site survey

S

selfbuild

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Hi all - hope someone can help me.

I am considering buying a site to build a house on. The site has 30m road frontage and is 80m deep, however it is considerably (about 6 feet) lower than the road.

Someone has told me not to buy the site as I would have to put a lot of filling into it in order to have the house at the same level as the road.

I was just wondering who would be best to di a site survey and advise me on the options I would have to build on this site - a civil engineer, an architect, who? (e.g. could I get away with gently sloping the site and how much it would cost to fill etc..) Would I have to build a split level?

Thanks for your help

SB
 
Hi, We have quite a dip from our entrance to the house, gradual though, not severe but no problems bar the entrance. The solicitors had a field say with us because of poor vision on exit. Anyway, can't see why you would need to build split level. All about drainage in those situations I think.

When you are building your house you will be digging out loads of fill for the foundations, can you not just use that, scatter it across, roll it and let the traffic the site be using to do the rest? I would get a civil engineer though for advice.
 
Thanks for that Abbica.
Think I will get a civil engineer to do a survey - anyone got any idea of the cost of this?
Abbica - is your driveway steep? do you have any trouble in winter with frost/ice and trying to get up the drive?
SB
 
No idea on the cost for advice on site but if you just ring one up he should be able to estimate for you, ballpark. I would guess €300ish. could be wrong.
Our driveway is quite steep on exit, I am an expert hill starter, no trouble getting up it yet as it is gravel, we couldn't put tarmac or the like down I'd say but gravel, stone, anything with grip you should have no problems.
 
before you engage anyone, have a preplanning meeting in your local authority to see firstly, if you comply to local needs, and secondly, what the planners would require of the site... some planners are not happy with imported soil and augmented site contours....
 
Abbica:- Anyway, can't see why you would need to build split level. All about drainage in those situations I think.

..........what???

Abbica:- no trouble getting up it yet as it is gravel, we couldn't put tarmac or the like down I'd say but gravel, stone, anything with grip you should have no problems

..........tarmac would actually be better
 
Sorry, didn't realise this was an exam! I said "I think", but regarding a dip, surely drainage would be one issue? and tarmac, would gravel not be better in icey conditions? But then again, I am only the student!
 
Abbica said:
Sorry, didn't realise this was an exam! I said "I think", but regarding a dip, surely drainage would be one issue? and tarmac, would gravel not be better in icey conditions? But then again, I am only the student!
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Yes, drainage would be an issue, but it i swith most developments... there are more important issue sthat will dictate dwelling design.

the road finish will depend on the gradient.
 
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