Building a house on sloping land: Tips for Building on a Sloped Terrain

Building On A Sloping Block

If you have set your sights on purchasing and building on a sloping block of land with a view, then this is the blog post for you. A sloping site can be both a blessing and a curse. It can offer you wonderful views, and the home will be a unique and interesting talking point.

But building on a sloping site can be a difficult task, which poses some very specific challenges. It requires creative and innovative thinking. The nature of a slope can make building more problematic and therefore more costly than building on a flat site.

There can be a lot to take in when considering how to design your new home, so to make things a little clearer, we have included everything you need to know before you begin designing and building on a sloping site.

We at Pivot Homes have been designing and building on sloping sites since 1989 and have the expert knowledge required to ensure that your home is less of a landslide and more solid as a rock.

 

What is a Sloping Site?

The name sloping site or ‘sloping block’ is self-explanatory. It basically means that the land you are planning to build on is on an incline or decline (or even slope sideways) and isn’t flat like standard building sites.

The block will have what is termed as uneven levels of elevation. This will generally mean a rise or fall of approximately three metres or less across the building area.

Here are some of the reasons that you might want to consider building your home on a sloping site:

Stunning Views.

The elevation of a home designed and built for a slope means that you can enjoy stunning vistas and blue skies for miles around. Whether you are surrounded by mountains or water you can catch views that homes on standard flat blocks can seldom never achieve.

Natural Drainage and Ventilation.

The higher up you are, the more natural cross-flow ventilation there is, meaning your energy bills will be reduced. Designed correctly, the slope also means that drainage can occur naturally.

Creative Design and Landscaped Gardens.

A home on a slope presents a chance to create stunning exterior designs that are set over multiple levels. It can also mean more privacy from neighbours. Imagine relaxing on a sunny and secluded deck that takes in the panoramic views.

Natural Light.

Houses situated on the side of a hill are often perfectly placed to gain lots of natural light, which is a sought-after feature in most homes.

 

Sloping Site Analysis

A site analysis is vital when designing any building, but particularly when the home is to be constructed on a sloping site. If you don’t carry out a site analysis before beginning the design process, you could be faced with a multitude of issues from natural hazards such as flooding to greatly increased construction costs as you progress.

A site analysis will identify any potential costly issues that might need to be taken into consideration going forward. There are several aspects that a site analysis of a sloping block will look at and identify, including the degree and direction of the slope, the natural aspects of the land, including potential views, drainage corridors, potential slippage, access and more.

Before committing to purchasing the land, always ensure that you consult a specialist like Pivot Homes. We can help you understand the unique characteristics of the site and best location for the construction of your new home.

Here are some of the things that an analysis should identify in more detail:

Severity and Direction of the Slope.

While some sloping sites slope upwards (rise up from the road), some slope downwards (away from the road). Others can slope from side to side. An upslope site can be more expensive to build on than a block that slopes downwards from the road because they tend to require more cut and fill (more on this later and the construction of retaining walls).

As well as the direction of the slope, it is important to understand the severity of the gradient as this will give us a good idea of how to design the home to suit the site. The general rule of thumb is that any slope with an incline less than 2 metres of fall is easier to build on, whilst a slope more than 2 metres increases the skill required from a design perspective and cost of the build.

Topography & Contour Surveys.

Topography looks at the contours of the land you are planning to design and build on as well as the natural formations surrounding your block. On a flat site, topography might not be that important, but when you build on a sloping site it is paramount so that you can assess hazards like landslides and erosion.

To measure the topography a land surveyor needs to be engaged to provide a contour survey. Pivot Homes uses Geelong Survey Solutions as the expert in this field. They provide data and drawings that allow our sloping block design team to determine the appropriate driveway grade and the heights of any retaining walls that may or may not be required.

A Detailed Contour Survey is the secret to better design. An accurate Survey shows the exact slope of the land, the precise location of services ie power, telecom & data etc as well as neighbouring characteristics. This enables Building Designers and Engineers to design the perfect home to suit your block. – Craig Vanderpol, Surveyor from Geelong Survey Solutions

Topographic Measuring Equipment – The Leica Total Station

Ground Conditions.

Getting a soil test from a geotechnical engineer will help you to figure out the stability of the ground to be built on. Evidence of high-water tables in the soil, deep tree roots, and properties in the soil such as clay and sand are all issues that might mean you need to rethink your plans.

For example, if there is a lot of moisture in the soil there can be a risk of moisture build-up, which can cause dampness and put pressure on the structure. If there is rock in the surface soil, excavation can be challenging and costly, meaning the house will need to be built out from the slope.

Climate and Vegetation.

The site analysis might also consider climate and plant life in the area. Things like wind direction and exposure, as well as solar orientation throughout the seasons are important features to look at so that you get the best weather conditions for your home. If there is heavy rainfall in the area, there might be more risk of flooding and erosion, while some areas can be subject to bush fires.

Vegetation can stabilise a slope or cause issues due to root placement; it can also indicate the climate on the slope. Be aware that the placement of trees can either obliterate your view or provide shade and frame your views perfectly.

Access.

This is one of the most vital aspects for a building on a sloping site. Analysing this will ensure that vehicles and pedestrians will be able to get to the property easily and safely, and it will also help you to figure out the best position for a driveway and other entryways.

Drainage Corridors.

Understanding the effects of water on your site is important because if it isn’t managed properly it can lead to excessive erosion among other issues. Analysis should consider ways to redirect the water, such as stormwater pits, tanks, drainage corridors or swales. If you’re in an area of the country subject to heavy rains, then you should pay particular interest to this.

 

Designing for a Sloping Block.

The skill of the designer is one of the most important keys to success when building on a sloping block. When it comes to the design of your new home, you should look for a team that understands how to design on sloping blocks of the land.

The team should be able to advise you on how to reduce the costs of excavation and retaining walls required whilst allowing for you to maximise those views.

Consider a company like Pivot Homes who specialises in custom-built sloping site homes. Not every home builder is experienced nor even understands building on sloping sites, so be sure to find someone with a track record of success in this specific area.

The design of the building should minimise the following:

Excavation and Fill.

Not only does this increase your costs, but it can also increase erosion by changing the stability of soil and have a significant impact on biodiversity by removing top soil and vegetation.

Visual Impact on the Environment.

The dwelling shouldn’t hugely alter the landscape and should instead complement its surroundings. Height restrictions also need to be taken into consideration.

The design should maximise these factors:

Views.

This is the main reason many people build on sloping sites, so it makes sense for the design to make the most of the views. Having large windows or carefully placed picture windows around the home is a great way to get the most of your unique vantage point.

Sunlight.

All those windows will mean lots of natural light, but it’s important for them to be positioned in a way that there is protection from the south and the west, whilst taking advantage of the natural sunlight from the north. Utilising Passive Solar Design principles will also increase your new homes energy efficiency.

Space.

Making the most of the space you have is important, as sloping site homes tend to be more interesting designs. Large, light filled areas, open plan living spaces and exterior decking and platforms that lead you seamlessly from the indoors to outdoors work excellently.

The structural design of the foundations of a building on a sloping block is critical. There are a number of ways foundations can be designed for homes on sloping sites depending on whether the house is on an upslope or downslope block. You can choose from a single concrete slab, a slab combined with a timber sub-floor, or a split slab.

You also need to consider how the home will be designed and built for the slope. Here are some of the most common methods:

Cut and Fill.

This is a process of levelling out the land by cutting away some of the earth on the high side and moving it to the low side. This means that the house can be designed as though it were on a level surface.

As stated by YourHome.gov.au: The use of piers and posts can greatly reduce the need for cut-and-fill on sloping blocks. Innovative tensile foundation structures can accommodate the most challenging of sites.

Retaining Walls.

If you use the cut and fill method, it is likely that you will need to construct retaining walls. These are generally made of steel beams cast into concrete footings and are very important for containing erosion and for adequate site drainage.

Building on Stilts.

Houses on particularly steep slopes can be built-up on piers or columns, meaning that there is minimum disturbance to the ground, and the building’s footprint will be smaller. This method can negate the need for expensive foundations. Height restrictions above natural ground level will need to be considered in closer detail.

Designs aspects that work well for building on sloping sites include the following:

Split-Level Designs.

These work excellently for sloping sites because they work with the lay of the land rather than against it. You can have various living and entertaining areas on different levels that make the most of your surrounding views. These designs can be also cost-effective.

Flat Roof Designs.

Designing a home with a flat roof can produce a great, natural effect and it reduces the obtrusiveness/bulkiness of the home.

Storage.

Designing on a sloping site offers a great chance to build in some extra storage space below ground level. These spaces can also lead directly from the rear or the side.

We provide our clients with 3D imaging so that you can get a tangible idea of the design before committing to it. You can see a variety of our stunning sloping block designs for examples.

Cost of Building on a Slope

There is no point in beating around the bush. Because of the nature of building on sloping site, the costs are going to be higher. Although initially, a sloping block of land can be cheaper to buy than a flat block. However, when you add your additional construction and site costs into the mix, the price of building does increase.

Related: Building Site Costs Explained.

It can be very difficult to estimate the exact cost of building on a sloping site, as it is extremely site-dependent. As a rule, the steeper the site, the more expensive the project will be. If your site has over a 2m fall, costs will tend to increase due to the additional labour, foundations, retaining walls etc required to construct. Typically, building on a sloping site will add an additional cost of approximately $20,000 – $50,000 compared to a flat block. To get a rough idea and understand the costs of building your new custom home, fill in the form and we will be in touch with you shortly!

Here are a few of the common things that might add to the cost of building on a sloping site:

Foundation Work.

Any additional foundation work will add the biggest costs to your project and can be upwards of $20,000. Preparing the site and the intensive earthwork required to level the site through cut and fill and the addition of retaining walls is an expensive exercise.

Erosion that occurs during the construction can also lead to extra costs. These costs can be reduced by custom designing the home to suits your sloping site.

Drainage and Sewage Issues.

Drainage and water run-off issues can be a drain on your pocket. If there isn’t adequate drainage and sewage accessibility from the street at ground level, getting rid of excess stormwater and sewage might necessitate pumps and pits which can potentially add to cost of the build.

Building Materials and Labour.

Additional materials are often necessary when building on sloping sites, such as reinforced suspended concrete floors. These specialised materials cost more than a standard build. You will also need equipment like excavators, trucks, removal of soil to assist in preparing the site.

Depending on where you are building your new home, it might also be challenging to transport materials up to the building site and more complex for builders to access and work on the block, so costs are likely to increase.

