Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 20, 2012 3:54 pm Hi All, We have a couple of frontrunner choices for houses at the moment (building in Wallan), two out of three of them though would leave us just 3.5m at the back past the alfresco. Alfresco sticks out off the back though, so to the side of it we'd have 6m space if that makes sense. Anywho, I'm awful at figuring out if this is going to be an ok backyard size for us, albeit small obviously. Does anyone have a backyard this size (block's 16m wide too) and is willing to share photos so I can get an idea in my mind?! I'd be eternally grateful, google isn't giving me much. Thanks in advance Re: Backyard Size 2Jul 20, 2012 4:08 pm what are you hoping to use your backyard for? Children, veggies etc? Or is it just entertainment. I live on 25 acres so can't really relate but i am thinking that size is really small if you want to be a functional space. But if not, its probably fine! Re: Backyard Size 3Jul 20, 2012 4:35 pm Not sure where you are building - we are in Wallan too. If you haven't already, have a look at Springridge, as they have some 35m deep blocks in stage 3. We realised a 32m block was only going to leave us with 2.7m of backyard, and decided that was just ridiculous. Barely even enough room to grow a decent herb garden. ktotherose has a good point - depends what you want to use it for though. Also, don't forget you'll need to put a clothes line somewhere. Building the Denver by Metricon on acreage Land settlement: 24/8/15 Contracts: 8/7/16 Finance approved: 5/8/16 Council approval.....? viewtopic.php?f=31&t=79213 Re: Backyard Size 4Jul 20, 2012 6:08 pm We are also about to Start building in Wallan, in Woodlands Edge and our backyard is going to be tiny!! We have one room that sticks out about 2 meters further than the rest of the house so for that section we will only have 3 meters to the fence but the rest of the house is that 2 meters shorter so it will be a bit longer but yeah its still small. We fell in love with our house plan and so it came down to house we love with small backyard v house we don't love with bigger backyard. The house won but at the time of deciding I was really unsure, I even starred a thread on here asking the same thing. At the end of the day you have to do what feels right for you, some people love their acres of land while others love the small low maintenance yards. Re: Backyard Size 5Jul 20, 2012 7:08 pm Our last house the total width was 22m with 3m at the back of the house. But towards the main living side of the house we had a 4x4m alfresco, on this side the width was 6m x 10m. We decided the house and backyard were too small. Upon selecting a new floorplan we realised we couldn't have both unless we built up, so our new house is bigger and the backyard is still small 12.5m x 4.8 off alfresco. Re: Backyard Size 6Jul 20, 2012 7:17 pm Thanks for your replies everyone. jpc sounds like our backyard will be very similar to yours! I just really wish I could picture it, in my mind I know it's small but I think I'm picturing it bigger than it will be! Re: Backyard Size 7Jul 20, 2012 10:36 pm Hi minanddan If you want a better feel for size of backyards perhaps you could have a look at homes for sale and check them out at inspection times? If your local area tend to have large backyards you could head closer to the city where backyards will be smaller? Just a suggestion - good luck! Building ??? with ??? Re: Backyard Size 8Jul 20, 2012 11:15 pm buildingbee If you want a better feel for size of backyards perhaps you could have a look at homes for sale and check them out at inspection times? Exactly what I was going to suggest. Perhaps go along to a display village, and take along a tape measure. Also a compass to get an idea of solar exposure. Others might have different measurements but I figure you want about a metre or slightly less for a path, at least a metre for a privacy hedge if you'll keep it clipped back, two metres is better for a thick informal privacy hedge, then there's clothesline and so on to consider, depends on what you want to utilise the space for. Re: Backyard Size 9Jul 21, 2012 9:14 am Our last house in Tarneit had a 14 x 3 backyard, it was crap. Even when our nieces and nephews come around they could not really play outside nor could we really entertain. I have no idea why people want such baby blocks. Our new place has a back yard of 20 x 15, not massive but so much better. Next step is purchasig 200 acres...then we will be right! Re: Backyard Size 10Jul 21, 2012 5:42 pm we are having a very small back yard but that is way we want it (we are not gardeners and no kids etc) We do have a large under cover entertaining area but actual garden is only 4x4. Not everyone's cup of tea but it's perfect for us. 29/05/12 - Contacts Signed 18/06/12 - Land Settlement 03/07/12 - Building Approval 20/07/12 - Slab Down Re: Backyard Size 11Jul 21, 2012 10:55 pm buildingbee If you want a better feel for size of backyards perhaps you could have a look at homes for sale and check them out at inspection times? If your local area tend to have large backyards you could head closer to the city where backyards will be smaller? Excellent idea! Or sneak a tape measure into your bag then spend a weekend visiting friends and quietly measure their yards while whistling. On a serious note though - that does sound small but really depends what you want to use it for. Some people like less yard so therefore less gardening / maintenance, and prefer entertaining inside / alfresco. Young kids generally will like a bit of space I think... when we bought our place - now knocked down - we had a tiny 4 x 3m yard thinking we would take the kids to the park around the corner. But with young kids, and needing to do washing, clean house, make phone calls etc at home it just didn't happen... Lesson learnt and we are on our way to a KDR! SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Backyard Size 12Apr 11, 2017 3:37 pm dazandstace Our last house the total width was 22m with 3m at the back of the house. But towards the main living side of the house we had a 4x4m alfresco, on this side the width was 6m x 10m. We decided the house and backyard were too small. Upon selecting a new floorplan we realised we couldn't have both unless we built up, so our new house is bigger and the backyard is still small 12.5m x 4.8 off alfresco. Hi dazandstace Just wondering how you're backyard size has served you since you posted this? I am in the process of building and the house design my partner and I have chosen will leave us with a backyard of 12.5m x 5m so we're essentially not sure if we should choose a bigger house over a bigger yard! We'll need the yard for pets and kids in the future so just trying to ask around to see if people are finding that size sufficient or if it's too small. Any advice you can give would be much appreciated! 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 13300 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 6181 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 18911 |