DURHAM REGION

DESIGN-BUILD & PLANNING · CLARINGTON, ON

Design-Build Contractor in Clarington, ON

Henley Contracting is a design-build contractor in Clarington for rural lots, sloping sites and country homes around Orono, Hampton and Enniskillen, and for homes in its towns. We plan with the land: grades, views, the septic and the creek, so a walkout bungalow or a country home sits naturally on the site and the budget holds.

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SERVICE: Design-Build & Planning
AREA: Clarington, ON
REGION: Durham Region
CALL: (905) 576-9714

Custom bungalow with a walkout lower level set into a hill overlooking farmland in Clarington, Ontario (illustration) – Design-Build Contractor in Clarington, ON

01 / OVERVIEWDESIGN-BUILD & PLANNING · CLARINGTON

DESIGN-BUILD & PLANNING · CLARINGTON

Homes planned around the land in Clarington

Much of rural Clarington is rolling, with valleys cut by creeks running to Lake Ontario. A sloping lot can be the best site you ever build on, giving a walkout lower level, views across farmland and daylight in the basement. It can also be expensive if the house is designed without the slope in mind.

We start with a topographic survey, then place the house, the driveway and the septic to work with the grade. The design follows the land rather than fighting it.

01 / TOPOGRAPHY FIRST
A survey of the slope before the design.
02 / WALKOUTS
Lower levels that open to the yard.
03 / VIEWS PLANNED
Main rooms placed toward the best outlook.
04 / MUNICIPAL PERMITS
Applications to the Municipality of Clarington.

02 / WHAT WE BUILDDESIGN-BUILD & PLANNING · CLARINGTON

What we check on a Clarington lot

Slope and drainage

How water moves across the site and around the house.

Creek setbacks

CLOCA or Ganaraska rules near valleys and watercourses.

Septic and well

Where the bed and well can go on the slope.

Driveway grade

A drive that works in winter.

03 / IN FOCUSDESIGN-BUILD & PLANNING · CLARINGTON

Why slopes need early planning

Retaining walls, extra foundation height and rock can add cost fast. Knowing them before the design is final lets you choose where to spend.

Gently sloping rural lot with a survey stake falling toward a creek valley, before design, Clarington, Ontario (illustration) – Design-Build Contractor in Clarington, ON

04 / IN FOCUSDESIGN-BUILD & PLANNING · CLARINGTON

Matching the design to the site

A house drawn for a flat suburban lot rarely suits a rural Clarington hillside. We encourage designs that step with the land, put the garage where the driveway naturally arrives and orient the main rooms to the south and the view, so the home looks and feels like it belongs in the countryside.

05 / IN FOCUSDESIGN-BUILD & PLANNING · CLARINGTON

Septic on a slope

On sloping rural lots, the septic bed needs suitable soil and a gentle grade. Placing it early avoids designing a house that sits right where the only good bed location is. We work with a septic designer so the house and system share the lot comfortably.

06 / IN FOCUSDESIGN-BUILD & PLANNING · CLARINGTON

Clarington communities

See our design-build pages for Bowmanville, Courtice and Newcastle. See also custom homes in Clarington.

Have a sloping lot in Clarington? Tell us about your project.

CLIENT REVIEWSIN THEIR WORDS

Henley Contracting Ltd.

50 Google reviews

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Marilyn Caccamo

Google review

The quality of work is exceptional, and the owners are friendly, approachable, and have a wealth of knowledge in the industry.
Vsevolod M

Google review

Great company to work with. Attention to details, customer service and friendly communication.
Highly recommend.
Laura Barrett

Google review

After receiving a few quotes from different contractors to do a full renovation of our kitchen and dining room, we chose Henley because of how comfortable Nick and his team made us feel right from the first conversation.

From start to finish it took just over three weeks for the team to demolish our ugly, dated, and dark kitchen, and fully rebuild a stunning bright and light new space, designed with style and functionality in mind.

The Henley team was very responsive (shout out to Tom and Michelle), and kept us fully informed throughout the project with the Buildertrend app. They uploaded photos and notes to the app daily, so we always knew where the project was at and how things were progressing. We loved the transparency of this, especially not being at home through the reno.

Thank you Henley Contracting for completely transforming our space.
We are so happy with the final results!

Read all reviews on Google

QUESTIONSCLARINGTON, ON

Frequently asked questions

Can't find your answer? Tell us about your project and ask us directly.

Is a sloping lot more expensive to build on?

It can be, with taller foundations or retaining walls. Planned well, a slope also gives a walkout and better light, which adds value.

Do I need a topographic survey?

On a sloping or rural lot, yes. It is the base for placing the house, the driveway and the septic.

Who regulates building near Clarington's creeks?

CLOCA or the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, depending on the watershed.

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YOUR PROJECT

Planning a home or renovation in Clarington?

Tell us about your property and what you have in mind. We will help you work out the scope, budget and next steps before anything is priced.