When working out costs, it is also helpful to remember that you only need to consider the slope of the area of the block that you are intending to build on, not the entire block of land. Also, bear in mind that if you sell your home, you will reap the rewards of your incredible views.

You can read more about some of the potential costs involved in building on a sloping site in our post on What to Know Before Buying Sloping Land.

Conclusion

As we have seen, building the home of your dreams on a sloping site has its pros and cons. A thorough site analysis from experts is vital in order to get an accurate picture of the cost of the project and how the home might be designed so that it will work with the land.

We at Pivot Homes can help with that. Get in touch today to schedule a consultation with one of our professional sloping block experts.

Building on a Steep Slope or Lot: Costs & Considerations

Considerations for Building on a Steep Slope

A favorite client of ours once said,

If you’re going to live in the mountains, you want to have a view!

His sentiment is shared by many people that relocate to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. And if a home with a view is what you’re after, then you have to drive up into the mountains.

Sloping land usually offers the best views because the land slopes away from the house, opening up the views below or off in the distance. In the real estate world, we often refer to this as “view control.”

Building on steep land in the Asheville, North Carolina area requires certain expertise and a higher level of due diligence compared to building on flat land. Land parcels that are designated as Steep Slope in the Buncombe County Zoning Overlay are subject to additional requirements that must be met in order to get a building permit.

In this post, we’ll look at what those requirements are, what costs might be incurred to build on a steep slope, and even discuss if it’s worth the effort.

What is a Steep Slope?

According to the Buncombe County Planning Department, the Steep Slope Overlay…

…is intended to limit the intensity of development in steep areas, preserve viewsheds, and protect natural resources on land higher than 2,500 feet above sea level with a natural slope of 35% or more.

The key points are here the elevation and natural slope figures. It’s very easy to get to an elevation of 2,500 feet or more in our area, and a 35% slope is also very common. After all, we live in the mountains; many areas of Buncombe County have steep topography! Remember, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River (Mount Mitchell) lies just outside of Buncombe County at 6,683 feet elevation!

Why Build on Steep Slope?

It’s actually quite common for homes to be built on a steep slope in Western North Carolina. We have a lot of sloping land and many lots that lie above 2500 feet elevation. Many of these areas are very wooded and have a natural feel, which is quite different than the urban infill lots that are typically found within the city of Asheville. Many buyers prefer to live in these beautiful, mountainous areas.

The main reason people decide to build on steep slope lots is for the view! You can’t get a really dramatic mountain view without first driving up into the mountains! By building a house on a sloping lot, the homeowner gains “control” of the trees below the house. This means the trees can be trimmed or removed to open up the view, and the view can be maintained in the future.

What Building Restrictions are there on a Steep Slope?

Buncombe County imposes several restrictions for steep slope parcels. These restrictions include the amount of land that can be disturbed, screening requirements, and the requirement to hire a geotechnical engineer.

Disturbance Limits

When considering buying a lot that has a steep slope, it’s important to consider the size of the house you want to build. If the house will have a large footprint, you may need to find a large lot. This is because there are limitations on the percentage of the lot that can be disturbed, as well as the amount of land that can have “impervious” improvements. Such improvements would include paved driveways, foundations, etc. This rule is to help prevent problems with runoff and erosion.

Source: Buncombe County Planning Department

Screening Requirements

The next regulation that lot buyers and builders need to consider is the county’s screening requirements. If the land at the downhill side of the home drops more than 25 feet in elevation within 100 horizontal feet of the home, a screening plan will be required. Essentially, native plantings must be used to help screen the downhill side from view.

The county uses a credit system, and credits are based on the diameter and height of existing trees, plus new credits for new trees. The number of credits is based on the “planar surface” of the new home, which is the “combined vertical exterior surfaces within a single face of the structure. ”

This gets a little complicated, but suffice it to say that when you have an exposed slope beneath a newly built home, it looks unsightly from a distance. But when properly screened, the home will blend into the mountain environment, while still affording the homeowner a mountain view.

Geotech Requirements

The most important part of due diligence that a buyer can do while evaluating steep slope land listing is to consult with a geotechnical engineer. On land with 35% or higher slope, or in a high/moderate hazard area as shown on the Buncombe County Slope Stability Index map (available on the Buncombe County GIS website), a geotech report is required before any disturbance can take place on the lot.

After the structure is built, a second report must be completed by the engineer, certifying that the original recommendations were adhered to during construction.

Because the geotechnical report is required in order to build, we usually recommend that clients obtain this report during the Due Diligence period of the purchase contract. That way, if there are concerns with the soil or the recommendations in the report are going to be too expensive to implement, the buyer can back out and only be out the cost of the report. Those reports are expensive, but not nearly as expensive as the added building costs that could result from the engineer’s recommendations.

Image Source: Buncombe County GIS

How do I Know if my Lot is Subject to Steep Slope Regulations?

The first place to check to see if a lot is subject to Steep Slope Regulations is the Buncombe County GIS map or the MapWNC Slope Tool.

The county GIS website will show if your lot lies in the “Steep Slope Zoning Overlay,” but only if the lot is in the county and not within a township or city such as Asheville, Black Mountain, Weaverville, etc. So, if the lot is subject to oversight by one of these towns, it’s imperative to check with the local municipality to understand the specific requirements.

For example, the Town of Black Mountain’s Zoning Ordinance includes an Erosion Prevention and Slope Protection Ordinance. The ordinance places limitations on density and requires a geotechnical engineer for homes built on land in excess of 36 percent natural slope. To calculate the slope, we would again refer to the MapWNC Slope Tool.

City of Asheville

The City of Asheville also imposes regulations on steep slope properties. The stated purpose of Asheville’s “Steep Slope and Ridgetop Development Ordinance” is as follows:

Asheville is in a unique geographic location where mountains, valleys, and hills constitute significant natural topographic features. The mountains and hillsides of Asheville are visible from many places in the city, adding to the quality of life for residents, and improving tourism opportunities for visitors. These areas are sensitive to development activities and measures must be taken to maintain slope stability and to control erosion and stormwater. In order to ensure the preservation of this character and the appropriate use of the hillsides, the regulations of this section are established to recognize that development of land in steep or mountainous areas involves special considerations and unique development standards.

Compared to other areas in the county, Asheville’s definitions of a steep slope are more strict, designating steep slopes as areas above 2220 feet in elevation and having an existing grade of 15 percent or more.

What are the Costs & Considerations when Building on a Steep Slope or Lot?

Driveways

Building homes on a steep slope or lot will often require sloping driveways to access the house from the road. There are exceptions, such as when the lot can be accessed by a relatively flat pull-off at the top of the lot. But in many cases, the driveway will need to traverse up the lot, down the lot, or across the lot to access the house. And some driveways will require switchbacks.

Retaining Walls

Engineers and graders in Asheville are typically experts in designing and installing retaining walls. Even moderately sloping lots may still need a short retaining wall to hold back a slope, or to hold up a driveway. On a steep slope, retaining walls can be impressive, and the costs can get expensive. Sometimes, these costs are hard to recoup when selling a home. But, if building on a slope results in tangible selling features (a view!), then the added construction costs can pay off.

Foundations

Building on steep land almost always involves building on a basement. Homes for sale in the mountains often feature “daylight” basements or “walkout” basements. Improvements in waterproofing technologies mean basements in newer homes are usually very dry, making basement square footage just as desirable as above-grade square footage. But very steep lots might even require a sub-basement or crawl space below the basement. So it’s important to evaluate the building site with a grader or contractor to get a better idea of what will be needed for the home’s foundation.

Is Building on a Steep Slope or Lot Worth It?

This answer will vary depending on the buyer. If you’re comfortable with the added requirements, such as consulting with a geotechnical engineer, and you really want a jaw-dropping view, the answer is yes. But even so, we highly recommend working with a builder that has experience building on a slope and is familiar with working with engineering plans.

Some of the most beautiful homes in Western North Carolina are built on a steep slope. It’s not unusual in this area, and it’s a good thing that regulations are in place to protect the natural beauty of the Asheville area and to ensure that homes in the mountains are built to be safe.

If you’re considering building a home on sloping mountain land, we’ve navigated the process many times, and we can recommend local builders and geotechnical engineers. Let us help you find your perfect lot for your Asheville dream home!

Related Posts:

How to Artfully Build a House on a Hillside

If you are considering building a house on a sloped site, let me suggest this mantra: “No house should ever be on any hill … It should be of the hill, belonging to it, so hill and house could live together each the happier for the other. ” This idea from Frank Lloyd Wright continues to guide many architects challenged by a home under construction on a steep terrain. The goal is to sit the house within the landscape, as part of it, as opposed to dominating it. The hillside itself inspires the concept of the home.

Below you’ll learn more about how to handle building on a site with a slope. We’ll also look at a variety of completed project examples in which a home has successfully been nestled into the topography.

Jen Dalley //

Tips for Building on a Slope
Sketch it out. After you’ve found the hill of your dreams, take a good look at where it makes the most sense to carve out a space for a home. Go sit on your site for hours at a time. Camp overnight if you can. Talk to the site (it’s fine, no one is watching). Where will the built structure meld most elegantly with the natural environment? Does this also align with the project’s other goals, such as orientation for solar and views? Sketch out all these ideas and observations.

The sketch here shows a balance in minimizing earth excavation, allowing natural water flow around the building, maintaining great southern exposure and providing views to the mountains beyond. Whew! That’s a lot, right? Your architect is there to help.

Jen Dalley //

Minimize cut and fill. Once the house is approximately placed, it’s time to find the best location that minimizes excavation. A survey will accurately identify the amount earth removed (cut) and earth added (fill). Doing your homework to investigate how to minimize excavation will mean less expense and a happier hillside.

Locate a home builder with hillside home experience

Be prepared to hire big-kid toys. Take a moment to consider the equipment needed to move earth. Backhoes, loaders and rammers are key to excavating, filling and compacting soil. More time and energy is involved in preparing a steep site than a flat one. An additional area near the site may be necessary to store the excavated soil in until it is needed for backfill.

Arterra Landscape Architects

Plan to re-landscape. When you’re camping you leave no trace behind, right? Take this same stance on your home as well. All the construction trucks and material deliveries will require staging areas and possibly temporary roads. Once a project is complete, replant in the areas disturbed by construction. Patience is required here, since it may be a few years until the hillside appears natural again.

Find a local landscape architect to re-landscape

Feldman Architecture, Inc.

Examples of Houses Successfully Melded With Hillsides
Terraced concrete exterior walkways create a cascading transition zone before flowing into the vegetated landscape here. Alternating strips of concrete and grass allow natural and built environments to merge.
The upper patio is perfectly positioned, extending effortlessly into the rocky mountainside.

