Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 22, 2008 8:59 pm Hi everyone, first time poster here, be kind!
My partner and I are looking at buying a block and building. We've found a block in the right area, but it's on a substantial slope from right to left, and the block also has a very slight slope from front to back. I'm assuming there wouldn't be many builders with project homes that would suit, so would I be right in saying we would need to get a draftsman or architect? Would it be best to get our chosen architect/draftsman/builder to look at the block before purchasing? we don't have a HUGE budget, so would a sloping block of any kind be out of our league? (really have no idea about building etc!) I've read in older posts that we should budget for $1200-$1400per m2, would this increase significantly on a sloping block? If anyone has any recommendations on draftsmen/architects/builders in the northwestern suburbs of melbourne I would be very appreciative! Thanks for your help... Re: Building on a sloping block 2Jan 22, 2008 9:26 pm Some project builders have split level designs. What kind of slope are we talking about? Re: Building on a sloping block 3Jan 23, 2008 5:11 am Also, where are you? That will help with builder choices.
There are a few project builders in Sydney who will do sloping block customisations depending on the slope. For example if there is 1.9 metres of fall or less front to back, Clarendon will undertake it. Greg Re: Building on a sloping block 4Jan 23, 2008 6:32 am we're looking at attwood (cambridge estae), near tullamarine in melbourne.
I will have to go have another look tonight to get a more exact figure on the slope... i'd guess about 2metres, but that's a very big guess! I'll post my moe accurate guess tonight.. the block is 700m2, 20m frontage and 35 deep. thanks for your replies so far! Re: Building on a sloping block 5Jan 23, 2008 7:16 am 2m isn't that bad, I have a 4m fall over my building envelope. Did you get a disclosure plan with the block? It should have a surveyors contours on it and once you work out the size of the house your building then you can work out how much of the slope your building platform takes up. If it's 2 metres over the actual building platform that should only be a 1m cut and fill, most builders should be happy with that.
Can't help with builders in Melbourne, sorry. Jet Re: Building on a sloping block 6Jan 23, 2008 7:55 am zomtom we're looking at attwood (cambridge estae), near tullamarine in melbourne. I will have to go have another look tonight to get a more exact figure on the slope... i'd guess about 2metres, but that's a very big guess! I'll post my moe accurate guess tonight.. the block is 700m2, 20m frontage and 35 deep. thanks for your replies so far! Our block also has a 2m side to side fall. 25m Fronatge and about 27m deep. I know Clarendon have a few homes to suit - http://www.clarendon.com.au/designs/leura/ These are on their NSW site. The VIC site doesn't give any details on what designs are available your way so you would have to contact them. Re: Building on a sloping block 7Jan 23, 2008 8:31 am We are building on a battle axe block sloping close of 3 meteres from front to the back.. we are building the Clarendon Crestmead.
Dont waste your time behind builders like AvJennings, Masterton, Wincrest as they had all said they only build in blocks easy to build and access. Its also important to build with someone who regularly builds on such blocks.. Even standard designs can be tweaked to suit a sloping block .. All the best Buildling a Clarendon Crestmead in Sydney DA Approved on 20/03/2008 Slab Poured on 02/09/2008 Frame Completed 15/10/2008 Brickwork Complete 2/02/2009 Roofwork Complete 05/03/2009 Re: Building on a sloping block 8Jan 23, 2008 8:40 am lobo Even standard designs can be tweaked to suit a sloping block .. All the best Yep, I agree. 2m is not a big slope. We could have gone with a standard design from various builders but we wanted to minimise the cut and fill of the land thereby minimising the use of retaining walls. Re: Building on a sloping block 9Jan 23, 2008 8:48 am Hi
We have a similar sized block but with a more substatial sideways slope and did have problems because of this. We finally persuaded Eden Brae to customise one of their designs for us to make it split level ( at a price!). check out my blog for details http://sydneyhills.blogspot.com/ Sue Re: Building on a sloping block 10Jan 23, 2008 10:19 am I have 2.1 metres of fall from the front of where our house is to the back of where the Clarendon Crestmead would sit if it were built on our land, and 3.1 meters of fall overall. Clarendon said no to us.
