High Altitude build

[Dutch]

Hello everyone;

Our site is a treed mountainous but suitable for building at 10,000+ ft in Colorado. Other "homes" and cabins are located throughout this area, so building is no problem- it's not that remote. I have two basic questions:

1. Are there any specific building considerations in addition to the code requirements because of the high wind field ? Does anyone have experience with high altitiude construction?

2. Is pier and post a tried and true building method?

thanks;
Dutch

[glenn kangiser]

Watch out for altitude sickness - thin air up there.  Sounds like a neat place, Dutch.  We spent a bit of time there a few years back.

I'm sure you would have to watch your plumbing there to be able to drian it well.  Sounds like PEX would be a good one for there.  A bit more forgiving of freezes.

Post and pier is used up here in the mountains for building on great slopes.  Longer legs require good bracing.

Here is one that I don't think has enough, but it's still standing.  Only 3000 feet elevation or so here.

[John Raabe]

On steep slopes pier foundations are often the only option you have. Drilling and setting piers can sometimes be its own challenge, especially when done from upslope.

Get a trusted and practical engineer involved early on as the load trace and shear bracing is critical, especially as the posts get taller.

[Dutch]

Thank you... the site is "gently sloping"  and I hope to acclimate before I start lining up truss or it could be a real "rocky mountain nightmare" yikes...!!  
I have the well permit as of May and is valid for 2 years.  

The broad strokes for the homesite, and I'm talking aout loud here,  is say 1,000sqft 1 1/2 story.  I need to maximize views.  Three mountain peaks are viewable.  And I'm open to ideas after that. This would be a vacation home.  

Dutch

[Billy Bob]

Right on with that acclimatization bit... took me about three weeks to get used to 6500' here in NE Arizona, and still puffing everytime I tie my shoelaces, (but that may have more to do with my "corporate profile" than the altitude )

Lightning storms seem to be a bit more impressive, if not to say scary, at higher altitudes.  There's a whole lot less stuff that's taller than I am, so I tend to call it quits a bit sooner than I used to at sea level.

[Dutch]

Hey- well, yes the altitude is a concern.  I am able to get a chunk of time in the summer months- about 9 weeks- educator... so maybe a week to acclimate?? Do I have to be an instate resident to get an owner builder permit if I live out of the state I build in?

Dutch

[John Raabe]

I doubt if they check the drivers license  

You will want an address of course.

[Amanda_931]

Every once in a while governments and the like want proof of residence.  Often ask for something addressed to you--they'd prefer a utility bill, but almost anything with your name and a reasonable address is OK.

The next county to the north-east of here does that with their county dump.  Ours doesn't.  Or at least I never got asked, even with Metro Nashville/Davidson county plates on my truck the first year I was here.

Whether they do this probably has something to do with how eager they are to have part-time residents, or incoming retirees.

[Dutch]

Okay- I'll work on an address- maybe a P.O box?  Or not