Oregon and California are blessed with various landscape elements, from rolling dunes to expansive deserts and majestic mountainsides. Some of the most picturesque properties with breathtaking views of the horizon can be found on steep slopes. While some property buyers may shy away from these lots because they perceive building on them to be intimidating and possibly expensive, a professional excavation crew can help you make an informed decision about the ease or difficulty of building on steep-sloped property.
What constitutes steep-sloped property?
Land slope is measured as a percentage, representing the number of feet a property slopes over a distance of 100 feet. For example, anything less than 10% is considered a minor slope, meaning the property elevation changes 10 feet or less over the span of 100 linear feet of ground. 11-20% slope is moderate, and then 20% or more is considered steep.
What affects the costs to prepare a building site on steep-sloped property?
- Accessibility. All of the contractors, including the excavation crew, need to be able to reach your property with heavy-duty equipment. Not only is steeply sloped property often located in wooded areas along mountains and hillsides, but it’s challenging to drive over the sloped land. Excavation crews may need to cut in curved driveways with switchbacks to easily get equipment in and out of the property.
- Water drainage. Before beginning construction, a professional team should assess the land to determine natural water drainage patterns. Additional excavation work will likely need to be performed to add and remove ground to help direct water away from the home’s future foundation and create a good place to install sewage treatment systems.
- Digging depth. It’s not a good idea to build a slab foundation of steep-sloped land. Besides being nearly impossible to level the ground enough to use a slab, there’s a considerable amount of construction required for retaining walls or stem walls to protect the home from sliding. Instead, builders will generally excavate deeper depths of land, which may expose enough area on the downward side of the mountain for a garage or daylight basement. By doing so, the ground floor will be level and properly structured to hold up against the mountainside.
If you’re considering purchasing a steep-sloped property, contact the experts at Oregon Excavation first.
Don’t shy away from buying the property to build the home of your dreams, but make sure you know what you’re in for before you sign on the dotted line. Our employees at Excavation Oregon are well experienced with Oregon and Northern California terrain, and we can help you understand the specific challenges of the land before you commit to owning it. Whether your dream is to build a cabin buried deep within the woods or clear land for a castle with views of the faraway ocean, we can excavate and prepare your ground for building the perfect home for you and your family. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
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