The Non Patio

In my blog entry on 10th July I described the preparation work done for the lower patio outside the basement doors, underneath the deck.  I explained how we were disappointed in the idea of having to have a reinforced 6" concrete slab foundation for our proposed patio, not only because of the expense, but also the idea of filling the garden with tons more concrete.  We think we have done enough of that already.

Last week we invited the company that built our deck round to look at doing some remedial work on the part of the deck that wraps around the side of the house.  The footings of the support posts have sunk and the deck in this area has developed a slant.  I guess this is an indication of exactly why we need a slab foundation for a patio.  Made-up-ground is susceptible to movement.  The deck people do a full landscaping service, including building patios, so we thought we would seek their opinion while they were here.

Their advice was that the concrete foundation would be essential and, to cut a long story short, they have talked us into having another deck in it's place.  Initially the cost was still prohibitive, but we have struck a deal with them to build the deck, do some planting on our bank, and to do the repairs to the upper deck.  The best bit is that they are coming to do the work in a weeks time.

In preparation. today we have done some marking out, and experimented a little with shapes.  We also ran some strings to try and work out the levels, building in a 1:100 slope to carry rain water away from the house.  In the end we decided on a simple rectangle, with a cut-off corner, so it nestles better into the landscape, and makes a nod to the cantilevered section of the deck above.  It will be the same width as the deck above (i.e. slightly wider than the house because of the side access).  These pictures should give the general idea.  Note the drain cover which is going to be covered over by the deck :

There is a slight complication near to the house.  A rainwater pipe brings water from the gutters at the front of the house round to a soakaway at the back.  This runs under the side part of the upper deck. An open drain from the rear gutter connects into it :

The deck is only going to be a couple of inches above the existing foundation slabs, so you can see from this ground-level side elevation that the pipes will be above it's level :

For now, we have told the Deck guys just to cut around this section.  We will think of how to deal with it later. The beauty of decking is that it can be altered or added to relatively easily.

One other job to do was to repair the plastic rainwater inspection hatch.  This photo doesn't show it very well, but the basic problem is that it has been back-filled without fitting the top ring properly. 

As a consequence, the relatively weak side-walls have been distorted and now the top ring won't fit properly. It is the top ring that gives it some structural integiry and allows the top cover to be screwed on. I had to dig all around it until I had sufficient movement to get it back in the round and fit the top ring, which is held in place by 3 screws that previously weren't done up. It is much better now.  While I had easy access to it, I flushed out all channels with a hose, and even resorted to drain rods on one of them.  We will still have access once the deck in in place, just be unscrewing the appropriate deck boards, but is is much easier to do it now.

Jan and I are pleased we are now going down this route.  Timber is more sustainable than concrete and stone and the treated timber is guaranteed for 15 years.  Not sure about the eco-credentials of the chemical wood treatment of course, but we are glossing over that aspect....