Building Site Stability

Building Site Stability

How Slope of your land effects your mountain cabin

Part One

Over three quarters of the land in western North Carolina and North Georgia has a slope excess of 30 percent. The financial and environmental cost of building on such steep terrain are substantial and significant. Building site preparation and access are complicated by shallow bedrock, high erosion rates, soils that are subject to sliding, and the lack of adequate sites for septic systems. Conventional septic systems are difficult to construct on slopes greater than 30 percent and often function poorly in these situations.

Most of the steeply sloping land in the region is located at the higher elevations. Since snowfall is greater and snow melt slower at these elevations, access to the house during the winter may be difficult at best.

Many homes in western North Carolina and North Georgia are built on steep mountain slopes. Building on these slopes requires careful planning and construction to minimize unacceptable or undesirable changes in your land. One solution is to choose a multi-level house that follows the contours of the mountain. This type building can be constructed to lessen the need for land leveling. Building your house on pilings can also protect the natural contour of your land and help minimize the cost of site preparation.

Part two: Building Site Stability

back to : Important factors before you buy

Homeowner's Corner

I would like to thank Phillip Gibson Director of Research and Community Outreach Warren Wilson College for allowing me to reproduce this booklet. Some information on this page may be outdated as new ordnances have been past in many municipalities. Please contact your local agencies for updated ordnances. a new information Cd is being produced at this time. Check back here for an announcement on when and how to receive one once available. Or contact:

Phillip Gibson
Director of Research and Community Outreach
Warren Wilson College PO Box 9000
Asheville, NC 28815-9000
828-771-3781
pgibson@warren-wilson.edu