The Brew Cabin

whats your rule with steps and going above the dpc were doing a job at the moment where were just under the dpc with the main body of paving but the customer really wants a built up step at the front door however that will lift us up level with the top of the dpc and just would like your advise. TIA

This is becoming a very regular problem, particularly since the implementation of Document M of the Building Regs, and that's part of the reason why I've been working on a page to look at various 'solutions'.

The key issues are to minimise the risk of water or damp entering the building and to reduce or eliminate the chance of thermal bridging (heat loss).

The simplest solutions from a paving contractors point of view are to leave a 10mm gap between the step and thehouse wall, to use a preformed integral drainage threshold unit (such as 'ReadyStep') or to use a linear drainage channel. For what you're doing, I think the 10mm gap between your step and the actual building itself is the best option. The relevant documentation recommends this gap be at least 125mm deep, which takes you back down to, more or less, two courses below dpc, and it may be necessary to install some form of drainage at that level to deal with any surface water.

The new page I mentioned above won't be finished until the middle of next week at the earliest because of other committments, but I'll post a reminder to this thread as soon as it's available.

cheers m8 thx for the input