Footpaths around houses. Why??

ollielaroo

Hi,

We are starting to get our house built at the moment and I find myself wondering should we have a footpath all around the house or not. I have been to houses with and without footpaths and I'm not sure that there is actually any need for them.
We would like to be able to drive around our house (full circle) when it is complete however there isn't much width or space on one side of the house. If we do decide to have a footpath around the house then when we drive around the house we would more than likely end up driving on/across the footpath on one side of the house. We don't really want this to happen. I mean what is wrong with tarmac that runs upto all outside walls of the house?

Anybody?

Martron

absolutely nothing. but i think tarmac ages terribly.

one thing to look out for is that any drips coming from gutters can errode tarmac over a period of time..... more so obviously than concrete.

but i personally dont think there is anything wrong with it.

RKQ

Why not install conc. footpaths sloping from house to level of tarmac finish?

Some people say footpaths seal the base of a house prevent mice from entering! No gaps in walls / plaster = no mice.

If time and money was an issue I'd put in paths and put in tarmac later.

sydthebeat

aesthetically, a footpath can help 'ground' a dwelling into its site..

but theres no requirement to have one.

personally i would prefer a gravel path, you could do this with your drive as well, ie jave gravel on your drive spanning right to your dwelling wall. Tarmac looks terrible in a rural situation in my opinion.

muffler

I think the footpaths go back to pre-tarmac days when you had nothing but a garden running up to the walls of the house. In order to keep the damp from the soil out and keep a clean pair of shoes people put a footpath around the house.

Its down to personal taste but there is no legal requirement-regulation to say that you must have a footpath.

Builderfromhell

I met a Dutch guy many years ago who asked the same question - 'Why do we have concrete paths around our house'. Apparently they don't in Holland. Since then I put a good depth of gravel topped off with pebbles around the house to facilitate drainage and keep weeds at bay.

Quazzie

Are footpaths not originally to keep the initial flow of surface water away from the house?

lanod2407

A few observations:

- Footpaths do indeed move water away from the house if done correctly.
- They also provide a "clean area" coming up to the house - your house can be a lot cleaner with footpaths as dirt and stones are less likely to get into the house.
- Driving the car around the house - sounds good but think about it - you're then left with a "moat" of space around the house that can be more problematic than you might think. Landscaping will be impacted by the need to be more distant from the house. If you decide to extend with a patio or deck later on it'll maybe remove the ability to drive fully around.
- Exactly why do you want to drive around the house - it just means more drive-way and less garden / amenity?

ollielaroo

Thank you all for your comments on this. You have been very helpful.

Thanks also to muffler for informing me that there are no legal or planning issues with footpaths.
We haven't finally decided yet as the foundation is only going in now.

About water running away from the house? Surely it doesn't really matter what we put down once it is at a very gentle slope away from the house. As some of you may already know most people will eventually have to pay for the amount of water the use from the mains i.e. water metering. Our gutters and down-pipes will channel all rain-water from the roof under the ground to a tank which we will use as an alternative to the limescale water supplied by the mains.

About soil and pebbles getting into the house? Woundn't soil and pebbles get on to a footpath anyway. I see people sweeping their footpaths. Also we intend to have our back door leading into the utilliy room and not straight into our kitchen.

About tarmac aging? Well, if you think tarmac won't look well after many years we'll just have to see what happens when the time comes.

Also, whether we want to be able to drive around our house or not is our choice. Our site is long (going back) and not very wide. We will have plenty of lawn at the front and plenty of garden at the back. We are not interested in having what some people call a 'conservatory' or 'sun-room' attached to the house on one side either. I think many people let what they might think to be fashionable over-rule what they actually feel could be more practical for them.

I once walked around a friend's house that had a narrow footpath. I thought to myself why can't people put in footpaths of a decent width or else don't bother with them at all.

ollielaroo

Another thought.

What about some nice 'paving'? I know it could be expensive but I just did a search on Google (images) and I think we could get some great ideas...

muffler

ollielaroo wrote: »

What about some nice 'paving'?

