difference in levels from the garage floor to the boundary ends up being 1.4m. The right side boundary is next to a driveway so I'm not sure how much we are legally allowed to raise the fence on top of the retaining? Anybody knows what the rules are for WA? I did try to read through all the fencing rules but still not clear. Can I raise a 1.4m retaining wall on the boundary then put up a 1.8m fence on top? Anybody had a similar situation - any advice? Thanks Preliminary agreement 23/11 Contract 22/03 Prestart 06/04 - finalised on 30/04 Unconditional approval 10/05 Demolition 05/07 Slab 26/08 Brickwork 13/09-06/10 Roof frame started 07/10 viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32292 Re: Retaining Wall - who do I contact? 6Mar 27, 2010 5:44 am Oze, would go with option B, Wall construction with besser blocks filled with concrete. Galvanised post set into wall for fence Check with your council on rules, but we do walls on boundaries in our area. Then see a structural engineer for the drawings. Could use a bricklayer (might not be interested in footings) Or a structural landscaper and they should look after the lot from excavation, drainage, construction. Retaining walls are not cheap so you really should get estimates before you start your house, it can also be a lot easier to do before construction of your house. Plan early. Landscape Design & Construction http://cherub.squarespace.com/ Re: Retaining Wall - who do I contact? 7Mar 27, 2010 11:25 am Thanks cherub. I thought 'B' would be the best option. I'll speak to the council on Monday regarding the location of the retaining wall. Why do you suggest besser blocks filled with concrete? Concrete sleepers no good? Fence can't go on top? I really don't want wood so have ruled it out. Which is more expensive, besser or concrete sleepers? Thanks for your thoughts Life is; then you tell yourself a story. Re: Retaining Wall - who do I contact? 8Mar 27, 2010 1:08 pm When you say fence on top of a retaining wall, do you mean it literally or do you mean fence slightly behind (so fence posts are dug into dirt)? If you mean it literraly you have to be careful of height becuase councils would consider it as 1 (so can't be over 2m high). If you mean the other, doesn;t matter about height. We were told by a couple of buidling surveyors that retaining wall couldn't be on the boundary and had to be on someone's property (not shared). Re: Retaining Wall - who do I contact? 9Mar 28, 2010 6:30 am Retaining wall would be on the boundary line with wall and footings on your side. Besser option is better for fencing reasons as post are concreted in to hollows in the wall, meaning fence will be closer to boundary line. You could use sleepers and have posts extended to fence height, more planning for this style, would be the cheaper option Landscape Design & Construction http://cherub.squarespace.com/ We are at the stage on our build in Kilcoy, Queensland where we need to get our fencing installed but we cant get any contact details for our neighbours to give them… 0 6145 Thank you again Simeon.. I will call my certifier for that. Have a good day 4 5142 Thanks for the insights, that makes perfect sense, and yeah, I will be leaning on the experience of the excavator operator entirely. 6 16106 |