I have a problem with my project and the problem is the drain ( Manhole ) and where it is and how deep it is as it is only 2 brick inside then cement then pipes approx 10"inch top to bottom.
I have now realised that the fall from the top of the house to the gate 16 mtrs is about 10-12" which i think is a little too much but at least i know the water would drain off from and away from the house with no problem.
The problem as i can see it is after the manhole cover as the pictures below it declines more and more and the ideal situation would be for me to drag 6-8" back from the french doors down towards the gate but this would leave the manhole cover even lower which i do not want.
The only other way i can see is to build a mini brick wall say 2 foot at the side so the patio area would and can be straight as if i left it as it is the patio area would have to much incline from my back door to the end wall where the gate is.
From the picture below ideally i would like to take out 8-10" going back to the house but the drain is preventing me from doing this and i do not have the cash to renew all the drains.
as i see it nochex,you have 3 datums,the top of the drains ,dpc in your house and the bottom of the gate,
your picture with the wall and steps looked somewhere near the mark,
but ideally for usability you want the least steps possible,
why not put a step or ramp adjacent to the gate ,but try and raise the levels of the rest of the area so thatyou only have 2 small steps coming out of your doors
you seem to have 9" brick walls all round so i cant see a problem raising it a bit
regards LLL
Ok decision made and i have put a small fence up which i will make panels for the same as i made the back gate so it all looks the same ( Don't like the Concrete panels or the cheaper wood shitlap ones ).
The patio area has now been pretty much levelled out ready for a final 50-75mm Mot 1 and compact and all i need is the bottom near the gate levelling and a step going in and the flags lifting from under the shed and laying straight.
Also from the small roof at the back of the house where the gutter come down the wall before it use to just run down the path but i thought for the sake of £30 i would install a grid and run it back to the manhole which was only 3ft away anyway.
Do i really need to make a concrete base for my steps ? or would i be ok to build the steps on top of the flagging at the back door and french doors.
Looking good nochex!! The small fence is a good idea as it screens the shed, although could of been higher in my opinion. Are you not putting in any borders for plants?
The main reason i decided on the fence is that it made it easy to level the whole area without having the steps as shown above.
Now i can just have 1 step at the bottom of the yard instead of in the middle of the yard as above.
The fence will be about 3ft with a half moon top the same as the gate so it will be about 12-14" higher than the posts if that makes sense.....( Just enough to cover that dreadfull wheelie bin and within that area i could fit a nice 10x8 shed.
Regards planters sorry but i hate gardening and this is why i have gone for a concrete garden to speak but i'm sure we could have some pots and planters placed around in what ever locations suited and i was thinking i could leave a flag out and replace with a nice gravel so the pots would have good drainage also instead of making the flag green with algee and moss.
PS: The bird table in the background will be going as i don't want all the birds craping on my new flags & Blocks do i ?
Would these be ok for the patio area ebay item number :190313013501
PS i could not get the link to work in this site for whatever reason.
Sorry didnt read all of the posts regarding levels. Done a great jobs so far Nochex. Fence is perfect for that area. Not sure regarding Granite flags they are abit high maintenance and I dont think they suit the area but that doesnt mean im right. Looking forward to the next pics.
Thanks for the comments again bodgeitandscarper and i think you are right in hat you say regards the granite flags, i think i will go for a plain 400x400 or a buff with a nice block pave edging in a dark grey.
I do still like the idea of block paving the area from the french doors down to the gate .......who knows i might even do a mixture of both i am undecided TBH.
I am also undecided on a half moon step or make it plain and easy rectangle type.
I will say it is looking alot better even now than it did before and that's without any block paving or flags and can't wait until we have somemore dry weather so i can crack on with it.
Yes I know!! no steps! Im just seeing what this sketchup can do! May even give you more ideas nochex. If you tell me what your looking for I could put something together for you.
bodgeitandscarper...thanks for the picture and i like it maybe not as much design around the sides but the flags do look nice on both sides as to where i was going to block pave the path to the right and use 16x16 flags to do the patio area.
Oh B@ll@cks i have bought the 50mm now , i did actually get the 80mm one but it came damaged slightly and could not get the tray out and to me it looed a bit cheap gavanised tray and the 50mm one has a intergrated handles where the 80mm one you needed keys and looked a little crap to be honest......i know you won't see it when it is down and filled with bricks but i reckon it would be a pain in the ass to lift the tray when it has been down a few months even with the vasaline put in between the tray and the mount.
Would i not be able to sink this one another 10-15mm and not use any sand as that area will proberbly hardly ever get walked on to be honest.
If the answer is a definate no then i will have to rethink my plans as to changing from having block paving to flags but use a block paving border also.
I am at the stage now where the MOT is down and wackard and i need to think of the next stage ( Steps ) this all depends on what material i use on to how i am going to build the steps should i go round or square or both.
Any help with pictures or advice is always welcome and it is this site that has took me this far.
and within that area i could fit a nice 10x8 shed.