See more of this home

House + House Architects

Dark materials on the exterior, especially like this wood, further help a home blend with its surroundings. The landscaping wood chips create a soft buffer between the house and natural grasses, while concrete retaining walls peel from the house and hold the back the hillside.

The house itself can do the heavy lifting on keeping the hill in place. The foundation walls of this home double as retaining walls, allowing the earth to embrace the structure.

The grassy berms lead your eye toward a cleverly placed window on the lower level.

Feldman Architecture, Inc.

Although a challenge, a considerable grade change can provide easy access to rooftops. Roofs built adjacent to a hill can result in entire expanses of occupiable vegetated landscapes. The entire footprint of this house, initially borrowed from the hillside, has been restored on the roof.

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Bernard Andre Photography

Even if the roof soars horizontally above ground level, the base and a stepped retaining wall can help ground the home and connect it with the land.

Notice how the light-colored exterior material stands out against the landscape. This contrast is something to consider, along with seasonal changes, depending on your location. The overall setting for your home’s appearance can differ drastically in winter and summer.

Rockefeller Kempel Architects

In a dense, urban situation, an added benefit of sloping sites is that they can allow for multiple levels lit by natural light. Even the lowest level of a home can have access to an abundance of daylight.

In this case the steep site and the setbacks required by code also help neighbors have views of the ocean.

Remick Associates Architects + Master Builders

Terraced strips of vegetation on the exterior match the pattern of steps on the interior of this home. With translucent glass, this relationship between the exterior and interior is beautifully apparent and understandable.

Design-build firms can help you visualize the possibilities

Daniel Marshall Architect

Small, simple architectural slices in the landscape can give clues to the site’s original form. Inserting a concrete shelf into this hillside provided a ledge for seating while recognizing the integrity of the grade change.

Wheeler Kearns Architects

Tate Studio Architects

With any slope, whether dramatic or gradual, architecture has the ability to reinforce the natural site. When the built environment coexists with the natural environment, if seems as if the building has grown from the site, and we in turn feel more connected to the earth.

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Tell us: How is your home integrated with its topography?

More: Cliffside Homes Encourage Living on the Edge

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15 Pros And Cons Of Building A House On Sloped Land

If you’re planning to build your dream home soon, you probably have envisioned its location on a hilltop, away from the high foot and car traffic. With the elevated spot, you’re sure to wake up every morning with beautiful views and romantic city lights every night. There’s no doubt that choosing to create a house on sloped land comes with many benefits. However, like everything else, they also come with downsides.

Before you start investing in your home project, it’s crucial to weigh both sides of the fence to eliminate regrets in the years to come. After all, your dwelling place is your family’s haven, at least for a couple of years. It’s best to do your homework and evaluate whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. While upward sloping block designs for houses are pleasing to the eyes, they come with hassles.

Consider the following good and bad points of building your home in a sloped area lot:

Pro: Curb Appeal

Finally, you can have the home of your dreams. And if you want it on a hilltop, you can enjoy its beautiful aesthetics from afar. Elevated homes have the best curb appeal out of all types of properties, and this can be an advantage, especially if you’re planning to resell it in the future. A home’s curb appeal can warrant more prospective buyers than homes that look plain and dull.

It also won’t require any additional touches to uplift its look since the outdoor space will be naturally beautiful. Probably with the right outdoor lighting fixtures, landscape, and some furniture, your curb appeal will be at its peak.

Pro: Beautiful Views

You should consider the different views available from different angles when deciding where to build your home. If you’re the type of person who cherishes beautiful views more than anything else, having a house on a sloped lot is perfect for your preferences. You can wake up to beautiful scenes each and every time. Whichever area in your home, you can simply open the windows and look out and far for some stunning views.

You can even decide to add a patio, balcony, or viewing deck to make the viewing experience even more enjoyable for your family and guests. You can add extra lights to your house so you can enjoy night viewing too. When you’re blessed with a natural fresh view every day, you can feel refreshed and less stressed. Consider building a wrap-around porch if you want to capture the views at a 360° angle.

Pro: Privacy

Building your home in a sloped area means it’s best to add more windows not only for maximized ventilation but also for more chances of viewing the outdoors. Despite having many windows, though, you can be certain that your family can enjoy a high level of privacy. Since the back of your property slopes, your home won’t be directly facing your neighbour. The abundance of the surrounding plants and greeneries means that building on a mountain lot also provides greater privacy.

A mountain home is ideal if you like living in a secluded area. If you’ve gotten tired of hearing loud noises from car horns and neighbours shouting inaudible words, it’s best to build a home far away from the urban centre and downtown. Typically, there will be a few houses within a few hundred meters of your home due to the elevated landscape. This is why hilly residential areas appeal to people who prefer privacy.

Pro: Natural Light

Another advantage of having a home on a hilly lot is the abundance of natural light. This can allow you to save costs on electricity bills as you can practically use natural sunlight during the daytime. Take advantage of the illumination that the sun provides in every corner of your home that comes with windows. You can either open the windows entirely to invite fresh air and sunlight or open just the curtains, so enough sunlight can seep through to the rooms.

Pro: Energy Efficiency And Ventilation

A home built on sloped land can benefit from natural ventilation. Needless to say, hilltops offer a fresher quality of air compared to the lower landscapes of cities. In addition to providing fresh air, natural ventilation can reduce the demand for artificial cooling in your home, thus lowering your energy bills. Houses built on hillsides are more energy-efficient than homes built on flat land surrounded by other buildings. This is because there are no high buildings that block sunlight and airways.

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Pro: Walkout Basement

With a sloped lot, it’s possible to build a home with a walkout basement. In a walkout basement, part is underground and part is above ground. Contrary to a normal-ground-level home, this basement style offers more convenience.
With lots of windows, outside access, and light, this type of basement feels more like an extended part of your home. You can design it in different ways to make it feel more comfortable and cosier. You can use creative interior designs to maximize the use and feel of your walkout basement.

Pro: Expanded Space

A sloped lot forces the construction of additional levels, maximizing space rather than extending horizontally. For this reason, your home won’t feel too tight or narrow because the available vertical space is more than enough. Having additional floors can add character to a house and allow space distribution to be more varied.

Pro: Lesser Excavations

On average, an excavation is less required when building a home on a slope, especially if the hill has a gentle grade of less than 10%. The key is to find a hilltop lot that has a natural viewing landscape, so there won’t be more excavations needed. You can also reach out to a professional elevated home designer to make the most of your land space.

Con: Unease Of Prepping The Construction Site

Getting all the construction equipment and materials onto the site is more challenging when the slope is steep. Consider what kind of construction vehicles will be required and how they can best access the site. Also, note the fuel needed due to trips and efforts to travel on sloped land.

As you wait for your home to be built, your new home site will take a beating from trucks coming and going, heavy equipment parking, and construction materials being thrown around. You’ll be required to even out the land once the home is already finished.

Con: Drainage Issues

A home’s foundation should never be flooded or puddled with water. This is usually a challenge among homeowners of houses on hills. However, you can prepare your drainage flows more effectively with a proper drainage system and a professional architect and engineer.

Con: Higher Construction Cost

Depending on how uneven your land is, you may need to purchase more materials than usual to level the land. Construction costs increase when a house is built on sloped land, one of the most significant disadvantages. You’ll have to use more materials to even out too-steep surfaces. Therefore, choose your home building site very carefully if it’s sloped. This is a make-or-break moment, especially when you don’t want to spend too much on construction materials for the walkway and ground surfaces.

Con: Possibilities Of Landslides

In sloped land, landslides are a significant concern when building a house. Landslides can be triggered by heavy rains and strong winds and earthquakes and strong winds. This can be dangerous for your family and your other assets like vehicles.

Plant trees with deep roots if you live in a hilly area so that the soil remains intact. Soil erosion can be reduced as a result of this practice. You’ll also need to create contingency plans if landslides and other disasters occur in your neighbourhood.

Con: Requires More Maintenance

A home will always require maintenance and care, and the same thing goes for your home in a sloped lot. Simple maintenance chores will require more effort because of the elevated ground. Making maintenance easier by choosing the proper landscaping for your home and your lot can help. Utilize technology and effective systems to maintain your home easier and speedier.

Con: Prone To Erosion

Water drains differently on a sloped lot than on a flat lot, so erosion is more likely. This could become a significant issue if not dealt with before construction begins. The key is to prepare the soil and ground surfaces early on.
Builders may overlook the soil type on a sloped property, but it can be problematic. It’s best to hire a landscape artist who can suggest and recommend the best kind of soil to use on your landscape. Some ground soil might not be sufficient to protect your home from erosion. Wet or frozen clays may cause foundations to expand or swell, necessitating expensive engineering fixes or additional filling of granular soil.

Con: Can Be Difficult To Access

Another obvious downside of a home located on a hill is its inaccessibility. This could be hard for the owner and the contractors to frequently drive to and fro. The lack of transportation nearby can make it hard for your family and household members to live. While you own a car, it’s essential to find alternatives for transportation in case of emergencies and disasters. This is one definite downside of a home placed on a sloped hill.

Conclusion

As you consider which lots could be suitable for your home, keep these pros and cons in mind. When you know the advantages and disadvantages of having a dream home built on a hilltop, you can better decide if it’s worth the efforts and risks. Remember to do your research and preparations well, so you won’t have to regret anything later on.

Evaluating a Building Lot — Slope, Soils, Drainage, Radon, and more

IN THIS ARTICLE
Site Problems vs. Assets
Slope
Surface Water
Subsurface Water
Soil Types
Filled Land
Radon
Difficult Sites                    View all SITE PREP articles

A piece of land that looks gorgeous to the buyer’s eye may look like trouble to an experienced builder. Issues such as soil type, the presence of ledge, high water tables, and poor drainage are just some of the issues that can complicate construction and drive up costs.

Some issues, such as the slope of the site are obvious. If the site drops about six feet over the width of the house, you will need a deeper foundation on the low side (or a stepped-down foundation).  Soil types are less obvious, but certain types of problem soils can make a site challenging and expensive to build on.

Water is often the most difficult site issue to understand and predict. Surface water, including runoff from rain and snow, can cause erosion and flooded basements if not properly managed. Subsurface water can interfere with septic systems and flood basements, often in the spring or rainy season when the water table is highest.

Both issues can be dealt with using proper grading and drainage techniques. However, managing subsurface water with curtain drains, extensive subsurface drainage, and – if all else fails – sump pumps may be a good reason to walk away and look elsewhere to build.

