Building on a Sloping Site
Is your intended property on level, hilly, rocky ground? Exposed to or
protected from the elements.
It is obvious that any one intending to build on a sloping site must satisfy himself that it will (must) be able to accommodate the proposed dwelling.
A substantial slope could also mean problems and extra costs when you come to build your house and establish your garden. Although determining the suitability of the building site should be done by a qualified consultant the following pointers could come in handy:
Trees always grow vertical, but if the ground flows downwards they are forced to a slanting position. They try to rectify the position by bending upwards. Avoid a slope where all the tree trunks bend towards the slant.
Bumpy ground. Be careful if the foot of the decline looks very bumpy or looks like the tread of a giant foot - these are classic signs of ground movement.
Laminated or split material. If the hill consists of shale or other laminated rock, the direction in which the layers lean over should be determined.
If there is inherent signs of instability in the surface materials the project should be abandoned or be continued with the utmost care.
Try to find a plot that's fairly level - unless, of course, you have a dramatic reason for wanting another sort. But a naturally level plot- as opposed to one that has just been artificially levelled; is almost always the cheapest to build on, and the least likely to give troubles later because of soil slip or subsidence. Surface boulders usually mean more boulders just under the surface.
Sloping sites, especially on the lower slopes of mountains, may hide great underground boulders that could tangle with the foundations and the plumbing, and would almost certainly have to be (expensively) removed if you wanted to build a swimming pool at
some later stage. Drainage problems are more likely to occur with a sloping plot than one that is level, and may be expensive to cure. And what about the lie of your neighbour's land? Does it slope towards your plot and will you be flooded by his run-off after heavy rains? An ideal time (there are several ideal times) to see a plot is during or soon after rain. Does the water rush away in a torrent, sweeping away all before it, or does it form pools that grow steadily greener and nastier-smelling as the days pass? Either way, it's likely you'll have to spend money improving the drainage, or suffer damage to the foundations and walls. Gardening will probably also be very frustrating.
The design of the house will be affected by the slope of the ground. The construction of retaining walls and/or the creation of different levels in the house could have a major bearing on the design.
The lie of the land will determine the style of the house. Split level homes could be built as they are well suited on sloping plots. The layout of the house could feature a series of steps leading from one level to another. Another major factor is the cost involved with sloping plots, such as landscaping, etc.
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