The hill towns are a dream. The steeper the slope, the clearer the view. But how should we build here? Won’t a newly built home slip later? And how much does it all cost? Building on a slope is the supreme discipline in construction and is reserved only for experts. Those who don’t shy away from the challenge will be rewarded with a custom dream home and fantastic views. Below we will tell you what you should consider and expect when building on a slope:
THE IMPORTANCE OF PLOT
Before purchasing a sloped property, you should take a detailed look at its location and features. It makes a difference whether the property is accessed from the valley side, from the slope side or from both sides. This not only affects the logistics of the construction site, but also determines where the main entrance to the house will next be located. It may also be possible for the slope and valley sides to have independent entrances, making it easier to build a separate apartment.
The orientation of the property is also very important for building on a slope. A south or south-west slope promises lots of sun. On a north-facing slope, no buildings or overlying woods should shade the property.
You should also get a soil report at an early stage. Here the individual soil layers are examined with regard to their bearing capacity, water supply and loads. Water in particular is an important issue when building on a slope. The slope can cause seepage or the formation of layers of water on the slope. Perhaps there are water veins on the property or the aquifer is not deep enough. The sloping house must be sealed against this or adequate drainage must be provided. The geological study of the land provides indications on how the foundation of the house should be carried out.
Only when the results of the land report are available can the design of the house begin and adapt it to the conditions of the property.
CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR BUILDING ON SLOPES
Depending on the slope of the land and the nature of the terrain, different construction methods are available for a house on a hill. The principle is to adapt the planning to the existing terrain and not, on the contrary, to elaborately work out the terrain for house planning.
In most cases, the slope house is built into the slope. This means that the sloping part of the house in the basement automatically becomes a cellar, while on the same level living spaces with access to the terrace and views are possible. If you enter the property from the valley side, the basement can also be used for the garage, from which you can enter the house with dry feet. The advantage of houses built on a slope is the natural insulation of the underground part of the house, which translates into pleasant cooling of the rooms in summer and a reduction in heating costs in winter.
A variant of the house built into the slope is the terraced construction method, in which all levels are buried staggered into the slope. This creates large roof terraces on each floor and is visually very attractive. However, it should be borne in mind that this method of construction on a slope is very complex due to the numerous transitions and connections between levels.
If the slope is very steep or the terrain is rocky, the slope house can also be built on stilts on the valley side. This construction method has the advantage that the soil is only slightly modified. And if necessary, you can still use the stand structure for a carport or something similar. The disadvantage of stilts is that the building must be more insulated from below because it is not underground. Furthermore, the house must not be too large, otherwise the construction would be too complex.
If the slope is not particularly steep, it is obviously possible to fill the ground on the valley side as well, creating a flat base for the future house. However, this house subsequently stands out clearly from the site and renounces the possibility of using the basement partly for residential purposes and partly as a cellar for blind warehouses and technical rooms.
Regardless of the construction method chosen or even the combination of construction methods, building on a slope obviously means taking advantage of the view and creating views for residents. You can do this, for example, by installing floor-to-ceiling windows on all levels on the slope side. Thanks to the hilly position, interior and exterior merge and the distant view also visually enlarges the living spaces. It may also make sense to vertically connect the levels through galleries and air spaces within the house and create even more spectacular views.
Remember that the roof of a sloped house is often easier to see than a flat house. This is why even the roof, which is often called a fifth façade not only in houses on the hills, should be designed in an attractive way.
THE PARTICULARITY OF A SLOPED CONSTRUCTION SITE
Building a hill house is only a thing for experienced contractors like the construction partners, who have already implemented countless hill house projects for their clients throughout Germany. The company carrying out the work must be familiar with steep terrain and, in addition to experience, also have the necessary technical equipment.
Specifically, building on a slope requires different processes on the construction site than building on level ground. The construction of the construction site is also more complex and therefore more expensive. It may be necessary to secure parts of the slope before starting excavation. The slope can also make it impossible to use larger equipment, which leads to smaller work steps and higher costs. A small excavator can only move less soil per hour than a large one. So, if you want to save money, make sure you don’t have to move too much soil when building the house on the hill. This also reduces the risk of cracks in the walls due to subsequent settlement of the structure.
As a result, more complex construction site logistics, more complicated foundations and any necessary measures against infiltration or water layers are reflected in higher costs. Not to be forgotten when building on a slope is the additional effort required to create external structures with stairs and slope reinforcements. In exchange, you will get a fantastic view and a spectacular home that will be the envy of many.
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