Small patio but big problem for me

[Keithly]

Hello everyone, fantastic site, spent all morning reading, loads of info. Problem for me is that I can't seem to come up with an answer to my patio project.

I hope someone here would be kind enough to comment.

Here's the situation:
Please look at the photo here first
Pic

The area was covered in concrete and tarmac, which I've dug out. I want to put a patio area here which should be as flat as possible, but because the righthand side of the plot is lower by a foot than the left I thought of digging down on the left to flatten the whole area.

Problem is there is a stretch of concrete which I presume covers the drain, so I can't go any lower.

I also can't build up on the right of the plot because that's the neighbour's garage.

I thought that perhaps decking might be the answer, but I really want good old traditional paving.

Any thoughts anyone - would be most appreciated.

[Ian CHP]

What are you going to do with the gate? or where you going to have steps at the backdoor, if you can dig it down that far?
I'd also be a bit concerned about digging that far down against the outrigger part of the building, you may find the foundations are not the same depth as the rest of the house, although I may be wrong!

[Tony McC]

As Ian correctly spotted, that gate is a problem. You have two choices: cut it down so it will open over the proposed paving, or create a step down to it that will allow the gate to be swung open.

I'd be tempted to buid a small retainer structure 200-300mm away from the boundary and pave to the level of the existing step outside the back door. You'd have to create a fall away from the neighbour and towards your own property, but you have a kitchen waste pick-up there that can be used for drainage if necessary. The step down to the gate would need to be done in two steps of roughly 150mm, rather than one of 300mm, but you could make quite an interesting feature out of it with a bit of thought.

Remember: if decking is the answer, you're asking the wrong question!

[Keithly]

Many thanks for your replies.

Ian - I was going to move the gate anyway, so no problem there, but yes I would need steps up to the backdoor. Interesting about your thoughts on the foundations, I too are rather concerned about that.

Tony - What a great idea, all this time I've concerned myself with digging further down, and now I can't, I'm stumped. But I think you've solved it for me. Just one question springs to mind - what size gap should be left between the neighbours garage and my new retainer wall? I can see he had a DPC about 4 bricks up, if that makes a difference.

Many thanks.

[Tony McC]

200-300mm - just enough to create a Dry Channel between you and them.