sloping terrain

The panoramic sea views from the hills of Jávea, Moraira, Altea, or Calpe are the great Mediterranean dream. However, these privileged locations present a formidable technical challenge. Building foundations on sloping terrain is not just an option; it is a specialism that defines the safety and durability of your villa. The stability of that house, its future guarantee, and the absence of cracks all depend on one element that you cannot see, but which is everything: the foundation. At La Quinta Fachada, we explain why this foundation work is so unique in the Marina Alta.  

The Marina Alta challenge: Sloping terrain and complex soils

The spectacular landscape of the Marina Alta is also its greatest geological challenge. Relying on a standard shallow foundation here is, in many cases, negligent.

1. Slopes and earth pressure

The best views involve steep gradients. A house on a hill must not only support its own weight (vertical loads) but also resist the pressure of the earth behind it (lateral loads). A standard foundation could "slide" or "creep" over time.

2. The hidden problem: Expansive clays and fill

This is the area's main technical secret. A large part of the soil in the Marina Alta is composed of expansive clays: the ground swells dramatically with rain and shrinks during drought, causing movement. Furthermore, many older urbanisations were created using "fill" (anthropic soil moved by man), which is completely unstable. Ignoring the need for deep foundations in these soils is a risk that can lead to severe cracks or differential settlement.  

The solution: Piling foundations for sloping ground

For safe foundations on sloping terrain, the most robust solution is piling, or deep foundations. To put it simply: a traditional foundation (strip or pad) is like a person's feet on sand; it spreads the weight on the surface. A piling foundation is like the roots of a large tree. We do not trust the surface soil. We drill vertically through those unstable top layers until we find the "firme": the competent, hard bedrock. Micropiles, which are smaller-diameter but very long piles, are a common solution in the Marina Alta. This piling foundation method is the only way to guarantee the house is anchored to a stable geological stratum. Your house truly rests on these deep pillars of concrete and steel.  

Our process for safe foundations on sloping terrain

At La Quinta Fachada, safety is non-negotiable. Our process is rigorous:

Phase 1: The geotechnical survey (essential)

We never design foundations on sloping terrain without a prior geotechnical survey. It is our "X-ray" of the subsoil. This report is the map that tells us exactly what type of soil we have, at what depth the bedrock is, and what type of pile we need. It is the basis for the entire structural calculation.

Phase 2: The piling design and execution

With that data, our team of engineers calculates the grid of piles. On-site, the drilling is carried out (to 10, 15, or even 20 metres deep), the steel reinforcements are inserted, and the concrete is injected. The villa's foundation slab is then built on top of this deep network. The result is a house that "floats" on a rock skeleton, immune to surface soil movements.  

Investing in deep foundations: Your insurance policy

That villa with spectacular views in Altea Hills... its value and durability 50 years from now are decided in this phase. Many clients see piling foundations as an unexpected "extra cost". At La Quinta Fachada, we see it as the most important insurance policy on their investment. Investing in properly executed foundations on sloping terrain is not an expense; it is the only guarantee that your investment is secure and your dream will be lasting. It is the difference between a house and a fortress. At La Quinta Fachada, we only build fortresses. Contact our team and request an assessment for your plot. We will study its geotechnics and offer you the structural solution your project deserves.