The Bournes

Hi there, we've seen a block of land that we want to put an offer on, the block slopes down towards the front left side of the block. We are thinking it would have to be a pole home build but just wondered what others have done. Also, has anyone built a pole home and could tell us of any companies they know are good in this kind of work. We are in Coolum, sunshine coast. Thanks

Buzzy--Bee

It may not have to be a pole home. Many companies would recommend a cut in the slope and replace the cut with foundation. How steep is the incline from right to left?

A company that builds on slope in melbourne is LP Warren, have a look at their website, they won't build in QLD but it may give you some ideas.

The extra costs of building on a slope can be very variable, I recommend you make your offer subject to soil tests and subject to finance, and ask for 3 weeks to arrange both.

Buzzy

flodsfive

If you have a chance to go down to Coomera waters (north gold coast) they have a few show homes built on slopes, one a gentle slope. They look fab.

lesleys

You can cut and fill to get a flat pad if there is room. If you don't fancy a pole home then you can build into the slope, eg front of house at street level is the top floor, then you have stairs down to the lower level and exit to back garden. There are loads of houses like that around here (Tamborine Mt) - look here http://www.lanerealty.com.au/HomesGallery.html for examamples of houses on sloping sites.

The Bournes

Thanks for the quick replies! I will have a look at that site now, and will be looking into finance tomorrow!

sherie_in_oz

Some friends of ours have just had a house built on a sloping block by House and Land Design, and they are really pleased with it. I suggest you have a look at the website www.houseandlanddesign.com.au as this has examples of house designs and plans and shows what can be achieved on a sloping block.

Lots of interesting homes can be built on a slope, and in some ways they are more interesting than a flat block. So go for it!! We have built our home a number of times and the key is to build the right style of home to suit the block

Wol

Ours was on a sloping block: the extra cost is well worth it for the views that a slope can provide!

We had to get a variation since the max. cut allowed here is only 750mm: we also had to have a retaining log wall put in between us and the upper neighbour but that's a nice feature now.

If you like the site and the soil's OK then go for it - just allow for the extra cost.

hevs

Can someone explain the soil test? (sorry to hijack!)

Buzzy--Bee

soil tests are holes drilled in the ground to determine what is down there before the excavation. They cost around $50 per metre to drill. They will be responsible for classifying your site. If you get a class A - M, be happy. If you get a class P, find some more money.....

Buzzy

Wol

They call them "Geotech" reports. I'm not sure how much reliance to put on them - we only had to have 2 holes at the opposite corners of the house so what went on in the middle was anyone's guess.

A local community centre build has been on hold because they have to raise $56000 because they found problems during excavation and after their geotech had said all was well. And some friends found that their site had been used as a dump for all sorts of wooden debris - again after being given the OK! They had to have piles driven down.

But such is the mystique of the geotech engineers you won't be able to build without the report, regardless of the veracity.

Buzzy--Bee

We have had 6 holes drilled so far..... any more and we may as well have the excavation done!

Buzzy

Wol

How about calling the house "Gruyere"?

lesleys

We were P. Needed a waffle pod slab

Santa

We've built on a slope, the ground works were quite expensive, but then again I believe poles arn't cheap either. Our nearest neighbours built on poles, they found that during winter the house got very cold so they insulated the underneath and I think that's made a huge diffrence.

If your out in the sticks remember that you must keep underneath your house clear especially in summer, you really don't want sparks working their way under your house !

The Bournes

Thanks for all replies. Unfortunatley we cant finance it, we are short of around $20,000-$30,000 as land is $250,000 so would really only leave around $200 for the build, which wont be enough!!!! But, if a miracle happens and the exchange rate goes to around 2.4, we can do it!! If only we had got the visa's in August and exchanged when it was 2.57, we could have had everything on our list and more, nevermind!!