We get asked lots of questions about building on a slope. Especially those of us from flat land, where slab foundations are the norm, building on a slope can feel intimidating.

Plus, we’ve all heard horror stories about builds gone wrong. Our own General Contractor, Kirk, was kind enough to walk us through how to successfully build on a slope and avoid the pitfalls other cabin owners have faced. 

We have hand-picked our recommended builders and have worked with an architect to ensure that our standards are met and take into account the varied terrain we have at the estates.

While you are welcome to bring your own builder, here are a few things you should know about building a cabin in the mountains. 

Understand Your Goals

The very first thing to consider when building a cabin is whether to prioritize privacy or the view. Sometimes, you can have both, but sometimes you will need to prioritize one over the other.

If you don’t want your cabin seen from the road, this may mean an obscured view. If you don’t mind your cabin being seen from the road, you’ll have more flexibility when it comes to choosing your view. 

Work with the Terrain 

As Kirk says, “Each lot has a spot that’s just crying for a house.” Each of our lots are different, and each one has a spot that would be perfect for your cabin. Our homesites vary in size and elevation.

When we know if you’re prioritizing privacy or the view, we can help you pick the exact spot to build your cabin, taking into consideration all the variables thrown at us by the terrain. Working with the terrain prevents costly repairs and headaches down the road. 

Water Control is the Number One Priority

It rains a lot in Southeastern Oklahoma, and Timber Ridge is no exception. Water control is the single most important factor in building on a slope. We need to keep the water away from both your home, and existing infrastructure like roads.

To do this, we use the slope to our advantage, directing water away from your property with proper drainage, and proper foundation techniques.

Kirk and his team have seen the damage done by water when corners are cut with drainage. Any builder you use should have a plan for water control and establishing proper drainage. 

Foundation Choices 

You have three choices for the foundation of your cabin - each with its own pros and cons. 

Post-Tension Slab Foundation

A post-tension foundation is comprised of compacted dirt, overlaid with a network of steel cables that is tightened after the concrete is poured. In order to successfully build this type of foundation, the concrete must be poured at a minimum of 6 inches.

After working properly with the terrain, leveling, and backfilling, a retaining wall can be built to ensure that the foundation stays in place. This gives you a great foundation for just about any design concept you have in mind. 

Concrete Stem Wall 

This method lifts the base of the home on a structured footing, offering flexibility with design when building on a slope as the foundation height can be varied. 

A stem wall offers unique flexibility when building on a slope. Designed in two parts, it essentially combines a retaining wall (called footing) with a slab, giving you the opportunity to add a garage, insulated basement or create a crawl space under the home. 

First, the footing is constructed of either cinder block or poured concrete. The footing should be dug to subsoil or undisturbed ground (usually 18-24 inches), and below the frost line for structural integrity. Then, the stem wall is built up to meet the floor of the home, making it level. 

This option is excellent for keeping the home safe from water damage and provides good protection against shifting soil. 

Stilted Pier and Beam

This is a very common, flexible and cost-effective option for building on a slope. 

A stilted pier and beam foundation is a home built on large piers set in concrete footings. Then, the cabin is constructed on top of the piers. Because piers can be set in almost any configuration, the design possibilities are nearly endless. With their height, these homes can give you phenomenal views, with the great flexibility on the build site. 

It’s important to ensure your footings are deep enough to support your design, but beyond that, the sky's the limit to what you can create. Pier and beam are particularly conducive to water control and extreme sloping conditions due to the flexibility you have in the design process. 

The number one thing Kirk tells us is not to cut corners to save on cost, no matter which direct you choose to go. The quality of your build should be your priority. Skimping on things like your foundation, drainage and even your drive will only cost you down the road, and are all factors to consider when building on a slope. 

Before you begin any building project, an entire site plan that takes into consideration everything from the cabin itself to the outdoor living spaces and grounds is vital to a successful project. 

Building at Timber Ridge

We recognize how difficult it is to navigate this process on your own. Because of this, we have design standards drawn up by an architect, who is also able to provide you with custom plans for your home. Our HOA provides guidance on standards that must be followed by every owner. 

Our preferred vendor list is found on our website with an architect, builders and kit-build options available. We also have a building consultant, D&D Services,  who can help walk you through you options and help you make decisions specific to your homesite. 

We encourage you to speak with our building consultant during your option period, so that you have a very clear understanding of what moving forward and the build process will look like. 

If you’re still on the fence about buying a vacation home in Oklahoma, come visit us at Timber Ridge Estates. Our small-acre homesites are the perfect place to put down roots. 

Want to hire a professional team that specializes building cabins on slopes? Read more about DC Structures here!