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Forcing A Walkout on a Flat Lot

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21K views 9 replies 3 participants last post by  oh'mike  
M
#1 ·
Hi all, new member here. Trying to find some people to throw some ideas my way. I bought a lot a bit over a year ago and plan to build on it in 2 years. The lot is 2 acres and has over 200ft frontage on a river, it also sits on top of a 75 foot steep bluff. The lot is flat but i want to build a walkout house to capture the view of the river. Due to regulations i can only build so close to the bluff. I originally thought i would do a raised ranch but can not pinpoint a design that i would be happy with. We have already built on an adjoining 2 acre lot and will be holding onto that house for a bit and my lot has a 66ft easment that runs through that lot, so i could take dirt from there and from other areas of my lot although i have some trees i want to preserve. Is this going to be feasible to create a walkout? Does anyone have pictures of a forced walkout house built on a flat lot? I also will have extended access to a tractor to move dirt but imagine i will have to buy at least some fill and pay someone with a bigger rig to move it around.

I guess another question i have is am i okay to start moving dirt now or should i consider pouring the foundation first and then filling in the foundation i need to to make it into a walkout?
 
J
#2 ·
Have you considered a reverse story home. Living space on second floor for a better view. Walkout basements are great but getting it to look not forced will be a huge if not impossible project. Instead of all that effort and money for a walkout basement which probably will not have a good view of river I would add extra square footage to house where it will have a good view.
 
M
#3 ·
Not sure what you mean by reversed story? A 2 story with kitchen and living room on the second floor? I want my living room to have the best view and my kitchen needs to be on the same floor as the living room. It get annoying to drag groceries up a flight of stairs too.
 
O
#4 ·
Don't start moving dirt without a firm plan----

I suggest you start by getting a designer/architect involved----have your plat handy--

Elevating the earth in front of the house can be done on a two acre lot --without having it look odd----but you need some real plans---Mike----
 
M
#7 ·
Yes a relative is building the house by himself for me, he has been building all his life, he has done a house before where he had only a slight slope to work worth but got dumptrucks of free fill from another building site.
 
O
#8 ·
I like free fill---I was able to get 18 bombers full for free ,including some good top soil----I did tip the driver $40 a load----so ,while not 'free' it was darned near free---

You builder will still need plans to build from----so look into getting a design you like and a set of plans drawn---
 
O
#10 ·
This was during a building boom in this area----I met a trucker and got to talking--he hauled dirt----much of it was going to the dump for cover---they were paying to dump it---I live near the dump---and I tip ---word got out and soon I had 18 loads---
 
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