The patio height and layer are one of the most crucial parts of house construction. Laying the patio up to the house foundation brings a beautiful aesthetical look and more convenience for the house owner.
So, can you patio up to the house? Should you leave a gap between the paver and the house foundation? What should you do when laying the patio against the house foundation?
If you are wondering about these questions, don’t miss out on this post. I will explain everything to you in comprehensible detail.
Table of Contents
Can You Patio Up To The House?
The answer is yes. You can lay the patio against the house foundation as long as there is a 150 mm gap between the paver and the damp-proof course. In addition, the patio has to serve as a house foundation itself.
The patio is just blocks of brick, construction materials, and concrete combined. However, you have to ensure the balance of the house’s aesthetic appearance and construction integrity.
Using The Foundation
Going back to our main question, you can construct the patio up to the house, which also plays as the house foundation. With this construction design, you can build the patio starting from the house foundation’s concrete.
However, this plan is only applicable when the patio laying doesn’t obstruct any vent, materials, or siding of the house. You’ll have to deal with obstructed airflow and rotting issues in the long run if it hinders these parts.
Compacting Subsoil
You have to dig the ground around the house foundation to make way for your paver laying.
In this step, you should compact the subsoil on these areas using a compactor.
This step is critical, especially when you are constructing a modern house. New house constructions usually settle on a deeper foundation, which may lead to problems when you level the patio.
Compacting the subsoil before laying the patio is also crucial for old houses.
The compacted subsoil can withstand heavy weight from footsteps, construction materials, and vehicle parking efficiently, thus reducing the risk of sinking.
Avoiding Patio Related Problems
You should pay particular attention to some sections on the ground where the patio is going to take place.
If there are any pipes or plumbing fixtures on the paver foundation, don’t dig them out or touch these components.
Some houses have a basement, which requires gravel drainage areas to prevent moisture from entering the outer surface.
It would be best if you did not construct your patio against this area.
Similarly, leave the electrical work, wires, or plumbing connected to the house alone. If the patio plan gets in the way of these constructions, you’ll have to change it accordingly.
The Associated Risks Of Constructing The Patio Up To The House
If you build an exterior concrete slab or patio against the house, you’ll have to deal with water-leaking problems.
Usually, when the patio is below the house level, the water building up on its surface cannot get into your house.
The water can build up there for a long time and may get into your house’s concrete foundation, but it won’t ever leak into the home.
In addition, most patios are built sloping away from the house foundation so water can drain efficiently.
If you build the patio up to the house, heavy rain will pour a massive amount of water on your water. Through the tiny gaps, that water can leak into your house quickly.
If you want further explanations relating to this issue, follow this video.
What If The Patio Doesn’t Play As Your House Foundation?
As mentioned above, you can build the patio up to the house if it plays as a foundation. If the patio is a separate concrete part, you should leave a minimum gap between the paver and the house.
In addition, the paver surface should be at least 150 mm below your DPC level.
You can pass this regulation and construct a smaller gap, but be aware of water leakage problems when the rain comes.
Most house constructions feature a small gap between the paver and the house foundation. This gap is vital for the house’s drainage, appearance, and stability.
You can calculate this gap by measuring the house length and multiplying that number by 0.05. Then, move on to measure 12 inches out of your motor and build the paver 12 inches apart.
How To Plan Proper Spacing?
The exterior design, or the outside area of your home, is just as vital as the interior design. You have to plan out its structure and how the pavers would look to achieve the highest aesthetic appearance.
In addition, planning the proper spacing between the pavers and the house is critical. Besides the measuring method provided above, you should leave another one-half-inch gap between the patio and the house.
Why The Longer Space Between Pavers And Houses Is Beneficial?
Here are some reasons you should construct a space of 6 inches between the pavers and the houses:
- The gap between the patio and the house will reduce the water leakage effects in rainy seasons and protect your pavers better from shifting or shrinking.
- The longer gap brings your driveway a more beautiful aesthetic appearance.
- The longer gap facilitates water drainage and prevents rainfall from building up on your patio and damaging the house’s walls.
- You can use that small gap to install drainage, water lines, gas lines, and many other underground utilities in the future, thus saving tremendous construction and design cost.
Things To Note Before Building The Patio
Before building the paver, always make a plan for its size, materials, and shape.
You would want the paver to perfectly fit the space in your yard, bringing a nice aesthetical look while ensuring construction integrity.
It also helps you save money from buying excessive materials and avoid making unnecessary construction mistakes.
In addition, pay attention to the water pipelines and electrical works in the yard.
You won’t want your patio plan to obstruct these constructions. The patio should be sloping away from the foundation to prevent water pools from building up on your paver surface.
If you live in an area with year-round rainy weather, don’t forget to seal your patio. There are numerous sealing coats on the market at an affordable price that can increase your paver’s durability and beautiful surface.
FAQs
This additional information will help you plan out the patio height and construction easier. Follow the sections below and avoid unnecessary construction mistakes when building your paver.
How Far Below A Door Should A Patio Be?
You should leave a few inches of gap between the door bottom and the patio surface. Around 2 inches are ideal for regular house construction, but it also depends on your aesthetic preference.
The ideal range is between 2 inches and 4 inches, but you can build a different height if desired.
How Close To Dpc Can The Patio Be?
According to the Building Regulations, the gap between the DPC and the paver surface should not be less than 150 mm. You can still get away with a smaller gap, but it’s not advisable.
In addition, this regulation passing is only applicable to personal construction with the consent of the construction owner.
Do I Need A Membrane Under My Patio?
A ground stabilization membrane under the patio and hard surface construction is necessary. The membrane layer helps separate the soil from the aggregate and distribute the imposed load evenly.
Therefore, it will prevent your patio from shrinking or shifting in the long run.
Should I Leave A Gap Between Patio And House?
Yes, leaving a gap between the patio and the house is advisable. It gives you a small space to construct house utilities like gas service lines, sewer utility holes, and water lines.
All of these construction applications have to be built under the ground. Therefore this gap helps you save money on landscaping and design costs.
What Is The Best Base For A Patio?
The best material for a patio base is concrete sand, which is recommended by the ICPV (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute).
Also known as bedding sand, this material helps moisture evacuate efficiently and protects your paver from shifting. Some other honorable options you can consider are crushed stone, concrete aggregate, and compacted soil.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, you can still build the patio up to the house if it plays as the house’s foundation. If the paver is separate from the house foundation, you should leave a 150 mm gap between the patio and the DPC.
I hope the answer provided in this post has solved your query. If you have any further questions, feel free to use the comment section and ask me. Thank you for your precious time!