Building A Custom Home On A Hill Or Incline
A home on a hill or incline provides breathtaking views looking out from the front yard or large windows.
We have examples of famous houses on a hillside such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s FallingWater constructed for the Kaufmann family. The home in Pennsylvania is on a hill directly over a waterfall. Not everybody can build a home on waterfall but you can still take advantage of geographical features available on your property.
You must consider the following things:
1. Floor Plan
Consider building the home and making it part of the land it sits on. The home should be set into the landscape to take advantage of the available features and views. Since these houses will typically have a flat roof, consider having a rooftop patio or a green roof.
Additionally, include a walk-out basement. Get a raised concrete foundation that will have a crawl space that can be used for storage. You can also consider building an infinity pool where your budget allows.
Always work with a structural engineer as well as experienced design and build teams to ensure the house is structurally sound and functional.
2. Access to your hillside home
Plan and allow for access from the street by having the driveway level all the way to the back of the property. It facilitates day to day activities and any future plans to modify and building around the property ensuring access for heavy equipment such as cranes.
3. The logistics for construction of a custom home on a hill
Starts with getting a geotechnical soil boring report. Further studies include the determination of the depth of bedrock and surrounding water table.
Drainage of runoff water away from the property and neighboring properties
Ensure access to utilities that may be on site such as gas, electrical and main sewer.
The design and build teams should research all these things before commencement of the project.
4. Exterior Finishes of your Home
A home on a hillside and an incline has its exterior exposed to the elements. The exterior cladding material should have an excellent rating to withstand wind forces and the sun’s rays.
Consider providing greater exterior protection including protected porches and balconies due to the large exposure of the exterior façade to the elements.
5. Costs associated with the Home
The costs of building your home are comparatively higher compared to building on a flat lot due to the foundation alone. Homes on a hillside may require driven piles for the foundation. Piles driven into the bedrock significantly increases costs but offer increased building strength especially in earthquake prone zones such as BC.
Get a free and no-obligation consultation if you plan to build or renovate your home on a hill. We help you evaluate the project and produce a workable plan into achieving your dream home.