Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 05, 2006 5:54 pm We've just bought an acre, and the plan is to start building sometime in '07. I've been instructed that we're building a lowset, and with about a 1 in 12m fall, I'm wondering about my options to level the pad for the slab:
Am I best to: Cut at the front to fill at the rear? Not popular with Her Indoors Build a magnificent mound to sit it all on? Tell Ails that she's havin' one on stumps, and get used to it?hang on, I've just been told this isn't an option I'm interested in hearing the pros and cons from those who know better than me... what do you reckon? Turn it up, Ails! Re: Block slope... the fun begins 2Aug 05, 2006 11:17 pm stone the flamin crows alf
it all depends -on style of house you wish to build ie may incorporate for split leve -soil type you are doing cut and fill on because if really reactive then may be cheaper / better options for you when talking with engineer can you tell me more about the site cheers Re: Block slope... the fun begins 3Aug 05, 2006 11:45 pm Geez Alf, got enough problems at home on my own without buying in to yours!
Anyway, cut and fill is standard fare however is pox-ridden if you walk out your back (or front) door into an earth embankment, at least that is my personal opinion. In the old days it was always a mound - made for very grand houses on hills. Stumps are fine too but you do have the problem of an enormous sub-floor bank of structure that will be visually obvious. Mound can be expensive and it is the old story of champagne tastes on a beer budget. if you can afford it, go for it. If not, compromise! Re: Block slope... the fun begins 4Aug 06, 2006 5:22 pm Cheers fellas!
There's a fair bit of clay out there (without getting right into the midst of the stuff I don't understand, I'd bet it's what micky would call reactive). Truth be told, a mound would go verrry well with what we want to build. I'd thought that an 18" - 2' cut at the front in the interests of not having to import the whole lot might've been OK, but Ails is a bit leery of run-off, moisture retention mould etc, so I've wiped that idea like a dirty arrr.. you get the idea. Having said all that though, I haven't got a clue what fill will cost me, or anything like that... struth! Turn it up, Ails! Re: Block slope... the fun begins 5Aug 07, 2006 7:51 am Alf, fill can be cheap as all excavation firms need places to dump their excavated material and the best option is to look up the various plant hire places in the phone book and let them know you are looking for some fill.
They will ask you what type and you don't want rubbish but this is where the fill option can get a bit tricky as you need something that is compactable without being overly reactive (ie: with too much of the wrong type of clay). A fill job will require some engineering these days as your footings will need to go through the fill into solid ground. Yes, I did say it was a more expensive option! With all due respect, this is not an option for the home handyman and if you don't know what you are doing then you are better off paying someone else to do it. Get a couple of quotes first as the price can vary wildly. Re: Block slope... the fun begins 6Aug 08, 2006 10:03 pm builda With all due respect, this is not an option for the home handyman and if you don't know what you are doing then you are better off paying someone else to do it. Get a couple of quotes first as the price can vary wildly. Turn it up, Ails! A survey must’ve completed by a certified surveyor. This form part of every DA requirement 3 223468 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 24830 Hi All, We have recently purchased a sloping block (3.5m fall building envelope, 6m overall). Just wondering if you know of any good builders that you would recommend for… 0 1745 |