Raised patio query - Advise for my raised patio project.

[greenmug]

I will be ordering my materials for this project on Monday, but wold appreciate some guidance?

I have pulled out the old decking that was in our garden and dug down about 50cm to remove a lot of clay from the garden. (2 big skips as the garden is on a higher level that the floor of the conservatory) The site is not pretty level and is currently holding quite a lot of water (its been raining a lot this week) - I know I need to drain this best I can before pouring on the crusher/base. However, once the base and sand has been done, this will bring the whole patio up to about 1 brick below the DPC on the conservatory and the detached garage. I'm concerned about the 150mm regs and best practice.. Can I construct the patio raised and leave a big gap between the conservatory and the actual patio? and then create some sort of bridging walkway, like a single decking board all the way round? Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

[lutonlagerlout]

could do with a photo please greenmug
it sounds like there is no valid reason why your patio cannot be 2 courses down
LLL

[greenmug]

Picture shows the intended design
Plain paving, cheap 450mm x 450mm with a border a gravel border down the side of the garage.





From the conservatory looking out to the garden (you can see the grass area is higher than patio, quite a difference. I was going to build a little wall, or just partition this area using the left over decking.

I'd like to raise the patio a little to get it nearer to the french door, which would bring it closer to the DPC, hence my challenge.

thanks.

[ilovesettsonmondays]

wow ,you have had some raIN.your better staying off 150 mm below dpc .seeing as it can easily be achieved

[ilovesettsonmondays]

funny enough .i went to see a job this morning .mrs best m8s .her hubby has laid a raised terrace with brickwork and infilled with concrete ,ready for me to lay patio on top .he laid it about a year ago .i dipped top of concrete to dpc level .it measures 110mm and thats without the paving going on top .its too much expense to take down and start again .any suggestions

[DNgroundworks]

Setts, the old patio at the rear of my house is about 50mm below damp!! and no problems at all, as far as i understand its to allow for the rain bouncing up against the wall, which gets directly rained on anyway, if anyone can explain further.......

[seanandruby]

It's not only splash back, as you know. It is also in case of standing water caused by heavy rain. 50 ml is ridiculously low, there are exceptions where it can be higher but only to depth of 75 ml. There are workarounds as shown on the index pages. I moved into my house and the depth is 50ml and has caused the timber on my conservatory to start rotting. I keep putting it off because of my heavy work load and lack of free time. But i reckon i will get one more year out of it, with repairs, before i have to pull it down,place new foundations, reduce the ground level, build dwarf walls, conservatory and then paving. so yes i think it matters the 150 rule applies.

[DNgroundworks]

im not sayin it doesnt sean, im just saying that in a desperate situation it will be ok for time being.

the ancient patio at my house, has good fall, and is well drained = no standing water.

[ilovesettsonmondays]

thats one good thing dn ,the concrete was laid with a good fall away from house .its going to cost too much to be done properly .ie knock off one course of brickwork .take out concrete .get skip .reconcrete .think im going to stay off house 100 mm or 150mm .put chippings against house wall.only option i can think of .bloody diy'ers

[jonnyboyentire]

You could also try cutting out the concrete agaonst the house and put an acco linear arrangement in? Is there somewhere to pick up the stormwater system?

[lutonlagerlout]

when we come up against this situation for the local authority,they ask us to install a tray in the brickwork if possible and install code 4 lead flashing 150mm minimum above new paving level,the job we are on now we have to do this exact detail as the existing house/drive has only 50mm below DPC and also there is a ramp to install up to dpc level for wheelchair access

FTR my patio at home is 50mm below dpc and I have no problems with damp
i cant drop it 100mm as the patio would then be below the lawn level on the run off end
a patio has been at that height since 1922 and in the last 88 years has caused no problems
new build is another matter

IMHO leaking unions on plastic gutters cause more damage than the luftwaffe ever did
LLL