If you own land and are thinking of building a home, or you are considering buying a piece of land to put a home on, the first thing that you need to think about is can your site support a house. This is a question some landowners might not think to ask, and yet it is a vital one as this may be the largest purchase they will ever make.
A recent article on the West Virginia University Website has a very helpful article on soil/site review of the site you are looking at. It lists a number of questions that need to be considered:
- Are the soil properties favorable for establishing and maintaining lawns, shrubs, trees, and gardens without extensive and expensive soil modifications?
- Is there a flood hazard? (Is the site on a floodplain?)
- Are there soil factors that prevent or limit the soil’s use for septic tank absorption fields or sewage lagoons (if a public sewer system is not available)?
- If you plan to install a basement, will its construction be limited by such factors as:
- High water table, either temporary or permanent?
- Depth to bedrock?
- Drainage – surface ponding or excessive runoff?
- Shrink-swell potential of subsoil?
- What is the slope surrounding the building site? Will the site be stable? Will there be excessive water runoff?
- What are the erosion conditions and landslide potential? Previous erosion may have caused gullies and/or have limited the depth of topsoil, requiring leveling and filling. Erosion will give a clue about the stability of soil on a slope uphill from the house.
Doing your due diligence could save you thousands of dollars as well as disappointment down the road. At True Built Home, we have a number of resources that can help you to make a wise choice. There’s much helpful information on our website and we have a network of skilled and educated specialists in the field of site analysis and site development that can help you. Contact one of our sales associates for the information you need to get started on building your dream home.
