Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 23, 2015 7:31 pm Hi there, first time builder here. We're at the very start of our KRB journey, and haven't yet got professional plans drawn up, we're just at sketch stage. The block is a 660sqm west facing block in Pascoe Vale, with a 2.5m slope from the rear to the front. I'd like to build in a sub-basement garage, however not cut in too much to keep the house elevated, and then a single storey approx 34sq house. Builders we're possibly thinking of going with are BH Prestige, or Bentley who both do sloping blocks. We'd like a custom build as long as the budget allows it. We're planning approx. 2 years for planning, design & build. Any suggestions of other builders? Private build is ok. We also would like to consult an architect / building designer before we start talking house plans with a volume builder so that we know we're on the right track with utilising the lay of the land and natural light etc. The whole process is quite daunting, but looking forward to eventually not living in a 1940s shoebox! Advice, builder or architect recommendations would be very welcome. Cheers KRB: Sloping block build, Pascoe Vale 2Mar 23, 2015 7:50 pm Welcome. We have the same size block with 2.5 metres sloping black front to back as well. We've gone private builder and hubby did our plans. We have gone with a split level home. Just posted our plans this afternoon. Check them out for ideas. We are building in Vic as well. Re: KRB: Sloping block build, Pascoe Vale 3Mar 23, 2015 8:11 pm Thanks Simmi. I've asked this in your other thread but thought I should pop it here too for other readers. Also forgot to ask, did you consult anyone with your design / layout and using the natural light etc? Should we get independent soil and contour testing? As I guess that will just give us a bit of an idea before talking to builders. Is it recommended? KRB: Sloping block build, Pascoe Vale 4Mar 23, 2015 8:36 pm Hubby just did the design. Not the drafting. Our builder did that. Happy to pass on our builders info privately to you. Or you can wait and see our build and then get them if you like what you see. Our process has been a long one as we researched and learnt as much as we could. This site has been instrumental. Things like sarking in our roof. We had no idea and through homeone forum we did our homework and included it. Little things become the overlooked things. We visited so many display homes to pick the brains of the architect and made a list of the things we loved. Layout also became our main reason because a custom build becomes the unknown because you cannot see what it will be like. Our tape measure became our best friend as we measured spaces in these display homes so when we sketched ours we knew what was a liveable space. Hope this helps a little We also chose our builder because he only builds with raft slabs. A lot of the bigger companies use the waffle pod slabs and we just didn't want any issues with slab heave etc down the track. Re: KRB: Sloping block build, Pascoe Vale 5Mar 24, 2015 7:44 am Thanks Simmi, interesting point about the slabs. That's a bit of an unknown with ours at the moment, due to the fact I want to elevate the house etc we may end up going with strip footings at the front and slab at the back, whatever works best. Like you, we've done a few years looking at display homes, seeing what works and what doesn't work and taking the tape measure. Its given us a good idea of what we can & can't live with. That'd be great if you could send the name of your builder Re: KRB: Sloping block build, Pascoe Vale 6May 27, 2015 8:06 pm Hi PVbuild, I noticed you said you were building in Pascoe Vale. That is very close to the new west... and some of Hume City is volcanic as you may well be too. That means your clay content is rather high and your soil will be towards the higher end as regards reactivity. The sloping block is another important factor as is large trees (existing or just planted) near your house-to-be. What a lot of soil report writers rely on is the recommendations at the end of their report. But these are the main part in my opinion. Also I suggest you ask them to have regard of Appendix 'D' of code for footings AS2870 and future heave possibilities. Good luck with the project! Perhaps the most important thing you can do is get your own Soil Inspection report carried out before you contact any builder. Re: KRB: Sloping block build, Pascoe Vale 7May 28, 2015 9:25 am Hi Leonardo, thanks for that - really insightful. We're just waiting on results of our soil testing now.. hope to have them tomorrow or early next week. Will definitely look at appendix D! Am guessing that we're going to have a high clay content unfortunately, as we've been watching a fair bit of excavation around us and nearby blocks are pretty much all clay. Guessing that's going to scupper plans for an under house garage, as site costs will be expensive even without it. There are no large trees around us (bit of a fault really), we have an oldish lemon tree in the backyard which is right in the way of a build, but other than that there's only shrubs. Are you able to help me understand why that is important - does it change drainage etc? We've spoken to a few builders and we're going for strip footings, not slab, based on the slope and the house design... Guessing they'll have to be quite deep. Re: KRB: Sloping block build, Pascoe Vale 8Jul 12, 2015 2:32 pm PVBuild How did you go with the soil test results? Typical? Give Jonathan a call. Tell him you know me. He is in my opinion the best surveyor I have ever worked with. His number is 0425 285 622 All the best Simeon 3 9107 i did click it, still couldnt make it out rofl. in any case, doesnt look like too extreme a slope, you may be in luck. Just shoot out some emails to volume builders in… 3 14065 Howdy all. I am looking for feedback on what people would do to maximise and make an area as flat as possible. First, out the front of the house is a sloping hill, pretty… 0 14246 |