Kit Home Designs For Sloping Blocks

One of the exciting things about kit homes is that you can use experts for advice and professional opinions to get a home design adapted to the slope of the building block.

Blocks can slope in various ways and are very common and yet some builders can shy away from these builds. A wonderful home can be achieved and take advantage of the land's natural shape at the same time. There is no need to be spending extra money digging and filling to level a block completely.

These land types may not be without their challenges but they are very rewarding projects if you get the planning stage right.

What About Leveling The Block?

In many cases these days how much leveling you can do is guided by local government. Many areas are restricted in carrying out major digging and filling and it is preferred that you try to work in with the natural lay of the land as possible.

This partially for environmental impact reasons and partially for how the water will then flow off the block onto neighbouring land. Much of the extra building costs associated with building on a slope can be generated by the leveling and retaining process.

Choices In Design

Split level homes are a perfect choice for a sloping block. These would normally consist of two or three levels built into the fall of the block. Because land can slope in many ways there are quite a few design choices you can have.

You can also look at Building a home on posts or steel poles that the foundations are then built level on. A classic example of this is the Queenslander home that is built for maximum airflow through and under the house. How steep the slope is will make a big difference.

Left Sideways slope Right sideways slope Backward slope Forward slope Things to Think About

As previously mentioned, sloping blocks can have some tricky areas to navigate. As far a budget goes these will often come cheaper, depending on the view, but there are major considerations to how stormwater drains off the block. This might cost you a lot more than you bargained for so do ask the right questions before purchase. If the land is falling away to a neighbouring home there will need to be regulations followed as to how you deal with the drainage and this is a cost that could blow out.

Get an expert to look it over for you before you buy.

If you are considering buying or building on a sloping block because of the view you will probably have either a sloping backyard or a steep driveway leading either up or down to the home. This can present a few challenges but before you make any solid decisions talk to your chosen kit home company about what designs would work.

Split Level Homes

Split level homes generally come in two and three level designs. They might also be known and tri-level homes. These work by having the house step up a level as the home rises with the lay of the land. For instance, you may have a ground floor garage with internal stairs to the living area and outdoors steps to the next level. Then you may have the bedrooms on the top level.

In some instances you may have a living area beside and only slightly above a garage. These can get to be quite high but there are some magnificent home designs in split level.

Get Plenty Of Information

Buying land is an exciting prospect but be sure to do your homework and have all the information needed when you go to builders and kit home companies about the fall of the block and what regulations in the area might be. This will cut down on time and enable quotes and designs offered to be accurate.