Lakefront Home Builders

Building a lake house is a dream for many. Living in a lakefront home is an idyllic experience, regardless if it’s a summer getaway or a year-round lake house.

But without proper planning and guidance, the dream could quickly become your worst nightmare. So before you begin construction, you should know the considerations for building a custom home on a waterfront property.

This is where we come in. At Hill Building, we are experienced in crafting custom waterfront homes and handling the special challenges that affect the build. There may be special zoning regulations, height restrictions, shoreline easements, utility easements, and/or special considerations for septic tanks and water well placement and installation.

Additionally since all lakefront properties are essentially built on floodplains, your construction must be able to protect against and withstand flooding and erosion. This is why it is critical to work with a builder that has experience in building lakefront homes.

Hill Building can offer valuable expertise and guidance on the following:

• Site selection. Will the property accommodate your design and house orientation?
• Zoning restrictions. Waterfront zoning restrictions vary widely and can be confusing.
• Building permits. Can a building permit even be acquired for your particular lake property?
• Construction costs. Lake property building costs tend to be higher than the average cost.
• Septic systems. Will you need a special septic system? Will your drainage plan meet code?
• Lake levels. Are you aware of seasonal and historic water levels?
• Will you need an Elevation Certificate?
• How deep is the water table? Will it affect having a basement or crawlspace?
• Does your property contain any wetlands?
• Are you located in a flood zone? Will you need flood insurance?
• Does the soil drain quickly? Will you need special foundations or septic systems?
• What type of landscaping will you need to manage erosion?
• Will you need erosion control for your beach?
• Special considerations for docks.
• Which direction are the prevailing winds? How will they affect your enjoyment of your property?
• Design consideration for privacy and noise control. Some lakes can be rather busy and noisy. We can assist in choosing the right windows and window treatments, insulation, landscaping, and other design features that less experienced builders might miss.
• Roofing, siding, and windows must be appropriate for the unique challenges that lakefront weather present.
• Help and advise on selecting appropriate materials and levels of quality for your waterfront projects.

All these items require special care and consideration to ensure that the process of building your dream home will be as smooth and painless as possible. Well-planned design and construction can reduce your long-term cost of ownership and lower maintenance costs too.

Hill Building has been building lakefront homes for three generations now. We have the skills to craft your home to your exacting specifications and the experience to handle all the restrictions and challenges that accompany a lakefront build. We also can handle the installation of docks, decks and sea walls, which can be included as part of your build.

We offer a FREE, no-obligation consultation to discuss your project and provide an estimate. If you’d like to schedule an appointment to talk about your ideas, please contact us today.