new home on a slope block

lorej · Aug 07, 2014 10:32 am

Hi all,

We have just purchased a block of land in QLD. It is a slope block so we will have to go with a builder that specializes in sloping blocks.

I have been I touch with a few builders and we now have a shortlist. My questions is should we send out our requirements to each one and get them to draft up drawings? Or should we pay an independent architect to do the drawing and then send it to the builders for them to quote?

My issue with paying an architect is that some builders have already mentioned that they don't need those drawings as their draftmen can do it. So I don't want to spend the money if its not necessary.

What are your thoughts? Thankyou

bpratt · Aug 07, 2014 11:06 am

Architect = big dollars
draftsman = lesser dollars

Depends upon how sloping your block is, in my case elevation change from the front to the back of the block is about 20 metres. On a Yarrabilba block a sloping block could be 1 metre difference front to back/side to side.

On our block a cut and fill house pad is all we needed for a 233 sq m 'standard' home, that any builder could do, and our plans were drawn up by a draftsman Nick Garner, and all plans were accepted without question from both the council and covenant people at QM properties.

Basically some more details of your block will help others to help you out.

bashworth · Aug 07, 2014 12:15 pm

A good first step is to ask the builders for some examples of their previous builds on similar slopes.

This is the sort of thing you should also an architect!

Anizca · Aug 07, 2014 9:43 pm

Basically some more details of your block will help others to help you out.

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Hi. Lorej's husband here. Our site falls about 10m over 50m so its a pretty big slope. There is a flat platform at the top of around 20 x 5 m.

bpratt · Aug 07, 2014 11:33 pm

That certainly is a lot of fall on your block, isn't it. Definately a custom build from someone who specialises in building on sloping blocks is the way to go, the cookie cutter builders won't be capable of doing the job for you.

I'd be considering a split level home for something like this myself, with the home being built down the slope of the block.

louistherat · Dec 13, 2014 4:58 pm

Where are you building?