Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 30, 2013 12:53 pm Hi all, I've posted once before, and we are slowly taking baby steps on our plan to demolish and rebuild. So I'm back asking questions. So, we've met our "financial guru" and had a chat with a Real Estate mate in the area for a basic land valuation idea. Based on that, we are good to go financially, with land value and income levels meaning we can borrow a fair bit more than we actually want to - which is a nice place to be. Next - we are not sure. Our land is elevated with a huge sandstone retaining wall. (About 4m above street level at the front and corner / highest point. We are on a corner block.) So the land is level, although the side street slopes down to the main steet level. This retaining wall has been there for 40 years or so. I think we need to get a surveyor/engineer type person to tell us whether we can build a pool in behind this retaining wall and the approximate cost...... this will affect the entire plan of our house design, so I think this is the next step. The pool is currently on the other side of the house, up against the neighbour wall. We want to build the new house along that wall, and put the pool and entertaining area on the high, open, street side. Or should we go to council to find out whether we can move our garage, and drainage etc (I think from memory there is a stormwater drain under our current car-port and driveway. Not sure if there is an issue to build a garage and studio over it). Or will the engineer type person find that out for us at the same time? And how much would this type of person cost, approximately? (and any recommendations in Perth NOR?) Or should we start shopping around for designs etc, and have the building company do the investigations, soil tests and other site work stuff? As you can see, I'm VERY new to the whole thing - and trying to influence my husband in the right direction too! Otherwise we will still be dreaming about it in 3 years time with no developments! Thanks in advance! Doog Re: Advice on order to do things in! - Please. 2Jan 30, 2013 3:34 pm I would have thought it would be OK to move the swimming pool next to the retaining wall as long as it is in good condition. Its probably worth confirming this with an engineer early as it will affect your house design, Talk to the council who will tell you if you can build over the drainage. Some are OK with this others won't allow it. This link will provide more info http://www.anewhouse.com.au/?p=423 If you are going to ask several builders for quotes its better to get the soil investigation first. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. I am new to this forum so please bear with me. An NCAT order was breach by our neighbour regarding a retaining wall dispute. He is the owner of a building company and he… 0 2209 Depends what you're current inclusions are, but we're not including wardrobes and will just use second hand ones until we can save later on to get them built. Also have a… 3 11647 Versaloc is a mortarless besser block system that still needs a properly engineered footing. If you just do a 400x200 footing it will fail in time. At 17m long you need it… 1 18142 |