TURNING SITE PROBLEMS INTO ASSETS

Most site problems can be overcome by an experienced builder with a big enough budget, and some can be turned into assets with a little creativity. A moderately sloped site allows for a walk-out basement and can be regraded to a terraced yard.  A rock outcropping can become a focal point in landscaping. A low, wet spot may have potential as a year-round pond. But it’s best to go into a project with your eyes open.

When you are evaluating a building site, think ahead to how the land will work with your general house design. Where would you like to site the house? What areas should be cleared and what left natural?  On a sloped site will you build a walk-out, step the building down the slope, or move a lot a earth around to create a level yard with a terraced slope or retaining wall? Keep an open mind and you can often turn a lower-cost “difficult” site into a special home environment.

SLOPED SITES

A little slope is nice for aesthetics and site drainage (drains around a full foundation can drain to daylight), but a steeply sloped site can substantially raise site development costs.

• Moderate slopes. Gentle grades of less than about 10% (a one foot rise over 10 feet) are the easiest to build on. Between 15% and 20%,  you should plan to spend a little more on grading and the foundation, which may need to be be stepped down or have deeper footings on the low side. This is a good slope for walk-out basement.  See Building on a Slope.
• Steep slopes. Much above about 20%, you may have to do more extensive earth moving, retaining walls, and soil stabilization to create workable grades and prevent erosion. Cut and fill operations can get costly, especially if you have to truck in additional fill. The cost of fill varies greatly depending on what is nearby and accessible, so don’t make assumptions here — get estimates.
• Erosion during the building process can lead to fines (for polluting streams) and extra costs to regrade eroded areas.  Some combination of terracing, retaining walls, and special foundation and drainage techniques may be needed to keep the  soil and the building itself from sliding down the hill.
• Hillside foundations. Houses are routinely built on extreme grades of 50% or more in places like California, where hillside home sites are coveted. These buildings all have complex engineered foundations installed by specialists in hillside work, which can be dangerous and is always very expensive. Foundations for these homes cost more than many houses built on flatter sites.
• Drainage of steep slopes. On steep sites, pay special attention to soils and drainage. Wet, dense soils on the uphill side of a foundation can exert excessive force on the uphill foundation wall – like a dam holding back a lake of mud. And fast-running water on a steep slope can lead to excessive erosion if not managed properly. Areas of the country subject to heavy winter rains and mudslides are of special concern. When in doubt, get input from a civil or geotechnical engineer familiar with local conditions.
• Septic Systems. Very steep sites may require specially engineered piping and leach fields. The maximum allowable slope depends on local regulations, but typically ranges from 20% to 30%.

SURFACE WATER

Water can be a wonderful amenity on a building site. Most people enjoy a water view, a swimming pond, or a babbling brook. However, water can also be your biggest enemy on a building site and can make or break a project. Most problems can be solved with enough money, but it may not be worth the expense and not all efforts work as planned. Engineers can figure out a way to build on wettest of sites, but you should  understand the costs and risks before proceeding.

Unless you are trained in civil engineering, understanding the effects of water on your site in both dry and wet seasons can be challenging. If possible, view your site in the wettest season – after the snow melts in New England, for example. The cute little brook that runs across the site could turn into a raging river, a low spot on the site might become a pond. On the other hand, a lovely pond in the spring might become a mud-caked pit in the dry season.

If your site has drainage ditches, culverts, or other man-made efforts to manage site drainage, ask when they were installed, for what purpose, and how well they work. Look for evidence of high water in any ditch, stream, or other natural or man-made water course. If possible, visit the site after a heavy rain to see watch the drainage patterns in action. Does your chosen house site sit high and dry or look more like a duck pond? Most issues can be corrected with grading and planned drainage, but a very wet site may require expensive engineering to get right.

It is especially important to understand drainage patterns on a hillside site or one at the bottom of a hill. Runoff from rain and snowmelt can usually be channeled around your building by some combination of grading, swales, and culverts.

Swales offer a low-cost approach to surface drainage that is easy to integrate with the landscaping.

Swales. On sites with extensive surface water, for example, at the bottom of a hill, surface water can be directed away from the house by shallow ditches, called “swales”. These are often located between house lots  or along roads and often drain toward the front or rear of the lots. They are typically covered with lawn and  may be incorporated into the landscaping with water-tolerant plants.

The grass slows the flow of water, promoting infiltration back into the soil and evaporation. The grass and other plantings are also critical to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion along the drainage path.

See also Managing Roof & Yard Runoff

Erosion. Depending on soil type and vegetation, erosion can also be a problem on disturbed areas of the site that conduct water or where water is discharged. Stones, plantings, or landscaping elements that slow down the flow of water will help prevent erosion in these areas.

SUBSURFACE WATER

If surface water is challenging to understand, subsurface “groundwater” can be downright mystifying. The basics of aquifers and water tables is discussed in the section on well drilling. From a building standpoint, you don’t want the lowest floor in your house below the seasonal high water table. This is primarily a problem with full basements.

It’s possible to keep water out a basement built below the water table, but it’s expensive to build a house that’s a tight as a boat and prone to failure. In the end, you may end up with a sump pump running throughout the wet season. Also, excavating and pouring concrete footings in a wet hole is tricky and can lead to poor quality concrete or excessive settling.

It’s not impossible to build a dry house on a wet site. The water table can be lowered around the house site by “dewatering” techniques such as curtain drains (also called “French drains”). This may involve drainage ditches around the property as well as a large bed of gravel or crushed stone below the foundation that drains to daylight or a storm sewer.

In one house I designed, water ran continuously in the springtime through a deep gravel bed under the foundation, but the basement was dry as a bone. The land developer used a sophisticated engineered solution. To trust the average builder to get this right without the input of a civil or geotechnical engineer would be risky.

One way to avoid basement water problems is to build on a concrete slab-on-grade, as is commonly done in some regions. Crawlspace construction is another option as long as the crawlspace is safely above the seasonal high water table and built with an effective vapor barrier on the ground. A chronically wet crawlspace is worse than a wet basement, since mold and rot are often undetected until extensive damage is done.

See also:     Building a Dry Basement           Basement Leakage Q&As   

SOIL TYPES

Soils have a mix of particles from extremely fine clays and fine silts to course sand and gravel. You can get a pretty good idea of the soil type by examining a handful of soil taken from below the topsoil, the dark, organic matter that’s usually no more 6 to 10 inches deep. You cannot see the individual particles in soils high in clay. When squeezed, this soil feels smooth and can be rolled into thin shapes. Granular soils with more silt, sand, and gravel have visible particles that feel more gritty. They will not hold a shape when squeezed.

• Clays. Soils with high clay content tend to hold a lot of water and drain poorly. Soft clays have limited load bearing ability, required foundation modifications. In cold climates, clay soils are prone to frost heaves, which can damage foundations, slabs, and piers that support decks and porches. Expansive clays, common in some parts of the country, expand when wet with enough force to destroy foundations, and shrink when dry causing excessive settlement. Most non-expansive clay soils are OK to build on, but will require more granular fill to be brought in for backfilling, reducing problems with drainage and frost heaves. Expansive clays require expensive engineered foundations.

• Granular soils. These are ideal for building and drainage. They have high load-bearing capacity and drain well. Areas where the soil is pure sand are easy to excavate and build on, but may need some extra help with landscaping and grading to avoid erosion.

• Ledge. Sites with solid or fractured ledge near the surface present problems with excavation, drainage, and septic systems. Blasting is expensive and carries liability in the event that a neighbor claims that your blasting cracked their foundation (blasting contractors routinely photograph and document surrounding properties as a safeguard). Foundations can be formed around and pinned to solid ledge, perhaps leaving a granite outcropping in your basement. Sealing between the foundation and the ledge can also be difficult and prone to leakage. When possible, it is much less costly to leave the ledge in place and work around it. Since blasting is often bid by the cubic yard, and the amount of stone is unknown, the cost can be difficult to estimate.

Read more on Problem Soils

FILLED LAND

Ever seen those signs reading “Clean Fill Wanted.” Well that “clean” fill usually ends up filling in the low spots on someone’s land. If you have the misfortune of buying that land and building on top of the fill, your foundation could settle and crack significantly, causing damage throughout the house.

If the fill was, in fact, clean – that is, free of tree stumps, garbage, topsoil, toxic materials, and organic material – and was properly compacted when it was placed (compacting one shallow layer or “lift” of fill at a time), then it would be fine to build on. However, these are big if’s.

If you have reason to believe that the land you are viewing has been substantially altered, you may need to examine the soil with a core sample or test pit. In general, uncompacted fill needs to be removed and compacted properly, or replaced with properly compacted granular materials, such as sand, gravel, or stone, before building. A similar problem exists if the excavator digs too deep and the foundation is placed on disturbed soil. Unless the replaced soil is properly compacted, the foundation may settle and crack.

Read more on  Building on Filled Land

RADON

While you don’t hear much about radon these days, it’s still down there in the soil in some areas of the U.S, and still responsible for a large number of lung cancer deaths, according to health experts. Some regions, such as the Reading Prong area in the mid-Atlantic states, are known “hot spots” and are identified as Zone 1 (highest risk) on the EPA Radon Map.

Radon Map – U.S. EPA                 CLICK TO ENLARGE.

Zone 2 is considered moderate risk and Zone 3 low risk. The mapping is not very precise, however, and state authorities, whom you can find through the EPA radon website, may have better information about your particular state.  You can also find  more detailed state-by-state radon risk maps, which identify individual counties.

Radon Testing. While radon maps can provide a rough guide  to the average risk in your area,  there’s  no way to predict radon levels in an individual house without testing the building  after construction. Testing of the soil prior to building does not reliably predict household levels. Testing after construction is inexpensive and easy to do yourself.

You can purchase a test kit at any good hardware store or online. Also, many state health departments provide high-quality test kits to homeowners at discount prices. A short-term test of 2 to 3 days can identify a problem, but since levels may vary from day to day, a longer term test is needed for an accurate assessment.

Closely follow the instructions that come with the test kit. The test kits are typically placed in a frequently used room on the lowest level of the home that is used regularly (typically the basement level or first floor). The kit should be placed in a room that is used regularly such as a den or bedroom, but not a kitchen or bathroom.

For a short-term test, keep windows and outside doors closed and do not run ventilation systems or exhaust fans for any length of time.  Windows and doors should not be left open for at least 12 hours before the test. You can learn more about radon testing from the EPA’s Citizen’s Guide to Radon.

Radon Removal. In a new home in Zone 1, the EPA recommends that you install a passive radon mitigation system when you build– essentially a PVC pipe run from the gravel bed under the slab or basement floor through the roof, like a plumbing vent (in additional to placing a vapor barrier under the slab and sealing around the slab edges). If radon levels are found to be high, you add an inexpensive inline fan and, voilà, you’ve got a highly effective radon mitigation system.

