Walkout Basement Home Ideas for Hillside Lots

How to build on a slope can be difficult to understand.  I couldn't find step by step photos but I hope these will help...  

Hillside homes have been around for a LONG time!                             Pioneers living in the walkout basement                                                                               It's not a new concept.                                                                     before they added the main floor above... ;)

 

             

 

We've come a long way since then..... 

    

Drainage diversion is the norm.                                                                 

    

 

Ideas.....  Instead of stairs up to a 2nd story on a flat lot, most of our terrain is sloped so on lakefront lots especially, the stairs will go down instead to the walk out basement level.  A rec room, kitchenette, bedrooms & a bathroom could fill this lower level for when you have family and guests visiting.  Make it as simple or fancy as you like.  Use the main floor for your daily living; Great room, kitchen, master, office, laundry.  Big windows on this level will give you those lakeviews you're after.

    

 

                                                                                                                                   Put a side load garage downstairs for your "Sunday Drive" vehicle.                                                                                                                                               This is a popular idea and usually doable.

 

      

      

 

Some slopes go sideways on the lot rather than                                                                                                                                                                     "to" the lake.  This is a great opportunity for a                                                                                                                                                                   smaller walkout basement under only part of the main floor.

      

An alternative to stairs from the back door to the lake and dock, cut a path that meanders to the lake.  Golf carts or yard tractors work great if it's a longer walk than you desire!

      

 

See the grassy cart path on the photo below?  Grass, dirt, cement....  all are options.  

       

 

      That's it.  I hope this has helped!