Timber frame houseing vents and patio

Joey the lips

Hi folks would appreciate your knowledge on this.

I am putting a patio out my back. I will be bringing it right up to the house covering the footpath and access junction. I am using a dry mix incase i need access to the junction but should not as there is 2 others connected close by.

Anyway my question is on vents. I live in a timberframe house and there is condensation vents at the base. These are as standard just below the DPM. i just wondered does anyone know if i can bring the patio right up to the house covering the vents or do i need space for them to breath.

If i need to leave space would you have any how much.

A couple of links to guidence would also be most greatful.

Thank you as always.

sydthebeat

yes you need to retain the venting of the cavity in a timber frame house.

you can use a product such as this above the patio line, which would allow you to pour up against the wall as exists.

Ensure you install vents which are, at a minimum, equal to the vent openings you currently have.

Do-more

sydthebeat wrote: »

yes you need to retain the venting of the cavity in a timber frame house.

you can use a product such as this above the patio line, which would allow you to pour up against the wall as exists.

Ensure you install vents which are, at a minimum, equal to the vent openings you currently have.

Are these not weeps vents designed to let out any moisture from the cavity. The OP has stated that they are just below the DPM so there is surely no scope for replacing them with drillvents above the DPM?

I would have thought that a better solution was to place something like a ridge tile around the weep vent to stop it from being covered.

sydthebeat

they are both.... or can be used as both.

If they are below the DPM currently, then theyre not draining much. Most TF construction dont have a stepped dpc type detail, so internal cavity moisture drains to the rising walls and to the ground. Also, the patio wont surround the house so in the extreme case where water actually rises to the DPC level (if at all possible), all the other low level vents are still there to act as drainage.

personally i would have no problem with these vents being installed over the dpc at the patio.

Joey the lips

Thank you folks. So are you saying i can actually bring the paving right up to the house and just drill a new vent above or below the dpc?

If thats the case i could just expand the ones there upwords to fit the drill vent and the job would look better.

Thanks again

sydthebeat

Joey the lips wrote: »

Thank you folks. So are you saying i can actually bring the paving right up to the house and just drill a new vent above or below the dpc?

If thats the case i could just expand the ones there upwords to fit the drill vent and the job would look better.

Thanks again

If the finished level of the new patio is to be below the DPc level then just extend the existing ones up... or install new.

If the level is to be over the dpc, then install new ones and dont extend up.

Joey the lips

sydthebeat wrote: »

If the finished level of the new patio is to be below the DPc level then just extend the existing ones up... or install new.

If the level is to be over the dpc, then install new ones and dont extend up.

Brilliant.

Absolute crazy and stupid question. How do i know where the DPC is if i cant see it. I am guessing its where the pebble dash meets the screed at the bottom

sydthebeat

Joey the lips wrote: »

Brilliant.

Absolute crazy and stupid question. How do i know where the DPC is if i cant see it. I am guessing its where the pebble dash meets the screed at the bottom

thats not a stupid question at all

I cant say for certain that it would be at that level or not. Its most probably at the same level as the internal floor level. The 'plinth' level you refer to may not reflect this.
I assume your patio level will be at the same level as the internal floor.

To be on the safe side, just install new drill vents, at not more than 1.5 m centres.

Joey the lips

sydthebeat wrote: »

thats not a stupid question at all

I cant say for certain that it would be at that level or not. Its most probably at the same level as the internal floor level. The 'plinth' level you refer to may not reflect this.
I assume your patio level will be at the same level as the internal floor.

To be on the safe side, just install new drill vents, at not more than 1.5 m centres.

Thats cool. They say 75cm centres however from my understanding irish regulations are 1.5m as you say.

sydthebeat

Joey the lips wrote: »

Thats cool. They say 75cm centres however from my understanding irish regulations are 1.5m as you say.

i would adhere to manufacturers recommendations always, where they are greater than the industry norm.

You cant have too much ventilation in those cavities.