Why Build a House on Stilts?

House on stilts is commonly seen in coastal areas and in areas where the ground is under water, damp, constantly flooded, or muddy but The house remains dry and clean even if the ground beneath becomes wet, dirty, or muddy.

A stilt house is also called a pile dwelling because the house is raised by a distance of about 10-12 feet (3.5-4 meters) from the ground with the support of large stakes called piles.

In coastal and constantly flooded areas, this type of structure protects its dwellers and their properties during high tide and floods. Stilt houses also keep away rats, vermin and stray animals from easily getting into the house.

This type of house is easy to construct and makes use of land that is otherwise not suitable for the usual house constructions. Determine the dimension of the house and put markers on the ground for the posts.

How to Build a House on Stilts

For building stilt homes in the sea you will require a raft. A raft provides space for storing materials and a strong platform on which to set out and insert the posts.

The soil or ground must be free from rocks or metallic materials so that the post can easily be driven deep to the ground for strong support.

The post is usually made of bamboo or other water-resistant timber reinforced with deck boards and sometimes with concrete to form the stilts.

If necessary sharpen the ends of the posts so they can be easily driven to the ground and support the posts with deck boards to form a sturdy stilt.

If digging is possible, dig deep holes on the ground and fill these holes with concrete mixture before erecting the posts.

Five rows with four poles across are recommended for a stronger stilt house. The posts must be of the same length from the ground for balance and level.

For better strength, double each post. If one post sinks or breaks, there is still support from the other posts and time to repair or replace the pair.

Building the accommodation on top of the stilts

Attach beams and joists beams for the roof. Pegs can be use for a more traditional timber framing style, or bolts or screws.

A portion of the deck can be left open to form an open porch or deck. Sheath your house and roof with the chosen material.

If the space beneath is dry or usable, it can be used as a storage or working area. This way there will be more space in the house for the bedroom, dining, or living rooms.

Families in coastal areas have great time fishing right from their open decks or porch during high tide.

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