acacia ridge

The ugliest house in the street!

The house in Acacia Ridge needed a much needed beautification to improve street value, as well as providing shelter for vehicles with a carport extension. Consideration in reducing the earthworks, having side by side parking, and ensuring the entrance was still visible were driving factors.

Although terribly ugly, the façade provided a guide to the new carports visuals, ensuring that the new addition was going to complement the existing home’s simple design.

A contour and detail survey was required. This helped determine the final heights of the carport slab and the extent of the earthworks involved. The carport was setback notably from all boundaries so there was no concern that we were going to accidently encroach any boundaries.

There were two comparable solutions

1. Utilising the existing driveway, and installing a tandem carport was initially considered the simplest. There would be less earthworks, as there was already a flattish driveway. It would be easy access from the carport to the front stairs, minimising time out in the weather.
2. Providing a double carport directly in front of house. The benefits of having cars parked side by side, and still being able to utilise the existing driveway, were worth the additional expense of more substantial earthworks, and being caught in the rain on occasions.

The engineer will provide a slab design and specify posts, and beams.

For a majority of carports a siting variation will be required. In this case, the front boundary setback did not comply with the Queensland Development Code (QDC). Letters are required from the neighbours for them to voice their opinion on your proposal. A building certifier is required to approve the plans on behalf of the council.

A drop edge beam was required to the rear and low side of the carport. The rear drop edge beam was reduced in height with a terraced retaining wall, which created a garden to break up what would have been an otherwise large expanse of grey concrete wall.

It was exciting to see the timber boxing being pulled away to show the extent of the concrete slab.

A gable was provided to the front of the carport to mimic the existing house facade. A simple paving strip was added to the driveway to break up the expanse of concrete.

The engineer provides a slab design and specifies what size posts to use to support the roof.