If you’re building in Zone 2 or 3, but are still concerned, you can inexpensively safeguard your new home by running a short length of PVC pipe through the slab or basement floor into the gravel bed, and then cap the pipe. If the house is later found to have radon, the pipe can be extended through the roof to create a passive or active system.

If properly installed, sub-slab ventilation systems reduce indoor radon levels by 80 t0 99%. With gravel or permeable soil under the slab, the reduction is typically 95% or greater.

Read more on Radon Risks and Mitigation

DIFFICULT SITES

Other than sites that are illegal to build on, there are few sites that are truly unbuildable. Just take a look at the hill towns in Europe, still standing after hundreds of years of clinging to precipitous hillsides – and built without the benefit of steel, reinforced concrete, and construction cranes.

In many areas of the country, the best building sites are take or prohibitively expensive, so if you have a tight budget, you are probably going to see a lot of less than optimal sites. They may be steep, rocky, or wet, hard to access, or require alternative septic systems or special engineered foundations. The costs of developing a site can vary enormously depending on its specific characteristics and your construction plans, so any site you are seriously considering needs to be individually assessed.

If you can buy the land at the right price, a “difficult” site may be a good deal. With a little creativity, you can often turn a difficult site into something unique and appealing. Handled properly, water, rocks, and steep slopes can become important landscaping features that make your building site special.

The key is to understand the costs and risks ahead of time. Hiring a civil or geotechnical engineer for a couple of hours can be money well spent. If necessary bring in a foundation contractor, blasting contractor, or septic system installer familiar with local conditions to give their opinion and maybe a ballpark estimate. If a septic system plan is already completed, get an estimate from a contractor.

Use the Typical Site Development Costs checklist as a starting point to work up a realistic estimate of site development costs. Then use the first five sections of the  Estimating Worksheet  (General Requirements, Site Prep, On-Site Water/Sewerage, Utilities, and Excavation/Earthwork)  to work up a detailed estimate, which you can use to make your  bid. Or, if it’s too expensive or will never be right for you, walk away. Don’t fall in love with a piece of land and proceed based on wishful thinking. Too many projects get abandoned when the owners discover that the real costs of going forward are so much higher than they imagined.

See also  Foundations & Sitework    Sitework Q&As

A guide to building a home on a sloping block

You’ve finally found it – the piece of land you’re looking for. It’s close to family and friends, in a suburb you love, nearby schools, shops and public transport and not that far from work. It’s a dream come true – but there’s only one catch. It’s a sloping block.

There’s indeed an art to building a split-level home – we won’t deny that there are complexities – but a sloping block is absolutely not a dealbreaker. In fact, there are many advantages to a block on an angle.

Homes built on a sloping block are all but guaranteed to give you a nice, sweeping view of the neighbourhood or surrounding area. You also have the option to play with the design – whether you create segmented living zones or a feature staircase – there’s a variety of opportunities to make your home on a sloping block really special.

With over 45 years’ experience building homes across Australia, we know a thing or two about split-level homes. So, we’ve put together a guide to building on a sloping block.

What is a sloping block?

A sloping block is a piece of land with varying elevation levels, meaning one side of the block is higher or lower than the other. Blocks can slope in many directions – sloping up means the highest point is at the road, sloping down means the lowest point is at the road, or cross fall where the slope is side to side. To build on a sloping block, you’ll need to be creative with the house design and floorplan.

What are the main benefits of a sloping block?

Plenty of light

A home built on a slope is in prime position to absorb tonnes of natural light. Your home will be elevated in some zones, allowing sunlight to pour in. You can utilise large windows as a feature when building a family home on a slope.

If you’re after energy efficiency features, make sure you consider the solar orientation. Split-level homes are a prime candidate to utilise solar energy due to the amount of sunlight that hits the roof.

Sweeping views

Similarly, depending on the gradient of the slope, you may be able to take advantage of some fantastic views of your neighbourhood or local scenery. Houses built on sloping blocks can allow you to see the city skyline, glorious sunsets, coastal views or a look over your suburb thanks to the extra height you’ll have from the slope.

Unique designs

Building a home on a sloping block will not prevent you from featuring some incredible inclusions. Voids and high roofs are popular additions to split-level home designs, turning your light-filled living areas into a wide-open space. You’ll also benefit from multiple living spaces separated by different, staggered levels, ensuring your home flows seamlessly from one section to another.

The interiors aren’t the only way you can create something unique – you can also get creative with your landscaping. Depending on the steepness of the sloping block, you could construct a layered garden with retaining walls, distinctive greenery, a hidden firepit or for those lucky enough, a sunken spa.

What are some of the difficulties associated with a sloping block?

Access

Clear and easy access to sites on sloping blocks can be one of the biggest challenges for trades and builders – especially if heavy machinery is required. Without easy access to sites, building a home on a steep site can be incredibly difficult, and the last thing you want to do is rely on cranes to drop in building material.

Drainage

Drainage can be a blessing or a curse depending on the slope of the land. On the one hand, your block could naturally drain water away and prevent flooding. On the other, you might need to use water tanks, pumps, easements or pits to appropriately funnel water away from your property. Each block of land is different, and it’s undoubtedly one of the first questions you should ask your builder during the site assessment.

Excavation and fill

There’s certainly more work involved in preparing a sloping block for a new home than a flat block. Your ground type comes in to play here too, as earthworks involving rocky ground will be more complicated than soil. You also need to be aware of the environmental impact that excavating has on your piece of land, including how it impacts the draining and erosion potential. The less excavating you need to do, the better.

Is it more expensive to build a home on a sloping block?

Generally speaking, there are additional costs involved when you build on a sloping block than when you build on a flat piece of land. There are a few extra tasks your builder must tick off to make sure your dream home is completed to the highest standard possible.

For example, your builder might need to develop an alternative drainage solution, including the use of pumps or easements, to make sure that stormwater and sewerage is taken care of properly. Another added cost could be the materials and labour involved in laying the foundations of your home. As mentioned above, you might need to cater for excavation and fill costs, retaining walls or a non-traditional slab.

That being said, you might find that sloping or irregular blocks are cheaper than their flat counterparts. So, you could save on land and spend more on construction if you crunch the numbers and work with the pros.

Where to begin?

Sometimes, building a split-level home on a sloping block is unavoidable. The best thing you can do is chat with an expert home builder to ensure you are getting the best advice from the start. Metricon has been building homes for over 45 years and has plenty of expert sloping block experience you can rely on. Get in touch with us today and our team may be able to point you in the direction of a display home built on a sloping site. Alternatively, you can browse our split-level homes online and find a design that suits your needs – we have both single and double-storey homes perfect for difficult sites.

Learn more about split-level homes, and find designs available in your state.

Get in touch with Metricon to enquire about building on difficult blocks – including sloping and narrow block home designs.

Metricon builds on sloping block homes in Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Brisbane, Sydney, Regional NSW and SA. View our testimonials to learn more from real customers.

How to build a foundation and a house on a plot with a slope? Features of cottage projects on uneven plots

Construction of a house on a plot with a slope is associated with a lot of difficulties and increased financial costs. But having overcome the problems that arise, as a result, you can get an original building, which will not only be a functional and comfortable residential building, but also stand out with non-standard design solutions.

Choosing a project for building on a slope

Like any other construction, building a residential cottage on a slope begins with a plan.

It is best to apply for such a service to specialized companies, because a typical project in this case will not work. Architects and designers will analyze the shape of the site, and create plans for the building, in accordance with the terrain.

The angle of inclination of the land plot has a numerical value, calculated according to a certain formula, and measured as a percentage. For example, if the allotment has a length of 100 meters and, at the same time, its vertical rise is 10 m, then its slope is 10%.

There is a certain gradation of uneven areas, depending on the angle:

• up to 3% – such areas are considered smooth;
• up to 8% – low slope;
• up to 20% – medium;
• more than 20% – steep slope.

The main headache of the builder is how to design and build a house on medium and steep sites. For a flat area, you can easily pick up almost any type of project you like. What can not be said if the land is on a slope – if a hill “crashes” into your house, here, whatever one may say, you will have to order / develop an individual one.

Two types of houses are built on medium and steep slopes:

1. Stepped – each floor / section of the cottage is arranged in levels (one above the other), in accordance with the slope of the earth, and has its own roof. Such buildings are:
2. Cascade-sectional – suitable for land with a slope angle of up to 20%;
3. Terraced – built on land plots with a slope of more than 20%;
4. Houses of variable height – in this case, the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe premises is under one common roof, but the number of floors may vary, depending on the terrain.

Designing an entrance

When developing a project, it is necessary to take into account which side the entrance for cars will be on? If from the top of the slope, then the house must be planned accordingly. From the street, such a building will seem insignificant, and only by going inside, it will be possible to assess the true size of the mansion.

If the access road runs along the lower boundary of the site, then the buildings located on it will be fully visible from the road, because visually the site with the buildings will go down the slope. This means the layout of the building, and households. buildings need to be correlated taking into account not only the convenience of access roads, but also security and privacy.

Focusing on the cardinal points

Experts also advise paying attention to the orientation of the house on the slope relative to the cardinal points.

It is not recommended to build cottages on plots with a slope to the north and west. An exception is when the building land is located in the southern region, where the influence of cold air is negligible.

Building a house on the east and south side, which warms up more from the sun and is protected from cold winds, will save on heating.

Peculiarities of arranging the foundation on a site with a slope

Mandatory steps before starting construction on difficult terrain are geodetic measurements. They allow you to accurately determine the degree of slope. In parallel, hydrogeological surveys are being carried out aimed at identifying the level of groundwater occurrence and determining the composition of the soil at the site.

Based on the results of these studies, the optimal foundation option will be selected that can withstand the expected load.

It is not worth saving on these works, because mistakes made when laying the foundation of a building can lead to its deformation, partial or even complete destruction.

What types of foundations are suitable for uneven ground?

Even on level ground, special attention is paid to the arrangement of the foundation. After all, the durability of the house depends to a large extent on its strength and reliability. In areas with a slope, three types of foundations are used:

1. Belt ;
2. Stepped ;
3. Pile .

Let us examine in more detail the features of each of them.

Strip foundation

The strip type is used on land plots with a slight slope. In areas with an inclination angle of more than 20%, arranging this type of foundation becomes economically impractical only if you plan to build a basement.

The horizontal level of the upper plane of the strip footing must be ideal. A mandatory step is reinforcement, which will give the base the necessary strength.

