Hello everyone,
definitely our most challenging topic in building the house is the design of the slope facing the south side. (the attached sketch is at a scale of 1:100, the elevation points are marked in red, the total slope length is about 20m (65 feet) including the inlet and outlet).
After countless site visits, research, and discussions, the following material options are under consideration:
1.) Slope face stones: inexpensive, feasible for DIY work, but visually not our taste at all.
2.) L-shaped concrete blocks: due to contacts with a nearby concrete plant, they are within a reasonable price range. Excavator/crane for placing and foundation preparation would also be possible partly as DIY. Aesthetically, so-so.
3.) Gabions: at least 1m (3.3 feet) thick and therefore a real cost factor (>10,000€), offer to follow. Visually very elegant and exactly what we want.
4.) L-shaped blocks with gabions as a facing: L-blocks as slope retaining structure with a narrow gabion (30cm (12 inches)) as a decorative front. So far, not seen or experienced.
The next question is where to start securing the slope? At the point shown in the drawing, or extend the slope all the way to the southern property boundary to possibly also serve as a fence with the L-blocks. The appearance would theoretically not matter, as we wouldn’t be looking at the L-blocks but only the neighbor (the house is still under shell construction). The disadvantage would be that a huge amount of soil is needed for backfilling. Up to 2m (6.5 feet) high at the property boundary would also be exempt from requiring a building permit / planning permission in our case.
Looking forward to your opinions J.
definitely our most challenging topic in building the house is the design of the slope facing the south side. (the attached sketch is at a scale of 1:100, the elevation points are marked in red, the total slope length is about 20m (65 feet) including the inlet and outlet).
After countless site visits, research, and discussions, the following material options are under consideration:
1.) Slope face stones: inexpensive, feasible for DIY work, but visually not our taste at all.
2.) L-shaped concrete blocks: due to contacts with a nearby concrete plant, they are within a reasonable price range. Excavator/crane for placing and foundation preparation would also be possible partly as DIY. Aesthetically, so-so.
3.) Gabions: at least 1m (3.3 feet) thick and therefore a real cost factor (>10,000€), offer to follow. Visually very elegant and exactly what we want.
4.) L-shaped blocks with gabions as a facing: L-blocks as slope retaining structure with a narrow gabion (30cm (12 inches)) as a decorative front. So far, not seen or experienced.
The next question is where to start securing the slope? At the point shown in the drawing, or extend the slope all the way to the southern property boundary to possibly also serve as a fence with the L-blocks. The appearance would theoretically not matter, as we wouldn’t be looking at the L-blocks but only the neighbor (the house is still under shell construction). The disadvantage would be that a huge amount of soil is needed for backfilling. Up to 2m (6.5 feet) high at the property boundary would also be exempt from requiring a building permit / planning permission in our case.
Looking forward to your opinions J.
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