Finished floor elevations

[kcp8578]

I'm going to build my own home in the next 6 months & need to learn how to determine finished floor elevations. Can someone please explain it to me?

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

What exactly are you asking?

Are you trying to determine at what elevation to sit your house on your lot? If so, talk with your designer and builder. In general you want to place the first floor at least one step above the highest adjacent grade, more if the ground slopes toward your house on any side. When complete you want the ground to slope away from your house on all sides.

Other considerations include: do you have a basement, will you hit rock excavating the basement, slope of your driveway between the house and the street, how you wan the house to look...

Good luck, finished my house about a year and a half ago. First and last time I'll do that.

Mike Lambert

 

[cvg]

there may be regulations you need to follow regarding keeping your finished floor above flood elevations. for example, typical requirements for minimum finished floor are:

1. 14 inches above lowest property drainage outfall point from site.
2. 6 inches above adjacent roadway crown, perpendicular to property.
3. 1 foot above 100-year water surface elevation (as determined and approved by the City Floodplain Manager).

with a basement, you may additional requirements

 

[oldestguy]

Don't forget about sewers that need to run down hill from a basement.

In freezing temps, don't make a steep driveway.