The Cut Has Been Done

Because our block was slightly sloping - low at the front, high at the back - a cut had to be performed in order to ensure a level pad for the slab.  So we arranged, at extra cost, to have Metricon complete the cut and fill as well as export the excess soil.

This was scheduled to be performed on Friday, 16 January 2015.  Afterwards, we would meet our site supervisor onsite to hand possession of the block back over to us so we could get our retaining guys in to do front and rear retaining walls (because again, like the pool and the decking, Metricon 'do not do' retaining).

We are told on Friday that the guys are there doing the cut, fill and exportation as planned. We arrange to meet onsite on Monday, 19 January 2015 to take possession of the property and have the retaining done.  After the cut, fill and exportation is done, we go out to have a look at the job.

There will be a retaining wall going in across the back (under the existing wall) in a curve shape, so this seems OK.  We immediately note that the pad left for the house (specifically the area behind the garage) seems a bit small having regard to the size of the backyard and slab that is scheduled to be put behind it. We stepped it out and there did not seem to be enough room for the backyard and the slab.  I am standing on a lowered platform where our sunken garage will eventually be sitting.

Turn around and next to our driveway area is over 1m of excess soil that has been scrapped off the back of the property, and left on the front...

Take another couple of steps backwards down the driveway...

Take another couple of steps backwards and you get the full effect.  We immediately panicked and thought "what is all of this soil doing here?! "  We envisaged a slope downwards alongside the driveway.  This is where we will be putting in 1 metre retaining wall (which will eventually act as a border for a small garden across the front).

Here you can see my partner standing in front of the mound of dirt.  This area has been approved (on plans, with council etc) for a max 1m retaining wall.  This was purposefully done to avoid a costly engineering certification on the retaining wall, which is required if the retaining wall is over 1.2 metres. The dirt left here is probably over 2 metres.

We called our site supervisor immediately and discussed the apparent issues, noting that the cut/fill/export guys have packed up their equipment.  He had not seen the work, so could not comment at the time but that we would discuss during our Monday onsite meeting.