Removing step from house

Joey the lips

Hi Folks. I am laying a patio as you might know from my other thread, I am thinking of doing away with my door step and bringing the patio right up to the door.

Considering its a timber frame house. Is there any reason i cant do this,.

Thanks

sinnerboy

Joey have a look at the first 2 details here

Now imagine the ground line is raised level with the floor - it will also raise level with the dpc. This increases the risk of surface water bridging the cavity and attacking the sole plate of your timber frame.

now , you could minimise the risk by using one of these to all areas where you raise the ground.

Given that you have a timber framed house I would also protect the rising walls like this

sinnerboy

I would use a timber deck myself to raise the level outside .....

Joey the lips

Thank you folks. But i think i have miss explained. There is a step on my house just below the dpc on the outside.

I want to take it away because when the paving comes to it its slightly lower and will look better to run the paving all the way.

Does that make sense.

celticcrash

As long as your under the dcp I see no problem> Than yes the step can be taken out> and as long as the patio is falling away from the house> t

Slig

In the simplest terms I can think of, without involving DPCs, slopes and flashings, the building regulations state that the external ground level should be a minimum 150mm lower than the finished floor level. For ease of construction, and to tie in with blockwork this measurement is usually 225mm.

The reason for this is to prevent water ingress as during a heavy rainfall water can build up and pool and given time soak through the outer leaf. As long as the water level is lower than the DPC it will be kept out of the house. By bringing a patio level with the internal floor level (or less than 150mm below it) you are increasing the risk of your floor slab and internal surface of external walls getting damp.

Adversely the maximum height of an external step is 150mm.

Basically you can get rid of the step if
a) the top of the patio will finish at a height of exactly 150mm below the internal floor level or
b)level if you use a proprietary drainage channel (like the one Syd suggested above) along the entire length of the wall discharging into a surface water drain.

sinnerboy

Slig wrote: »

(like the one Syd suggested above)

I've been called worse ....

Slig

meh, you mods is all the same:p

sydthebeat

sinnerboy wrote: »

I've been called worse ....

im stealing your thunder again i see :P