Aug 28 2017

Prefabricated Houses Great for Sloped Sites

We all know that sections are creeping up in cost nearly as much as completed homes. Getting into the market is becoming a challenge for new home buyers across New Zealand. So it’s time to think differently and to be creative in solving this problem. We need to find new ways to approach not only getting into the market but also to approach building homes.

 

Manor Build is innovating in this area by building prefabricated houses at our factories and doing so in a fraction of the build time of an on-site build. We also believe that generally you will find cost savings in buying a sloped section and transporting a prefabricated house to it rather than building on site.

 

A sloping section can be substantially cheaper than a flat one. The perception that they are difficult to build on can turn people off. This can make them harder to sell which means you can often grab a real bargain!

 

Why Do Prefabricated Houses Work Well on Sloped Sites?

 

There is Less Ground Disturbed. A traditional concrete floor will require either massive earthworks to create a level building platform, or large amounts of block work and back-filling to produce a level floor. In contrast, a simple timber pile foundation can be completed very quickly. There is also minimal earthworks for piles and very little impact to the site.

 

Lower Cost for Site Prep. The cost of the ground prep and block work to put a concrete pad on a sloping site can be up to 60% more than what’s required to prep for timber piles.

 

Great Views. Having your home on piles allows you to feel like you’re closer to the view. If you’re overlooking a valley, or a creek, you’ll be able to enjoy more of the view too!

 

Privacy from Neighbours. Unless the sections beside you are also sloped in a similar way, there’s a good chance that your windows won’t line up with the houses beside you which means you have more privacy in your home.

 

Transported home

Things to Consider

 

You’ll possibly need a structural engineer. If the foundation piles are higher than 3.0m then they become a specific engineered design. This will be an added cost but often the savings on the section are high enough to cover it. Retaining walls and other “slope-specific” works may also need to be engineered.

 

There could be additional council fees. Some sites may need retaining walls. If these are more than 1.5m high, then you may need a Resource Consent. So, just be sure to factor in possible additional inspections.

 

 

If you are currently shopping for a section and wonder if it could work for your prefabricated house, contact us and we can help.