Soils that are not prone to seasonal freezing (heaving) and waterlogging are suitable for pouring. If necessary, a small slope is leveled by pouring and ramming it to the required level.

Step foundation

A variation of the strip foundation is a stepped foundation. It is advisable to use it in areas with a sufficiently large height difference.

In this case, before pouring concrete, terraces are built, equal in area to parts of the house. A trench is dug at each site, formwork is mounted and reinforced.

Parts of the base are interconnected by lintels or retaining walls. The total slope angle of the stepped foundation must match the slope angle of the soil layer with bearing capacity.

Pile foundation

Pile foundation is the most common type used in the construction of houses on sloping sites. Here, retaining columns are used for construction.

The most popular solution is to drive screw piles and then create bridges between them. This type has a number of advantages:

• It can be installed on heaving and mobile soils, because the piles are driven in well below the freezing level;
• Suitable for areas with a wide range of slopes;
• Combination with other types of foundation is possible if necessary.

Yes, and in most cases (unless significant piling is required), such a foundation for the house is much cheaper than other options.

A properly calculated and erected foundation will last for many years without loss of strength, withstanding the effects of ground pressure and precipitation.

Therefore, when choosing and laying the foundation, it is worth listening to the recommendations of specialists and not saving on materials. Thrift in this case can significantly reduce the strength of the building and lead to other troubles during the operation of the house.

What should be considered when building a house on a plot of land with a slope?

A sloping site will require a more thorough approach to planning the placement of a residential building and buildings. It is very important to correctly make the correct calculations of the depth of the foundation, as well as the distribution of the load on it:

In addition, experts do not recommend placing a residential building in the lower part of the site and advise building a cottage on the most elevated and dry place. There are justifications for this:

1. Temperature differences

Night cold air always descends down the slope, and therefore a house built in the lower part of the site will be in the path of its natural movement.

As a result, a “cold pocket” is formed. The temperature in it is several degrees lower than around, which is unacceptable for a residential building.

2. Water flows

The lower part of the slope (lowland) can often be flooded and even waterlogged due to the accumulation of precipitation, and this negatively affects the structure.

For a cottage built on the highest point of the site, the problem of drainage is so great. In this case, using the features of the relief, it is possible to organize a natural runoff of surface waters.

Particular attention must be paid to waterproofing and drainage. After all, rain and melt water, flowing down an inclined surface, can wash away the foundation or even destroy it. It is possible to direct drains away from the building with the help of well-organized storm and drainage systems.

3. Soil movement and landslides

It is always recommended to carry out a geodetic survey before starting construction on a site with a slope.

If there is even the slightest hint of possible ground instability and soil movement, it is impossible to build on such a slope without strengthening. With a small slope, it will be enough to plant trees and shrubs, which hold the soil with their roots. But with a strong elevation difference, it is better to strengthen the soil with geogrids and piles.

Prior to construction, the land must be secured against landslides. For this, temporary retaining walls, piles, poles are built, driven into the ground in places most prone to displacement.

4. Access and location of special equipment

Organization of a construction site in such areas can be a problem. After all, you need a flat area for unloading building materials. Yes, and construction equipment on an inclined surface is not very convenient to work.

These issues should be taken care of in advance: prepare a flat horizontal place for unloading and temporary storage of building materials, organize access roads.

There is an opinion that for construction work it is better to cut the slope and build on a flat area. This is fundamentally wrong. This method will disrupt the natural structure of the relief, which can lead to a change in the natural water horizon, and this is fraught with landslides. Yes, and it is extremely difficult to obtain permission from the administration to carry out such work.

Conclusions

Building on a site with a slope has a number of undeniable advantages. This mainly concerns the visual component, because a multi-level house, on a hill, with a terrace, with several exits, looks much more interesting than housing built on flat land.

However, it should be noted that the construction of a cottage on an uneven site is fraught with a number of difficulties, and in order to solve them, money will be spent on solving them. Saving money on the project, preparation of the territory, soil research is not advisable and, in some cases, even dangerous. The better these works are carried out, the foundation is laid, other parts of the project are implemented, the longer the house will please with warmth and comfort.

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Building a house on a slope: how to use difficult terrain

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Building a house on a slope creates certain problems for the owner of the site. However, in most cases, a well-designed house design can turn these shortcomings into virtues.

Slope characteristics

In geodesy, slope refers to the steepness of a slope. The slope is measured in percentages or fractions. The slope shows the ratio of the difference in elevation between two points on the ground to the distance between these points. A terrain slope of up to 3% indicates the possibility of using a standard project – such terrain is considered flat. Slopes over 3% are called:

• Up to 8% – small. On such slopes, houses are usually built without basements. Soil filling may be required. Requires a custom home design.
• Up to 20% – medium. On such slopes, during construction, terraces are created, a basement or garage is entered into the slope. Requires a custom home design.
• Over 20% – steep. Construction with such a slope requires a specially designed project, taking into account all the features of the relief. Usually in such cases, multi-storey houses are erected.

In all such projects, special attention is paid to the hydro and thermal insulation of the house, as well as the supply and exhaust ventilation system.

Selection of the construction site

For the construction of a house on a slope , the most elevated site is selected. It will be the driest. Such recommendations will be given by any professional specialist, as our ancestors advised us to build.

1. The solution to the problem of drainage is simplified. Atmospheric precipitation, which will accumulate at the bottom of the slope, will create difficulties in the construction of the foundation.
2. The building in the upper part of the slope, to a lesser extent, creates a so-called “cold pocket” in the path of cold air movement.
3. Building a house on the highest point will not obscure the territory of the site.

Slope exposure selection

Exposure is understood as a combination of slope steepness and its orientation to the cardinal points. The orientation to the south and southeast is considered optimal.

West-facing slopes create problems for homeowners with excessive afternoon sunlight. This can be confirmed by housewives – cooking in the west-facing kitchen is not very comfortable after dinner.

Northern slopes are the least suitable for building houses due to insufficient sun exposure (insufficient insolation) and strong cold winds.

Surveying

Surveying a site to assess topography and soil type will assess the complexity of the project to be developed and the total cost of design and construction work. These works will insure the owner of the site from unjustified expenses if the survey shows the impossibility or unprofitability of building a house.

Geodetic surveys are mandatory, although many property owners ignore this requirement. But building a house on a slope cannot be budgetary. Even the low cost of the site does not always pay off the increased costs of the zero cycle.

Geodetic surveys will help to avoid unpleasant surprises when building a house on a slope, disappointments and loss of funds invested in construction if it turns out that the construction is impossible or extremely high cost.

Types of houses and features of the organization of construction

Even for the construction of houses on slopes with a small slope, an individual project is required. Types of houses for sites with difficult terrain are divided into stepped (terraced and cascade-sectional) and variable number of storeys:

• cascade-sectional type can be built on slopes with a small and medium slope.
• terrace type is built on slopes with a steep slope.
• variable number of floors can be built on slopes with any slope.

Organization of construction of buildings on slopes involves the need to solve a number of difficulties:

1. Organization of protection of the construction site from storm water runoff down the slope.
2. Organization of access roads. Features of the relief will determine the choice of special construction equipment.
3. Organization of a site for the placement of building materials.
4. Problems with the removal of significant volumes of selected soil.

Building a house on a slope is in most cases possible. Moreover, the shortcomings and problems of the site can turn into its advantages. However, this requires the involvement of a professional construction company for surveying, design and construction.

Is it advisable to build houses on a slope?

Papa Master! > Construction > Is it advisable to build houses on a slope?

From an architectural and landscaping point of view, there are advantages to be found in a sloped plot. The relief allows you to realize the most original projects.

Your garden is the perfect place to create your own small waterfall or fountain. However, in the construction of buildings in areas with a height difference, there are some peculiarities, which we will discuss in this article.

Houses on a slope: features of project development and site preparation

Let’s see what are the main difficulties in building houses on a slope:

1) First, it is the probability of soil collapse. Moreover, the steeper the slope, the higher the probability of soil movement under the weight of the building. In this regard, additional means for strengthening the soil may be required. Before starting construction, an analysis of the soil layer is mandatory. What kind of slope are you dealing with (landslide or not), its pattern and history, groundwater depth, soil type, etc. geologist will tell you. The layout of the building, as well as the technology of soil stabilization – a competent design engineer.

2) Secondly, the lack of standard projects for houses on the slope and the need to develop a new unique project. The higher the slope, the more difficult it is to carry out calculations and the more expensive the finished project will be for you.

3) Further preparation of the construction site. Again, additional costs will be required for the redistribution and strengthening of the soil, the organization of access roads to the construction site and the delivery of building materials.

4) Difficulties in the construction of the foundation, its waterproofing, since moisture flowing down the slope can have a destructive effect (the risk of erosion by surface water should not be ruled out).

5) Along with the design of the house, it is also desirable to plan the entire landscape.

6) Excavation and construction work will need to be carefully monitored using optical inspection instruments.

Construction technology depending on the angle of inclination and type of soil

Depending on the degree of inclination of the site, the following construction concepts can be distinguished :

• Up to 3%. Such sites are considered straight and houses can be built on them according to standard projects. The only additional condition is the organization of special channels through which sedimentary fluid will be discharged. Most often, soil bedding is used for this, decreasing in the direction from the house.
• 3 to 7%. Houses on a slope with a slope of up to 7% are only in very rare cases equipped with basements, and from the side of the descent itself they are often additionally poured and strengthened in order to avoid landslides in the future due to the resulting pressure that the building creates.
• 8 to 10%. The most appropriate solution for such buildings are the basement floors. They cut into the earthen massif, and there is no need to level the main construction site. This option is especially convenient if a convenient entrance can be arranged to the first floor. Then instead of the “basement” you can equip a garage. At the same time, the place of contact with the soil of the walls and foundation is carefully waterproofed. It should be borne in mind that such construction will be quite expensive.
• 10% to 20% or more. The site is considered difficult to develop. Most often, the slope is divided into separate levels (terraces), on each of which it is necessary to carry out anti-landslide work and strengthen the soil. The house is designed multi-level. The rise in construction costs is over 50%.

fountain on a sloping site

arrangement of the platform and foundation on the slope

What other points should you pay attention to when building a house on a slope? From the point of view of placement, the uppermost part of the site will be preferable. So the natural outflow of water from the slope will be carried out. Provided that adjacent sections are located higher up the slope, it is necessary to foresee the drainage of water in advance. A site with a southern slope is preferable to other options, since the sunny side has a positive effect on the temperature of the soil, and also provides good natural light and a microclimate in the built house, you can save electricity for heating.

