Advice needed - costs on levelling a steep drive

miss_sixties22

Hi
We're currently looking a moving and my husband is interested in this house.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29848069.html

However, I am really put off by the steep concrete drive up to the house (apparently others have also been put off by it so said the estate agent). I think it would be difficult with a baby/pushchair/getting in and out of the car!

Has anyone got any idea on the costs for digging the drive out and making it flat? I also think steps to the side would be a good idea too.
Thanks very much for your help.

ormus

digging out the drive is ok if you fancy the garage door being 5 ft in the air!
a set of steps to the side, is far more sensible.

mrmcgloo

I wouldn't even consider levelling the drive - it would be prohibitively expensive, particularly when there may well be services that may need to be moved (sewers, surface water drains, gas, elec, etc). Then you have the problem of retaining walls to support your neighbours side, plus potentially work to support your house and foundations if you excavate close to the side of the house.

Remember - there's probably a reason it was built like that - because it was too much trouble to sort it out in the first place!

27col

How can you possibly level the drive. The top end at the garage and the lower end at the kerb will still be at the same levels. There is a slope because that is the only way the join the two levels together unless you use steps. Which are not very practical for a car.

Kaz2904

Rather than worrying about the drive, why not think about the garden too. Can you imagine being able to leave the kids out there happily? When it rains heavily all water will just pour straight down to the back door. Mowing the lawn will be pergatory. Hanging out the washing etc etc. It's not just the driveway which is the issue.
I'm on a hill like that and although all the old victorian houses are sideways on to the hill and therefore flat gardens, the council estate behind us is into the hill so gardens uphill/downhill and driveways the other depending on the side of the road. Funny really, people don't think ahead.

docmatt

It's a no brainer i'm afraid. Either knock a shedload off the price and live with it or look for another house. Sorry

keystone

Someone please tell me this is a wind-up.

Cheers

mikey72

Looks like our house.
Car is ok so long as you back on.
But it does need a run up, the tow bar hits the ground, and the handbrake has to be good.
The kids can mange to stand up though, even if they're on a slope, and the water soaks into the grass before the torrent hits the door.
We are going to put steps in, and move before we retire though.

DVardysShadow

27col wrote: »

How can you possibly level the drive. The top end at the garage and the lower end at the kerb will still be at the same levels. There is a slope because that is the only way the join the two levels together unless you use steps. Which are not very practical for a car.

But it would keep the daleks out.

mikey72

DVardysShadow wrote: »

But it would keep the daleks out.

No, they can do steps now.

Kaz2904

Ah but wouldn't they get caught in the dip bit between flat and slope like cars do? Think grampher on back with legs peddling like mad to right itself again .