ᐅ House Height – Backwater Level – Alternatives

Created on: 8 Feb 2017 22:55
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Henrik0817123
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Henrik0817123
8 Feb 2017 22:55
Hello!

We are currently planning a house; the land has been purchased, and we are now working on the preliminary plans. The plot is a corner lot that slopes downward slightly from the street. At the back, it is about 70cm (28 inches) lower than the front at the street. Where the house will be located, it is roughly 40cm (16 inches) lower.

For determining the backflow level, some values were used that require the house to be built higher than the manhole cover at the street level. This means the house needs a substantial raised foundation, plus the floor structure, resulting in steps everywhere on what feels like a flat lot and a large difference between the finished floor level and the current ground level, i.e., the garden.

Question: Are there no alternative ways to address the backflow level requirement? What do you do when the street is at the top and the land slopes steeply downward? The house can’t really be built higher than the street level in that case, right?

This seems odd to me. It involves significant costs for fill material, civil engineering work, steps, and also additional filling for terraces, etc., which in our case leads to an unattractive appearance as well.

Thank you and best regards
11ant9 Feb 2017 00:32
Backflow preventers are used. Otherwise, all houses that are not located on perfectly level plots would have to gather around the highest point, or be built like water towers. Figuratively speaking, it's quite a funny image. 🙂
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Evolith
9 Feb 2017 06:23
What is possible for you also depends on the development requirements. We had to add fill—1 meter (3.3 feet) across a full 1000 sqm (10,764 sq ft). Since the plots to the left and right of us are still undeveloped, our building now sits nicely on a little hill. It looks quite funny.
bluminger9 Feb 2017 08:07
If the local sewer line is not deep enough, a lift station will be needed in addition to the backflow preventer, I assume.
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Nordlys
9 Feb 2017 11:05
…and if a lifting station becomes necessary, it’s better to build the floor higher. What isn't below ground can't fail. And if such a system fails, that’s really problematic…
kaho6749 Feb 2017 15:19
Nordlys schrieb:
....and if a sewage lifting station becomes necessary, it's better to build up the ground. What isn't inside can't fail. And when such a system fails, it's really bad...

We have had a sewage lifting station in a house for decades. No problem.
Sure, failure would be unfortunate. But building a big mound just because of that? I don’t know.