Greg Re: Building on a sloping block 11Jan 24, 2008 3:31 pm Zomtom, we just had our quote from a builder. We are building in Shannon Rise in Greenvale and have a similar block. 2 metre drop front to back and about 1 metre left to right. Its really hard to do it by eye. I had originally thought I only had a metre drop but the soil test result indicated a 2 metre drop. Anyways, the price from my builder for a cut and fill came in at around 16000k. This is for the concrete, the excavation, drainage etc. Keep in mind that my area is M-Class and you might be hit with more is you have H or worse.
Best thing to do first is to get the soil test done. Otherwise your just guessing and its peace of mind to find out what kind of soil you have as well. Rock might also be an issue in Attwood. Speak to existing neighbours and ask them if they had any rock when they built. Re: Building on a sloping block 12Jan 24, 2008 10:06 pm 2m, most volume builders would consider building on it.
A 50/50 split would leave it with a 1m cut and 1m fill which isn't too bad, some minor retaining walls and additional drainage requirements, nothing too drastic. Sounds like a block with some character. I'd recommend placing a subject to soil report clause in the land contract, that way you can get some preliminary costings done (once the soil report is undertaken) to determine if it is viable to build on. See how you go. Re: Building on a sloping block 13Feb 23, 2008 5:30 pm Hi Guys, sloping block there are heaps of builders that will approach it. Go and see these guys in concord. Business name is Beautiful New Homes. Contact 9743 6699. They will steer you in the right direction, and fantastic service. I know they deal with Masterton and other builder. What they do is take care of the whole service for you from sketch plans stage right through to start of construction.
Fantastic expericence i had. Good luck with them. Re: Building on a sloping block 14Feb 23, 2008 5:58 pm We have more slope than that and the only ones who said no upfront were H******. We ideally wanted a split level design and went through a custom builder but it was costing to much so went back to a display home and cut and fill. Only thing I'm worried about is how steep the driveway is going to be to the garage. Fi has moved in!! Re: Building on a sloping block 15Feb 23, 2008 7:56 pm Brittany, my parents have a split level house built into the slope in the Adelaide hills, they built it 8 years ago, the driveway is very steep but they soon got used to it and they're in their late 60's. Re: Building on a sloping block 16Feb 23, 2008 8:37 pm Yes but that means they have driving experience of forty years - on the other hand I have only twenty years and still hate slopes !!! I will adjust I'm sure or park on the street! Fi has moved in!! Re: Building on a sloping block 17Feb 25, 2008 8:45 pm There are maximum driveway gradients that need to be adhered to. council often refer to the Aust standards. Another alternative maybe to further drop the garage level and increse the amount of steps from the internal of the home into the garage. This will help reuce the driveway gradient.
Good luck Re: Building on a sloping block 18Feb 25, 2008 9:54 pm Agreed.
Most builders will adhere to a 1:5 or 1:6 ratio (1 metre rise for every 5 or 6 metres of run). Just one thing to remember with the steps is that is best to enlargen your garage if you have them, otherwise you risk parking right on top of them. H Re: Building on a sloping block 19Feb 28, 2008 12:56 am some builders will take it on but if you can find another block thats flat even if its 10k more youd probably save yourself time, $ & and a headache if you bought a flat block.
I have purchase a block that slopes from front to back i didnt think it was that steep but apparantly its 6m which we will need a 2m retaining wall and this reduces our choice of builders and adds to the costs and timeframe, we wish we bought a flat block now. Re: Building on a sloping block 20Feb 28, 2008 9:19 am Yes I totally agree with hindsight - buy a flat block - the extra expense will save you heaps on site costs, retaining walls, steps, and will be more enjoyable over the years - on the other hand I have a view!! Fi has moved in!! Give Jonathan a call. Tell him you know me. He is in my opinion the best surveyor I have ever worked with. His number is 0425 285 622 All the best Simeon 3 12392 i did click it, still couldnt make it out rofl. in any case, doesnt look like too extreme a slope, you may be in luck. Just shoot out some emails to volume builders in… 3 18562 Howdy all. I am looking for feedback on what people would do to maximise and make an area as flat as possible. First, out the front of the house is a sloping hill, pretty… 0 20149 |