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benk777
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:40 am Post subject: Adding Full Exposure to a Flat Lot |
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I just purchased a 2.2 acre lot in Waukesha, Wisconsin, that is basically flat. It is a separate parcel and not in a subdivision, so there are no building requirements. How does one go about adding land to create full exposure, and how much would something like that cost? Thank you for your time.
Ben |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 565
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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Ben,
I am not sure what you mean by "full exposre". Do you want to add fill as to create some topographic variation on the lot? Can you explain what you are trying to do? |
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benk777
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, I would like to add fill to the land so that I could create a full exposure lower level to the west side yard. I just have no idea how much something like that would cost. 10k, 20k???
Ben |
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benk777
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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So basically I plan on having a fully finished lower level, and would like a walk out to the west side yard.
Ben |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 565
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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I sure there will be differing opinions on this issue, but my personal/professional opinion is that to have a walk-out basement (that's what we call it in SW Ohio) you need a sloping lot to accommodate such a design.
Trying to artifically create the nearly 6 to 8 foot of grade change necessary for a walk-out basement on a flat lot is not a reasonable thing to do. The cost can be much greater than you are inferring. Plus it will look unnatural if the surrounding area is relatively flat.
I would recommend one of two thing. 1) Construct a house with an English Basement. This is where the basement is not dug as deep as normal and the first floor is raised off the ground. This creates a sense of grandeur and allows you to install normal windows in the "basement"... something like this...... 
Or you could construct the basement just a little lower than grade and arrange your living spaces on the Upper levels. Frank lloyd Wright did this frequently on his early houses, such as the Robie House......
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benk777
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 9:07 am Post subject: |
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| I'm not sure it would look drastic at all, especially since the lot is 2.2 acres in size. |
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birgco
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 302
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I would take the time to build a foam board model of the site, proposed house and the grade contours. Glue the house together but leave the curved contour pieces loose so you can add to or and subtract from the grade to get a sense of proportion, height, etc. When the model is complete, bring it to the site so you can see how passive solar gain, overhangs, shading etc. will work for the project. It might also be a good idea to invest in a landscape architect who could bring the whole thing together with a great planting plan, rock walls and gardens. good luck |
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birgco
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 302
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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Couple other thoughts that may help. I liked Phansford suggestions but if you decide to venture further into adding fill to the site, I would first get a transit and shoot the entire site. You might be pleasantly surprised that a "level" site can be 2 or 3 feet out of level over several hundred feet of a 2 + acre site. A dead level site may not be the most desirable especially if drainage is a problem in the area. Some slope to the lot may be a big plus.
Also, you may be able to get fill for free depending on the fill supply/demand situation in your area. Some projects are desperately looking for a good home for their excess dirt and on occassion are willing to deliver it for free to avoid dumping fees. Just be very careful that the material is virgin mid grade soil (not clay) and with no contamination. One project in our area accepted soil that turned out to be toxic and it resulted in a giant mess and mult-million dollar lawsuit. |
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JWmHarmon
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 112
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 7:08 am Post subject: Radioactive contaminated fill - know source of fill dirt |
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When using fill dirt you need to know the source of the fill materials. In Guernsey County, Ohio, USA, there were some problems with radioactive contamination of fill and slag used improperly for driveway stone.
The full text of the Federal Register is available at
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/1995/August/Day-21/pr-1213.html
It says in part: "On November 28, 1993, the NRC published... the proposed stabilization of slag piles containing radioactive waste, located at the SMC (Sheilalloy Metallurgical Corporation) , Cambridge, Ohio, facility...
NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) determined, in 1993, that slag from the site, when it was owned by Foote Mineral Company (FMC) may have been used as fill at off site locations. To date, NRC inspections have identified 17 locations with slag having elevated levels of radioactivity. Radiation surveys and slag analyses that NRC conducted in 1994 indicate that the slag does not pose an immediate health and safety risk to residents. However, some action may be necessary at specific locations, to minimize the long-term risk associated with the slag." |
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