Crazy

paulocon

To be honest, when we built our house first, we had it that you could drive right around the back but what I've found is that all the kids toys, football goals etc. go at the back and we end up parking at the front.. I know of other people who had it that they could drive around their house but ended up closing off one of the sides.

One Cold Hand

Why do you want to drive around the house?

Slig

I dont understand peoples fascination with tarmac.
Lots of people want their house surrounded with the stuff so they can drive right up to their back door if its raining. they will still build a garage but it wont be attached to the house and even if it was garages just arent used for parking a car!
Then you have the other issues, every time you look out your window, instead of a view of rolling countryside you have a vw golf.

Jollyman

We have been toying with the idea too, of only having steps to the doors and garden edge kerb the rest and plant and gravel those sections, have seen it done in some places looks very good

RKQ

A path is great for young kids.
They can drive / cycle tractors or trikes on path, as stone drive is too difficult to cycle on.

Paths would originally help throw water away from house wall. Useful if the wall was made of mud.

Paving bricks look great but can be expensive to lay. Also require maintenance. Weeds tend to grow in joints - can be a nightmare unless you power hose them out ( messy business)

Driving around the house or parking at the front - its up to the individual, personal taste and reflects lifestyle / needs.

Whatever you do, please provide ample parking and turning areas. It really annoys me if I have to squeeze the car in the main gate and park on the tiny drive. Then I have to "think" about getting out of the site. I have had to reverse out onto the public road - highly dangerous manouver!

Why do people put in tiny gates, tiny driveway and no turning areas? Each house should allow for 3 parking spaces, at least IMO.

BadCharlie

Well if you talk to old builders. Like my dad he will say because of the irish weather and we get a-lot of rain. The main reason why we do footpaths is to stop as much water to get around and under your foundations and also having water creeping up your walls.

This over a long time can damage your foundations.

I my self think your don't need them. You prob would be unlucky if your foundations would get damage due to water pooling under and around them.

Another poster above made a good few points why we use them.

muffler

BadCharlie wrote: »

You prob would be unlucky if your foundations would get damage due to water pooling under and around them.

Oh I wouldn't say that. If ever you have the opportunity ask one of the Homebond inspectors about this.

rosullivan

Although with old houses (i.e. traditional Irish / English houses) the house was surrounded with a French drain (or equivalent) to take water away from the house. The house itself had gravel running up to the walls to (a) help drainage into the drains (b) prevent splashback of rain onto the lower parts of the house walls and (c) the larger surface area of gravel means it dries out faster. I appreciate house construction has changed over the years, but there is still some logic to the old method.

Slig

rosullivan wrote: »

Although with old houses (i.e. traditional Irish / English houses) the house was surrounded with a French drain (or equivalent) to take water away from the house. The house itself had gravel running up to the walls to (a) help drainage into the drains (b) prevent splashback of rain onto the lower parts of the house walls and (c) the larger surface area of gravel means it dries out faster. I appreciate house construction has changed over the years, but there is still some logic to the old method.

I'm all for traditional construction methods but just remember traditionally central heating was provided by bring your livestock into the house:D

muffler

Slig wrote: »

I'm all for traditional construction methods but just remember traditionally central heating was provided by bring your livestock into the house:D

I always knew there was something weird about Roscommon folk :eek:

muffler

muffler wrote: »

I always knew there was something weird about Roscommon folk :eek:

Baaaaahh!

Anyway on topic, I'm still to do anything about the outside path.

I will most likely go the graval/french drain route for the untrafficed sections of path and concrete for the remainder with a gap of about 200mm around the edge of the house with gravel/french drain.

As for driveways around the house, no way! I just have one that goes up one side with enough space to turn a small bus! (SIL still drives onto the grass :rolleyes:) missus would have preferred it to go up to the front door - just how lazy are some people.

keyplan

Message for RKO

What part of the acreage spectrum do you belong? I've got one parking space between a lot of us -in Ireland-where I live. We have to take shifts looking after it in an attempt to stop ranchers such as yourself abusing the 3 square metres. Wish I could enjoy the luxury of the hayseed and his mentality....at a wild guess , are you from Offaly? Big hat no cattle and all that stuff.. is yours the red berlingo?
Three parking spaces? Cop it on will you redner!

