Do all Home Building Sites Slope Downward?
Here are some of the considerations before building on a sloping site: the severity and direction of the slope. Some blocks slope toward the street (up slope) and some toward the back (down slope), others from side to side (cross slope). Blocks that slope toward the rear are easier to work with, while those that slope toward the street often need more excavation and retaining walls. In most cases these will add to your building costs. Remember, that building on a sloping site will cost more than building on a flat block, even if the slope is moderate.
With clever design options you can reduce the cost of building a on a sloping site. One of the big expenses of building on a sloping site is excavation. Excessive excavation should always be avoided as it can cause instability and erosion, and can prevent the block from draining properly. The more soil that is excavated the more retaining walls you will need to hold back the remaining soil.
Most steep sites are classified as difficult and can have a moderate slope 1 – 3 meters or a more severe slope of 3 meters and upwards. Typically, the steeper the slope the more complex the design of the home will be and the more it will cost. There are a number of different fall profiles that come with a steep block each of which will have their own set of challenges.
Most project home builders will not build on steep blocks. Due to the nature of each block being different all homes will be custom designed. Therefore, it is important that you deal with a custom home builder that is experienced with the requirements of this type of design, even if they are a little more expensive.
Getting a builder involved early in the design process can lead to big savings as they can advise on the most economical way to deal with the structural issues that may arise.
Building on a steep site will give you a unique custom-built home which often has spectacular views and very functional floor plans. Always keep in mind that building on sloping sites tend to produce much larger homes than building on a flat block. This is because the fall of the land tends to lend itself to basement construction which can add as much as 80m2 (9 squares) to the house footprint!
The purpose of this guide is to give someone looking to build on a sloping site a simple overview of some of the opportunities and challenges with this type of project.
If you have any questions about how Ikona Developments can assist you in building your new home, please contact us on 1800 517 330, or visit our contact page for further options.