Mountain Flood Zone House Designs
Mountain Flood Zone House Designs
It’s not a secret that people love living near bodies of water. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 127 million Americans live in coastal counties! Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows when it comes to living near bodies of water; inclement weather and flooding is a problem that coastal-dwelling Americans have to contend with. But what does this have to do with living in a modern mountain home? Many people who live in mountainous homes erroneously believe that mountain homes don’t flood. While many steep mountain homes are unlikely to flood, flooding can still occur if homes are built near mountain streams, rivers, or lakes. With climate change continuing to change the landscape of the world, extreme weather patterns have become more frequent, and floods have become more common in unlikely places. At Logangate Timber Homes, we have created modern solutions to mountain flood zone house designs that look incredible without sacrificing safety or style. Let’s take a look at modern flood zone house designs, A-frame on stilts, small foundation homes, and which is more suitable for mountainous areas!
Homes on Stilts: A Frames And Mountain Pedestals
Stilt homes are also known as “piling homes.” Simply speaking, a piling home is a home that is built on raised piles that serve as a foundation for the home. The poles resemble stilts that the home sits securely on top of. This type of construction typically rests 10-12 feet off the ground to safely allow for high tide if the home is located in a coastal county or on a flood plain. The main reason a piling home is built is to protect against flooding. These homes are typically vacation homes that appear to almost hover over the water.
Piling homes have been around for thousands of years; some pre-historic pile dwellings date back to 5,000 BC! Pre-historic people built these types of houses for much the same reason as in modern times: to stay dry in an area surrounded by water. Another great feature is that this type of construction keeps out unwanted pests. It’s also convenient as the space underneath the house can be used as storage or workspace.
A-frame homes were a home construction trend that was most popular in the 1950s and 70s. These unique homes fizzled away as trends shifted. Today, these homes have made a comeback as tiny homes become increasingly popular among Millenial and Gen-Z populations looking for smaller homes with more land for pets to have and explore. Pedestal homes are a popular building practice where homes are built on a raised pedestal foundation, typically in a steeply sloping landscape. Pedestal homes have increased in popularity since the 2000s as modern building practices have made producing pre-manufactured homes become more streamlined. So are A-frames on stilts better than having an A-frame on a pedestal? A-frames on stilts are currently more popular in flat forest regions and in coastal areas. This is because A-frames on stilts are suitable for flat areas that can be raised. Many modern variations of these closely resemble tree houses. The drawback to these building styles is that it typically requires a flat lot for the a-frame to sit on. Due to the design of the home, the size of the lot would dictate the side of the home.
Why Pedestal Homes Are Preferred in the Mountains
Small foundation homes like pedestal homes are great for steeply sloping mountain lots. Getting a home with a scenic mountain view for an affordable price used to be nearly impossible. At Logangate Timber Homes, we perfected building small foundation homes and building in sloping landscapes. This style of building has a smaller foundation that the main structure cantilevers over, usually on all four sides. This smaller foundation allows you to build your dream home in harder-reaching areas that would be too cumbersome or costly to build a regular foundation. Plus, you have a smaller footprint on the environment with a pedestal home as less of the ground is disturbed to build your home. You can buy cheaper land with beautiful views that were once thought too difficult to build on with a pedestal home.
How do pedestal homes tie into our topic on mountain flood zone house designs? Flood zone house designs usually include elevated living space to protect the home and the valuables within. Logangate pedestal homes achieve this through smart cantilever designs and a variety of floor plans for homebuyers to choose from! What makes flood zone house designs different from traditional home designs is the extra variables that come with weatherproofing. Coastal homes that are built on stilts may be flood-resistant, but extreme weather conditions seem to have been increasing as climate change continues to persist.
For mountain homes that are built near flood zones such as near lakes or rivers, having a Logangate Timber Home can make a difference between catastrophe or complete calm.
The Conclusion and Solution
At Logangate Timber Homes, we have made it our life’s work to provide you with a beautiful, energy-efficient dream home at an affordable price. We specialize in building homes in hard-to-build areas like mountainsides and flood plains. We have a variety of prefabricated homes that can be customized to fit your needs, style, and budget. Logangate Timber Homes is committed to delivering premium quality homes at a fair price that you will love to live in. For more information about Logangate, contact us today!
