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Sloping Site Disadvantages: Reasons Why Residential Builders Prefer Flat Sites

11 February 2022

Before carrying out the actual construction process, residential builders would ensure that all necessary checks and assessments to the project site are done first.

One aspect of the project site that they typically check is its overall condition. They often check several elements to verify that the project can be done without any issues. Some elements include the soil composition, nearby utilities and structures, and weather conditions. But one element that can heavily impact the builders’ works is the site topography.

Topography refers to the arrangement and composition of physical features on a project site. Some project sites would have a flat orientation, while others may be sloped. Residential builders, however, would prefer to build a property in flat sites over the sloping ones due to the following reasons.

Complicated Site Preparation

One reason residential builders prefer to work with flat sites over sloping ones is they are much easier to prepare and excavate. With flat sites, builders can conveniently transport their construction vehicles and excavation machines into the area. Sloping sites, alternatively, would require complicated site preparation to get these things in. Site preparation alone for sloping sites can already add cost and time to the whole residential construction project.

Foundation Work Challenges

Aside from site preparation, residential builders prefer flat sites over sloping sites as the former do not need time-consuming foundation works. Sloping sites would typically require quality foundation works before proceeding to the next steps. From extra grading to building stem walls or retaining walls, all these things are necessary to keep the site safe and free from any danger. Without quality foundation works, sloping sites may easily collapse once strong winds and continuous rainfall are present.

Overcoming Draining Issues

From site preparation down to the turnover of the property, residential builders often have no choice but to carry out more processes just to make one’s home free from draining issues. Builders normally prefer flat sites over sloping ones since the former do not need complicated works just to overcome draining challenges. Working with sloping sites, alternatively, forces them to draft a drainage plan from the foundation down to the actual landscaping of the property.

High Upkeep Requirements

One more reason why residential builders prefer flat sites over sloping sites is they do not require regular maintenance. Properties that are built on top of sloping sites require regular assessment and upkeep to make sure that they have not developed any issues and problems. Without regular maintenance, home properties and their corresponding foundations might already be vulnerable to erosion. Water may likewise have infiltrated the structures of the properties if they are not assessed regularly.

To find out more about flat sites and sloping sites, you can contact us at Michael Worth Projects. With such a wealth of knowledge and experience, we are ideally qualified to help you get your design project started. We can steer you through what can seem a daunting task and can advise you from the very early stages of your project when perhaps you just do not know where to start.

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