Read more about heating with a double-circuit electric heating boiler in our next article.

An important role in building a house on a slope is played by the foundation. A competent choice of the type of foundation will ensure the reliability and durability of the building. It is not recommended to rely on personal knowledge or advice from users on the Internet in such an important matter.

Thus, we can conclude that the construction of houses on a slope is a feasible task, but it will require significant financial costs from the owner. Therefore, before purchasing a cheaper site with a height difference, it makes sense to consult with a specialist about the possible costs of building housing in such an area. It may well turn out that the estimated construction costs will be many times greater than the savings when buying land.

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design, construction features, how to use the unevenness of the surface

Usually the slope of the site is about 10 ^about . If it is small, then this will not create additional difficulties for building a house and planning. Surface slope less than 10 ^about – almost flat. It is much easier to build a dwelling on a plane or on a site with a simple relief than on slopes. However, if the site is not perfectly flat, it is not forbidden to build a house on it. It’s just that the design will be somewhat more complicated (perhaps even specialists will have to be involved for this), due to taking into account additional parameters associated with the location.

Contents

• Pros and cons
• Factors to consider when building
  • Temperature drops
  • Water flows
  • landslides, soil movement
  • Organization of the entrance and the location of special equipment
• The device of the foundation
• Construction features

pluses and minuses of the houses on the slope on the slope are many, they have any advantages and disadvantages .

The cons are fairly easy to eliminate. On any site, even with a complex type of landscape, you can build a beautiful home. The advantages that are present when building a house on sites with sloping complex terrain, compared with buildings on a plane:

1. Architectural features. The house, erected on a slope, has an unusual appearance and is able to attract the attention of people passing by. You can build a house on a slope with a basement.
2. Due to the location of the house, beautiful supporting columns and panoramic windows can be installed. Such a building has a non-standard layout, landscape design and interesting architectural solutions.
3. Sewerage. When the house is on a slope, there is no need to install pumps designed to pump water. Pipes are simply laid down the slope and the water is removed on its own.
4. Foundation. When building a house on a mountainside, you do not need to lay thick drainage on the foundation, since rainwater will flow down. It is impossible not to do drainage at all, but it can save money and simplify its design

A slope located near the house (or even under the house) can be equipped with a garden, placing plants around its entire perimeter, depending on the requirements of the culture.

Plants can decorate the roof by planting plants and flowers on it. The minuses of the site include:

1. Ground stabilization. These are the works that need to be carried out to protect the site and the house from landslides. Usually the soil is strengthened by installing retaining walls.
2. Costs for the first stages of construction, even for a one-story house on a sloped plot. For the installation of retaining walls, installation of drainage and other works, you will have to spend a lot of money. It may exceed the amount spent on the construction, directly, of the house. You can save on construction with the proper use of landscape features. In some areas, many rooms are placed underground.
3. Location. The house should not be built low. On the contrary, it should be high, because, in winter, stagnation of cool air can form (it is also called an “air pocket”).
4. Foundation waterproofing. The house is often located horizontally, which causes a fragment of the foundation to be buried deep in the soil. In order for everything to be normal, it is necessary to carry out additional insulation of any type of foundation and drainage of groundwater;

There is a minus that can be turned into a plus. Part of the house is sometimes underground, which can cause high humidity in the room or on the floor. At the same time, the underground part of the house will be warmer in winter. In such a room, you can place a basement or cellar for storing blanks or any items.

What factors to consider when building

The layout of a building located on a slope is much more difficult. You need to make the right calculations in order to place the foundation at the right depth and correctly distribute the load. We need to develop a layout for each room. All houses built on slopes are unique, because the planning takes into account the level of slope, which is different in all areas. Take into account the characteristics of the soil and other nuances.

Temperature changes

At night, cool air moves down the slope. If the house is located low, it will interfere with the calm passage of air down. Because of this, air stagnation (“cold pocket”) can form.

The temperature in the place of stagnation is usually much lower than the temperature around.

Water streams

The lowest part of the slope may be flooded with water or completely waterlogged. This is not a very favorable factor for construction.

If the house is located in the highest part of the slope, then the outflow of water can be arranged in a natural way. To arrange drains, even if they are natural, should be done with special attention. If the outflow of water is not directed correctly, then they can erode and destroy the foundation.

Landslides, soil movement

Before building a house, a survey must be carried out. If there is a risk of landslides, soil movement, work should not be carried out on such a slope without additional reinforcements. Planted trees, shrubs and other plants can hold the soil on a not steep slope with the help of the root system.

If the angle of inclination is significant, it can be reinforced, for example, with piles.

Arrangement of access and location of special equipment

Building on a sloped surface is difficult. It is more convenient to unload building materials on a flat area. Construction equipment is also not comfortable working on such a terrain.

Organize a platform for unloading building materials and convenient access for equipment before the construction phase begins. If the angle of inclination is large, then a comfortable entrance can be arranged on one side. The entrance is important because of the location of the parking lot. It is worth considering in advance whether it will be convenient to get to the house from the car.

However, this method changes the structure of the landscape and can:

• lead to landslides and soil collapse;
• increase the likelihood of soil erosion.

In addition, the administration usually prohibits such work.

Foundation

The foundation is an inconspicuous part of the structure, but the quality of its construction can affect the reliability and stability of the future home. It is difficult to install it on a slope, because it is uneven and asymmetrical in its shape. To properly build the foundation of the house, you need to conduct a geodetic analysis of the soil and calculate the load on the soil. The foundations of such houses are of three varieties:

Interested.

1. Horizontal. A standard type of base that is well suited for areas with a uniform type of soil. Just in this situation, you will have to spend a large amount on leveling the territory and organizing a comfortable entrance for cars and equipment. Without the help of technology, it will not be possible to remove excess soil and level the site for future construction.
2. Foundation on piles. Suitable for heterogeneous soil types. The design of a modern house should be light, as in the photo. It is better to build a one-story and frame-based building. Piles are driven into compacted soil. The main disadvantage of these foundations is that it will not be possible to build a basement or basement.
3. Stepped. A subspecies of the strip foundation. When constructing such a base, the thickness of the concrete at the base will differ in places with different levels of inclination. From the side, the budget foundation on the slope will look like a horizontal one. But at the same time, in the lower part of the slope, the concrete layer will be the largest, and in the high part, the smallest. With this type of foundation, no excavation is done before construction.

Before building the foundation, it is necessary to carry out work to strengthen the soil on the slope. Drainage will help drain rain and melt water. Its simple to make. Down the slope create an earthen runoff, covered with rubble or other material intended for drainage. Excess water will flow through it.

Soil strengthening is done by replacing the soil with a layer of sand or concrete. The blind area is a concrete substrate, which has a small thickness (about 15 cm).

Design Features

Houses built on sloping ground have a non-standard layout and look unusual. Such buildings are usually of two types: with stepped and variable number of storeys. Houses with stepped floors can have a cascade design. In this case, the floors are shifted vertically relative to each other.

If the slope is very steep, the tiers of the building can be arranged using a terrace structure. The roof of one floor will become a terrace for another. The bottom line is that in both layout options, the appearance of the building will resemble steps.

In houses with a variable number of storeys, the roofs of the tiers of buildings have the same level. On the tiers there is a number of floors, it depends on the terrain. This type of layout is suitable for any slopes.

Nuances that should be taken into account when building a house in order to increase the reliability and convenience of living in a house:

1. If the building is multi-tiered, then it is worth providing a separate entrance on each floor. It will be comfortable not only for people living in the house, but also for potential guests.
2. Flat roof. If the site has a small area, this place can be exploited for any purpose. In houses with a stepped number of storeys, there may be several such roofs. Each of them can be used for different purposes. On the roof there is a terrace, a seating area, a gazebo or a playground.
3. Garden. An interesting feature of such a building is the ability to place a garden on the roof. When using membrane materials, you can green the roof by making a small garden with a seating area there. With the desire to green the roof, it is best to understand at the planning stage of the house. Then it will be possible to take into account the location of the plants. If you plan to plant trees, it is better to do this above the bearing walls.
4. Facade. Any house will look better if you install large panoramic windows in it. Technologies allow installing such a window in any houses located in any (including the coldest) regions.
5. Ground floor. If the building has a significant difference in width (at least 1.5 meters), you can build a basement with access to the terrace. Often there is a garage on the basement floor, which allows you to organize a more convenient check-in. The back wall of the floor will need to be waterproofed. Given the technology and its general availability, it is easier to build a basement on a site with a slope than on a plain.
6. Site location. It is generally accepted that the best location is on the southeast and south slopes, since the west and southwest slopes can be too hot. However, in regions with short daylight hours, the southern and western slopes are best suited.

With the right approach to the construction of the future house, it can be built on almost any type of terrain. Not always the site is leveled for this.

Please note!

The main stage and the first construction is a geodetic study of the soil, since the slopes have different nuances of the soil and landscape.

Such works (of course, carried out with high quality) help to reduce the cost of future construction and simplify the future layout of the house.

To build a house on a slope will require many specialists and additional procedures (for example, organizing a convenient entrance and a site for building materials). In this sense, building a house on a plain is much easier.

Building a house on a slope – architectural features

Choosing a site on which a country house will be built is a complex and time-consuming process. It is important to take into account many nuances, to calculate how profitable this or that option will be, how suitable it is for you according to various criteria. Ultimately, not many people give their preference to sites on a slope. For most, a house built on a slope is something very complex and incomprehensible. Of course, the slope, like any other feature of the terrain, scares away potential buyers. It seems that the future project will be expensive and difficult to reproduce. However, as in the case of other architectural features, a house located on a slope can become no less comfortable than any other. It is only important to treat the construction of future housing wisely.

Features of the architecture of the house on the slope

Having land on a slope in your property should by no means be a cause for frustration, as sloping has a number of advantages that make life much easier. Sometimes building on a prepared slope can be even less difficult than the same process on level ground. Living in a house on a slope will be very comfortable and cheap at all, as you will get rid of the need to carry out a lot of work. (For example, water will drain off your site on its own) Also, the owners of houses on a slope never face the problems that seasonal floods bring with them. In order not to suffer from an excess of water on the site at all, it is enough just to organize a special escape route for it. In addition to the above advantages, when the house is located on a slope, it becomes possible to freely complete the basement or a full-fledged basement.

Before buying a plot on a slope, it is worthwhile to conduct a detailed examination of its features, because in this matter even the slightest nuance can play a serious role for your future life. It is important to make sure of a number of things: whether the given area is suitable for building in general, whether it meets the general criteria for building a house. The surface should be as even as possible, if the irregularities on the site exceed a certain norm – the site is not suitable for the construction of a residential building. Also, the soil on the slope should be as stable as possible. Landslides often occur on slopes due to the instability of the soil.