Slig

muffler wrote: »

I always knew there was something weird about Roscommon folk :eek:

I was going to come up with something witty to say but Daisy told me to let it go:D

Slig

keyplan wrote: »

Message for RKO

What part of the acreage spectrum do you belong? I've got one parking space between a lot of us -in Ireland-where I live. We have to take shifts looking after it in an attempt to stop ranchers such as yourself abusing the 3 square metres. Wish I could enjoy the luxury of the hayseed and his mentality....at a wild guess , are you from Offaly? Big hat no cattle and all that stuff.. is yours the red berlingo?
Three parking spaces? Cop it on will you redner!

We probably wouldnt be in the mess we are today if we HAD provided bigger sites for houses, Greedy developers and careless planners squeezing as many houses into a site as possible reducing parking and private amenity space. Have a look on the motors forum about people getting their cars damaged while parked on the road. I live in a housing estate with proper sites, there are a minimum of a 20ft boat and 2 cars parked on my driveway every night and I can fit 2 more at a squeeze. If I put up a gate they would be perfectly secure. If I were to visit a friends house in the Galway suburbs I'd be parking on the road.

Because there is no public transport in this country 90% of households have a min 2 cars yet most development plans only specify 1 - 1.5 car parking spaces per house, even less for apartments.

RKQ

I like humour but yours is an aquired taste!
I have no idea what your references refer too... must be a "local" thing. Some sort of smartass rural joke?

I recommend 3 parking spaces or a good turing circle, in all my rural houses.
One space may suit you, as you seem a lonely soul.

I see no reason why people continue to design to the very minimum standards. Tight entrance gates, tight parking etc. If you have half arcre or more, then do yourself a favour and have a decent drive / parking. I detest a large lawn and no parking.

muffler

RKQ wrote: »

I like humour but yours is an aquired taste!
I have no idea what your references refer too... must be a "local" thing. Some sort of smartass rural joke?

I recommend 3 parking spaces or a good turing circle, in all my rural houses.
One space may suit you, as you seem a lonely soul.

I see no reason why people continue to design to the very minimum standards. Tight entrance gates, tight parking etc. If you have half arcre or more, then do yourself a favour and have a decent drive / parking. I detest a large lawn and no parking.

No more of those comments RKQ.

Infraction given

muffler

keyplan wrote: »

Message for RKO

What part of the acreage spectrum do you belong? I've got one parking space between a lot of us -in Ireland-where I live. We have to take shifts looking after it in an attempt to stop ranchers such as yourself abusing the 3 square metres. Wish I could enjoy the luxury of the hayseed and his mentality....at a wild guess , are you from Offaly? Big hat no cattle and all that stuff.. is yours the red berlingo?
Three parking spaces? Cop it on will you redner!

Bye again

RKQ

Muffler what exact words do you think are insulting?
I was just giving honest advice, before I was singled out.

Why title post "Message for RKQ"
Must know me from the other site ( Which was closed to prevent communication - censorship)

Its a pity Keyplans "humour" wasn't snipped!

3 car spaces is a good idea, in a rural or urban site.:)

muffler

RKQ wrote: »

Muffler what exact words do you think are insulting

I dont recall saying any words were insulting.

RKQ wrote: »

I was just giving honest advice, before I was singled out.

Really?

RKQ wrote: »

Why title post "Message for RKQ"
Must know me from the other site ( Which was closed to prevent communication - censorship)

You would need to ask keyplan why he addressed a message to you. Perhaps he is unaware of the quote facility. You knowing him or him knowing you from another site which you say practices censorship has got sweet FA to this with this forum

RKQ wrote: »

Its a pity Keyplans "humour" wasn't snipped

His "humour" earned him a 3 month ban - happy now?

RKQ wrote: »

3 car spaces is a good idea, in a rural or urban site.:)

Ah ha. You are capable of posting on topic.




Enough said about this. Thread locked.