Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 24, 2013 7:50 pm Newbie to this forum, and first time builders! We have looked at numerous blocks of land, our favorite is a little over budget, so we are contemplating the "cheapie" block. The only problem is there are clearly a few trees within the building envelope. Just wondering what other peoples experience has been with removing trees, was it an expensive process? Obviously they can't just be lopped, as the place where they are will be potentially under our house slab! Re: Trees within building envelope 2Apr 24, 2013 8:05 pm Heya, WELCOME. How long is a piece of string? Not two trees are the same is what I'm getting at. How big and what type of tree will determine the costs. Probably easier to ring a few companies and tell them number of trees, size and species. Hopefully they will give you a rough idea instead of insisting on coming over and giving you a full quote. I'm not sure, but I imagine it might be cheaper to get a tree removal company to remove the trees instead of the building company when they are "preparing the site" as they will just get someone to do it and charge you a margin. Having said that - I wouldn't let it put you off, it would be a minimal cost in the whole scheme of things. Buying and building is a long long long term investment. I don't let little things bother me like that. I say "in 10 years time I'll forget about it and just be happy with where we are and what we've got regardless of cost" Re: Trees within building envelope 3Apr 24, 2013 8:38 pm Yeah I know it can be a very variable thing, I have enquired about getting a quote with a tree removal company hopefully Friday. I was just curious to hear other experiences so I know whether I should be sitting down or not when I get the quote back, LOL. If it was solely up to me I'd just be forking out the extra 40k for the other block as it is completely flat, trees well away from building envelope, and just so pretty. All hubby is worried about though is his precious shed money *sigh* lol. Re: Trees within building envelope 4Apr 24, 2013 8:59 pm Don't forget there is also the council permit you need to deal with and depending on which Council you may or may not be allowed to cut down the trees, even though they are in your building envelope. I know of friends who had to build around a tree on their block as Council would not let them cut it down. Just beware. Re: Trees within building envelope 5Apr 24, 2013 9:37 pm We are building on an acre block and it has a building envelope. The building envelope is put there and the council realise that there is the potential that every tree within that envelope and 5m surrounding it can potentially be removed with a DA for a house. Out building envelope is 20m wide x 28m long. Our house is 14m wide and 27m long so all trees were removed in that area plus 5m around it. We had over 12 very large gum trees removed. The easiest way to get them over is to have a large excavator push them over, this will bring out the stump and all. That way the trees can all be taken away or the stumps can be taken away and the barrels left for you and the canopy's chipped up. The expensive part is disposing of the trees not pushing them over. You can always put an add on gumtree for free firewood and that should save a lot of money. If you are near Newcastle/port Stephens I can give you the company name that removed our trees Modified Fernside 38 Rawson Homes Blog: http://www.thehousethatmatandjenbuilt.blogspot.com Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=60501 Re: Trees within building envelope 6Apr 24, 2013 9:50 pm -MrsM- If it was solely up to me I'd just be forking out the extra 40k for the other block as it is completely flat, trees well away from building envelope, and just so pretty. All hubby is worried about though is his precious shed money *sigh* lol. This is what I'd be doing!!!! Best of luck. Re: Trees within building envelope 7Apr 26, 2013 4:06 pm animal -MrsM- If it was solely up to me I'd just be forking out the extra 40k for the other block as it is completely flat, trees well away from building envelope, and just so pretty. All hubby is worried about though is his precious shed money *sigh* lol. This is what I'd be doing!!!! Best of luck. If only I could convince my hubby! The block with trees within the envelope also has a bit of a slope. No idea how much extra that will add on to the build costs so that's another worry! A survey must’ve completed by a certified surveyor. This form part of every DA requirement 3 223632 go upvc window frames ensure insulation under colorbond. not just sarking, lighter color roof also not sure if you have seen this viewtopic.php?t=5823 last couple of pages… 4 110586 |