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New build garden slope

darrochfisherdarrochfisher Posts: 3
edited July 2020 in Garden design
Hi all,

I’m thinking about purchasing plot 11 — below and was looking to get advice on what people think of this garden slope. Is it ok or do you think it’s quite steep?  

Posts

  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    Hi @darrochfisher  Most of us are not architects, so that drawing won't mean anything to us.  Do you have any photos of the slope, can you describe the height difference?  Are you just talking about as a slope for gardening (I assume that is what you mean), or do you mean a slope to build a house on?

    Slope's are to some extent down to personal preference.  My garden is on a very steep slope, and it's part of what appealed to us.  To put this into context, look at how high above the table and chairs the arbour is.  It's about a 7ft height difference from the patio level.  Others would run a mile at that gradient.


  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    edited July 2020
    I used to live in Derbyshire and most gardens were on a slope. Once you got to the top if the garden you could look over the house and at the front we had a 50ft slope from the house.
    Which way  is it sloping as ones that go up from the house look better as keenongreens.
    Sloping down not so great to plan.
    Sorry looking at the plan I think it slopes towards the house but how much I have no idea?
    EDIT again plot 10 or 11?
  • darrochfisherdarrochfisher Posts: 3
    Hey both,

    Thanks for responding. I should have explained it's plot 11. The arrows indicate that it slopes towards the house. I don't have any measurements or photos of the slope because I can't access it. It's on a building site.
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    edited July 2020
    Does RW mean retention wall? I would be worried about being overlooked if the neighbouring house is on higher ground. I don't understand other numbers in the plan, can you explain them to me and others here? Is 1:12 and 1:14 the ratio of the slope?
    Generally, I like sloping gardens more than flat gardens but I can't imagine buying a house without seeing it and seeing its surroundings.
  • darrochfisherdarrochfisher Posts: 3
    edhelka said:
    Does RW mean retention wall? I would be worried about being overlooked if the neighbouring house is on higher ground. I don't understand other numbers in the plan, can you explain them to me and others here? Is 1:12 and 1:14 the ratio of the slope?
    Generally, I like sloping gardens more than flat gardens but I can't imagine buying a house without seeing it and seeing its surroundings.
    It means for ever 12 meters, the garden slopes by 1 meter. Unsure about RW referring to retaining wall.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited July 2020
    I'd wait until the building work is finished. Unless you know exactly how they're going to leave the garden, you can't really plan anything.
    I'd ask the builders what they're planning , we did once with a new build and they adjusted what they'd planned to do, to accommodate what we wanted.
    Devon.
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    It also slopes down from left to right. If RW is a wall it's under a metre tall. There should be a legend on a plan saying what RW is.
    Would certainly need to see the whole site plan with size of plot then you can work out the slope 1>12 over say 24 metres means the back will be 2m higher than in front of the house if I've  interpreted correctly.
    What about any houses behind you are you going to be overlooked? 
    Looked at one show house near us that from the upstairs rooms you looked straight over the garden into the  kitchen of the house behind you,  no privacy at all.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited July 2020
    1:12 to 1:14. It's a noticeable slope but not steep. Both sides of the garden slope fairly consistently. 
    I think the level change would add interest, allowing you to create level areas connected by a few steps, but the level changes would be pretty minor and not requiring expensive engineered retaining walls. A couple of sleeper terraces 40-50cm high would do the job by the look of it. 

    The neighbour's house is set slightly lower with a 90cm retaining wall between the plots. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732

    Do you know what the building on the other side is? If perhaps it's a block of flats I'd be more concerned about being overlooked.

    (This is despite living on a corner plot with a 3' side wall !!).

    Southampton 
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    Maybe put the gradients into context. For example recommended maximum gradient for a ramp is 1:12, 1:15 is preferable as much easier to use.  If for a wheelchair 1:20 is recommended. 

    However as said I would want to look at the plot itself and see how I feel about the various slopes - direction, steepness etc) Both to see how I felt walking on them and how I might be able to shape the garden. We had a garden with (I guess) a 1:8 slope to one side and we felt it added interest but it also meant expense to put in some steps. 

    Also worth checking what patio (if any) the builders are providing. Ours had put a proper sized patio along the back if the house so we didn’t have to get an area levelled and supported ( our garden sloped down from the house)
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
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