The benefits of building on a sloping block

CONSIDERING BUILDING ON A SLOPING BLOCK? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

After months of searching, you’ve found a block for your new home. Amazing views, great location, good size. The only potential problem? It’s a sloping block.

In the Illawarra, across the South Coast and the Southern Highlands, our local geography means sloping blocks are common – but so are the amazing views and elevation which often comes with them.

Sloping blocks can make things slightly trickier, but they can also bring amazing benefits to your new home.

With the right home design for your sloping block, you can still create your dream home on the block you’ve got your heart set on. Here’s what you need to know about home designs for sloping blocks.

SLOPING BLOCKS: PROS AND CONS.

Being on a rise can come with many benefits – it can mean better natural light, better natural drainage, and better ventilation for your home. Using a creative home design to suit the layout of your block means you can create something special, maximising your outlook, and with gorgeous landscaping to match.

But sloping blocks can also be more challenging to build on. Be sure to factor in the severity of the slope, the presence of rocks on the site, and ease of access.

Having the block surveyed will help you get an idea of what’s possible, and speaking to an experienced builder like Mincove Homes will also help.

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A SLOPING BLOCK.

So what do you need to consider when choosing a sloping block?

Firstly, which way is the block sloping? Is it sloping up – as in rising up from the road? Or is it sloping down – falling away from the road? Both of these options are buildable, but they require different designs in order to make the most of the space you have.

Some blocks slope from side to side, which means considering a different design – often something where the garage will fall on the lower part of the block, with the split level layout making the most of the space on top of the garage and on the higher part of the block.

The ‘fall’ of the block refers to the gradient of the area you’ll be building on. Generally, a fall of less than 1 metre can be addressed using the cut and fill method, which will flatten out the block so you can build a standard single-level home.

SLOPING BLOCK HOUSE DESIGNS.

But what to do if the fall of your block is more than 1 metre?

Split level home designs are ideal for these kinds of sloping blocks. Not only do they look great, they’re also a way to maximise the build space you have, creating spacious living areas and plenty of room to move for you and your family.

Choosing the right split level home design can also mean you’ll maximise on any views and natural light you might have access to with your chosen block of land.

Smart split level designs mean a home which is full of space, and offers plenty of options for living and entertaining.

At Mincove Homes, we have a number of split level home designs – to suit upslope, downslope and sideslope blocks.

For example, our Valley home design is ideal for an up sloping block, with a spacious upper level including a covered al fresco dining area and an indoor/outdoor flow to the balcony, so you can make the most of your site’s views.

Our Wave home design is ideal for a side sloping block, and our Quay home design suits a downward sloping block. With more than 10 split-level designs to choose from, you’ll be able to find the perfect split level home design to suit your block’s layout and your family’s needs, for now and into the future.

Ready to find out more?  

Get in touch with us to discuss your options around sloping blocks. Together, we’ll create the ideal home for your life.