Advantages and disadvantages of a site with a slope

In addition to the shortcomings and difficulties that construction on a slope brings with it, you can find a lot of advantages in it. Before proceeding with the construction itself, it is very important to study in detail all the advantages and weaknesses of such relief areas. Perhaps, having immersed yourself in the topic, you will understand that a house on a slope is exactly what you have been looking for for a long time.

Advantages of building a house on a slope

• Reduce sewer problems

Thanks to the sloping space on which the cottage is located, the cost of special pumps for pumping water can be forgotten. The sewerage of a house on a slope was originally designed so that liquids independently flow down pipes located at a certain angle.

• Ability to implement unusual architectural solutions

Also, thanks to the slope, you can create the most original and unlike other house project. This area opens up a lot of room for creativity.

• Space for creativity in the plot

In addition to the house itself, a large number of decorative elements can be conveniently placed on the site. If you invite a landscape designer to cooperate, he will be able to help you unleash the full potential of such an unusual space.

• Simplification of foundation work

As in the case of sewers, when building a foundation, you do not need to think about drainage stone. (It is still worth installing in order to be absolutely sure of the safety of the structure, however, fortifications and drainage will not play such a role as in houses on a flat surface). The water will run down the slope, leaving the house completely dry and not harming it in any way. The whole construction of the cottage is many times simpler than in the case of a flat area, which means that the project will cost much less. By reducing the cost of foundation and strengthening, you can make an unusual exterior or interior design.

• An opportunity to create an unusual garden

A garden on a slope can also become the main asset of your country house. A slope can be visually divided into zones by placing plants of different heights in the correct order on it. Also, terraces and stairs are ideal for a garden on a slope, which will make your yard comfortable for living. In a garden on a slope, a special irrigation system can be developed. So, plants that need more moisture will be located lower, and those who feel great even without watering will be at the highest levels.

Disadvantages of the location of the cottage on the slope

In addition to many different advantages, building on a slope also has certain disadvantages. It is important to learn about all the nuances in advance in order to feel more confident in the future. All of the following disadvantages are not at all reasons for refusing to buy a plot on a slope, however, knowing about them, you can prevent certain technical shortcomings in advance.

• Increased risk of landslides

Before starting the construction of the cottage itself, it is necessary to prevent the possibility of landslides by strengthening the soil. The most popular technologies today are terracing and installation of retaining walls. If you prepare the site in advance, you can get rid of this problem for a long time.

• Sudden change in temperature

Since cold air always moves from top to bottom, a building on a slope can become a serious obstacle for it. Because of this, the temperature near the house itself may seem much lower than in the territory that is adjacent to the site. However, this problem can be avoided very easily. It is enough to build a house not on the slope itself, but on its upper part. So, the air around the cottage will be uniform, and you will not feel temperature fluctuations.

• Features of foundation construction

Very important is the location of the house in a horizontal position. For this, the foundation must be dug deeper on one side than on the other. One of the sides will somehow be exposed to groundwater, which will require additional insulation for the foundation. When building a water supply system and building a foundation, it is important to contact competent specialists, and then there will be no problems with these parts of the house.

• Few projects

Unfortunately, there are not so many ready-made projects for plots on a slope, unlike similar options for a flat area. The slope gives any project a uniqueness, therefore, with a high probability, an individual project will have to be created for a site on a slope, which will always be more expensive than the standard option.

Houses on a slope, like any other houses, impose disadvantages and advantages in almost equal measure. Whether such an option suits you or not is primarily a matter of individual preferences and acceptance of certain options for your life. The main thing is that the land you are going to buy is really suitable for construction.

Selecting the best foundation option

One of the most important elements, perhaps, of any variant of houses on a slope is the foundation. Despite the fact that it is invisible to the layman, it is the basis of the house. The strength and durability of the entire house directly depends on how well the foundation is made, and what materials were used in its construction. Building a house on a slope also imposes its own, certain criteria on what the foundation should be. So, for an uneven surface, the following three types of foundation are most often used.

• Horizontal foundation

The horizontal foundation is practically no different from the usual foundation. It is presented in the form of a standard design, but its construction requires the alignment of a large section of the slope. In order for the horizontal foundation to be implemented with high quality, it is necessary to resort to the use of construction equipment to get rid of a large amount of soil and level the surface. Such construction can cost you quite a lot, since in addition to the costs of the construction and clearing itself, you will have to spend money on a special entrance for a working machine and other nuances. However, a horizontal foundation allows you to immediately build a completely buried house, and then not be afraid for its safety for many years.

• Stepped foundation

Unlike the horizontal one, this version of the foundation does not require the removal of soil before installation, but on the contrary, it involves the installation of a strip foundation. The thickness of the footboard when installing the strip foundation will be uneven due to the slope of the surface. Due to the unevenness in the section, such a foundation will be very similar to cascades. That is, there is always less concrete on top, and more on the bottom. However, despite the internal content, the top layer of the stepped foundation is a flat area, ready for building a house.

• Pile foundation

A pile foundation will be ideal for a small house on a slope, especially if it is made using frame technology. The construction of the pile foundation is carried out as follows: screw piles, specially prepared for this, are screwed into the ground and compact the soil, after which the house itself is installed on the piles. The key disadvantages of this foundation option are the inability to build a two-story high house, as well as the need to abandon the basement. Working with a pile foundation will also require additional investments in special equipment.

Of course, each of these foundation options should be considered individually in relation to your site and the planned project. It is impossible to identify a universally suitable foundation option, just as it is impossible to determine without the help of specialists which option will have the most advantages in the case of your site. To obtain a monosyllabic answer, it will be necessary to carry out calculations of the future load on the soil, as well as a detailed analysis of the soil.

Additional relief work

Each element in the construction of a building is very important, and the quality of all equipment seriously affects how comfortable a house becomes for living. In the process of building a house on a slope, do not forget about the correction and refinement of the site, the slope itself, as well as everything that is located on it.

Terraces will perfectly help to evenly distribute the load on the ground, and with their help you can achieve a decrease in soil activity. However, they need serious protection from environmental influences. For this, it is very important that a high-quality water drainage system be developed. If you do not pay enough attention to this aspect, all structural elements can become unusable very quickly.

In order for the water drainage system on yours to be truly reliable and of high quality, it is important that it includes:

• Drainage system

It was mentioned above in the article that when building houses on a slope, you can not think about drainage stone, but for your peace of mind, it is still recommended to carry out a drainage system. It helps meltwater to leave the building as quickly as possible, without damaging it in any way.

• Equipped earth ditch

An earthen ditch, which usually runs along retaining walls for terraces, will help regulate the flow of water. It is important that the ditch is connected to all other drains leading water down along the slope. So this process will be the most comfortable.

• Compacted soil around the building.

In order to compact the soil around the building, it is necessary to replace the soil in this area with concrete or sand. On the territory where there are no terraces, the soil can be strengthened with reinforced geotextile gratings.

• Paving around the house

The blind area is a concrete structure, 1-1.5 meters wide and 15 centimeters long, which is being built around the building to drain surface water, i.e. those that were formed as a result of rain or snowmelt.

In addition to the above, there is a whole list of works that strengthen the soil and increase the overall level of strength and durability of the cottage being created. It is considered very important to plan the foundation so that it lies deeper underground than the moving soil layer. This value can be determined from poles or leaning trees. Soil analysis is the first thing to do before doing any work on a slope. So you can study the features of your site in more detail and avoid any troubles. Ultimately, all types of work on the construction of such an unusual house must be carried out by professionals so that no mistake can interfere with your future life.

Before starting the construction of any house on a slope, it is very important to realize that no matter how difficult and time-consuming your work may seem at the beginning, it will respond to you with a comfortable life in a beautiful house on a non-standard site. If you go through all the stages of construction, paying attention to every nuance, then in the end you can get a truly original building – your personal cottage, not like other houses. Since there are critically few buildings erected on the slope today, each of them is an individual and unique attraction.

Turnkey construction of houses on the slope of the site

Book a consultation Request a call

Moscow

+7 (495) 120 18 50+7 (903) 766 02 22

St. Petersburg

+7 (812) 748 91 88+7 (905) 20 20 700

Novorossiysk

+7 (8617) 777 100+7 (929) 850 02 52

Calculate the estimate Request a call

Moscow

+7 (495) 120 18 50+7 (903) 766 02 22

St. Petersburg

+7 (812) 748 91 88+7 (905) 20 20 700

Novorossiysk

+7 (8617) 777 100+7 (929) 850 02 52

Not all suburban areas are perfectly flat – some owners get allotments with difficult terrain. But you need to build a house in any case, and there are two ways to solve the problem: leveling the site or building a house on a slope. The first option is difficult, it is quite expensive. But the second one is more than real, and the features of the site make it possible to build not only a comfortable, reliable, but also an original cottage, the project of which will be developed by the specialists of the Construction Company “Bronze Horseman”.

A house on a slope is always designed individually, because each plot has its own characteristics. And before the development of the project, geological surveys are necessarily carried out – it is necessary to determine the type of soil, the height of groundwater, the angle of inclination and many other important factors, without which the house on the slope of the site will not be reliable.

A good solution would be a frame house on a slope. Such buildings are durable, comfortable and energy efficient, and their construction is simpler from a technical point of view – the structures are assembled using a platform method, from prefabricated elements. Since complex landscapes make it difficult to transport building materials, the use of heavy equipment, frame technologies become an ideal solution, especially if you build a house on a steep slope.

When designing a building, our specialists take into account the following points:

1. Plot slope. Depending on its size, terracing is added to the project, the house can be multi-level – the best option is developed for each case.
2. Plinth. If you build a house on a high slope, a basement is necessary. It allows you to compensate for uneven ground, additionally strengthens the structure. In addition, the plinth is practical – household, auxiliary premises, a sauna, a swimming pool, and so on are equipped in it.
3. Communications. A house on an uneven site, like any other, needs heating, water supply, sewerage, electricity. And the design of communications is different from the typical one, because you need to take into account the relief of the site.
4. Access roads. On foot, of course, it will not be difficult to climb to the cottage, but you need to take care of a comfortable car entrance.
5. Ensuring the flow of melted, rainwater. Building on a slope always creates obstacles for the flow, and you need to take care of the system of water reduction and drainage, otherwise the entire area will be flooded.

When designing a house on a steep slope, our employees take into account other factors. As a result, the customer receives a comfortable, functional, reliable housing on a turnkey basis, the price of which does not exceed the cost of a cottage on a regular plot.

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