ᐅ Transition Between Terrace and House Wall (Prefabricated House)
Created on: 4 Feb 2025 16:36
N
Nyne9590
Hello everyone, we are currently working on our terrace and are facing the issue of connecting it to the house wall.
The final height of the terrace surface is marked with the red line in the picture:
The construction company told us to either ventilate the gap (which we find very unattractive) or to seal the facade at least 5cm (2 inches) above the finished terrace surface.
The terrace itself is about 2 meters (6.5 feet) above the actual ground level. We bordered it with L-shaped concrete blocks and have so far filled up with gravel to the level shown in the photo.
As you can see, the finished terrace surface will reach the area of the facade.
I have also talked to several others who suggested the following approach:
The transition from house wall to base slab (which is covered with Knauf Katja Sprint) is sealed with a bitumen membrane extending from the wall, glued to the concrete slab with EPDM adhesive, and the perimeter insulation is applied on top. The base area is now plastered with Sockel SM Pro.
In the area of the three windows, a drainage channel would be installed in the reveals, connected to the adjacent downpipe. Our windows are, as I hope is clear, NOT at ground level. The final terrace height is slightly lower than the interior floor height. The terrace is planned with a 2% slope (naturally away from the house) and has already been measured accordingly above the L-blocks.
Following this scheme, I would first apply sealing slurry up to just above the finished terrace height. Then, I would lay a waterproof membrane slightly higher than the finished terrace, extending just under the bedding layer.
Anything that extends above the finished terrace surface should then be covered with skirting boards (made from the same material as the terrace tiles) and sealed on top with waterproof joint compound. The terrace joints themselves should consist of permeable joint compound, including the transition from tile to skirting board.
Finally, I would apply an Aquastop coating from the skirting board up to about 5cm (2 inches) above it.
A terrace roof is also planned in the near future.
According to my theory, this setup should work without needing those unsightly ventilation gaps.
I would appreciate further opinions on this.
Thanks in advance.
The final height of the terrace surface is marked with the red line in the picture:
The construction company told us to either ventilate the gap (which we find very unattractive) or to seal the facade at least 5cm (2 inches) above the finished terrace surface.
The terrace itself is about 2 meters (6.5 feet) above the actual ground level. We bordered it with L-shaped concrete blocks and have so far filled up with gravel to the level shown in the photo.
As you can see, the finished terrace surface will reach the area of the facade.
I have also talked to several others who suggested the following approach:
The transition from house wall to base slab (which is covered with Knauf Katja Sprint) is sealed with a bitumen membrane extending from the wall, glued to the concrete slab with EPDM adhesive, and the perimeter insulation is applied on top. The base area is now plastered with Sockel SM Pro.
In the area of the three windows, a drainage channel would be installed in the reveals, connected to the adjacent downpipe. Our windows are, as I hope is clear, NOT at ground level. The final terrace height is slightly lower than the interior floor height. The terrace is planned with a 2% slope (naturally away from the house) and has already been measured accordingly above the L-blocks.
Following this scheme, I would first apply sealing slurry up to just above the finished terrace height. Then, I would lay a waterproof membrane slightly higher than the finished terrace, extending just under the bedding layer.
Anything that extends above the finished terrace surface should then be covered with skirting boards (made from the same material as the terrace tiles) and sealed on top with waterproof joint compound. The terrace joints themselves should consist of permeable joint compound, including the transition from tile to skirting board.
Finally, I would apply an Aquastop coating from the skirting board up to about 5cm (2 inches) above it.
A terrace roof is also planned in the near future.
According to my theory, this setup should work without needing those unsightly ventilation gaps.
I would appreciate further opinions on this.
Thanks in advance.
M
Maulwurfbau2 Dec 2025 13:36So, we bit the bullet and decided to skip everything on the facade. This means we now access the terrace via a window sill/step. The rest was too expensive and too complicated for us.
The paved area on the terrace extends just below the facade edge up to the base slab. At all other spots where you can’t step out, there is a splash guard installed below the facade edge. So the facade is not in contact with anything at any point.
It’s all a bit of a compromise now, which wasn’t really the original intention. But what can you do? At least we wouldn’t build a prefab house again. That’s not the only reason, but one of them.
We’re satisfied with it now, or rather we have to be, since we ultimately decided on it. But as always, you get wiser afterward. From a technical point of view, the solution is at least functional.
The paved area on the terrace extends just below the facade edge up to the base slab. At all other spots where you can’t step out, there is a splash guard installed below the facade edge. So the facade is not in contact with anything at any point.
It’s all a bit of a compromise now, which wasn’t really the original intention. But what can you do? At least we wouldn’t build a prefab house again. That’s not the only reason, but one of them.
We’re satisfied with it now, or rather we have to be, since we ultimately decided on it. But as always, you get wiser afterward. From a technical point of view, the solution is at least functional.
Fehlprodukt14 Dec 2025 11:10Maulwurfbau schrieb:
So, we bit the bullet and left out everything on the facade. This means we now access the terrace via a windowsill/step. The rest was too expensive and too complicated for us... Hello Maulwurfbau,
While looking for a solution to our problem, which seems to be very similar to yours, I came across your post.
I am curious why it was ultimately not realized as shown in your sectional drawings. As a layperson, that plan seems quite reasonable and would be conceivable for us at least in that form. But you mention it was too complicated... (the cost is understandable when looking at these gutters. Or were there other major cost drivers in this design?)
I would like to learn how these sectional drawings came about and what expertise was involved in creating them. Could you tell me more about that?
Greetings from the region
Manu
M
Maulwurfbau14 Dec 2025 11:49Summarized in keywords related to our individual situation: costs, increased complexity, time.
If money and time were no issue, and if you hired a company that knows what to do to get the job done, I would also solve it as suggested.
If money and time were no issue, and if you hired a company that knows what to do to get the job done, I would also solve it as suggested.
Fehlprodukt14 Dec 2025 12:11Okay, I understand that it is easier to solve with a step. But what causes the high costs? Is it just the gutter, or because it ultimately has to be installed by a company since the construction is so complex that a layperson cannot carry it out? Sorry for pressing so much. I’m just trying to figure out whether it’s worth continuing with this plan or if it’s better to demolish the house and build a new stone house.
One question about the section drawing itself: The gutter is attached here around angled pieces to a kind of curb, or is that how I should understand it? (sorry, but this component is not labeled)
Do you possibly have a product suggestion for the gutter/grate? The gutters I have worked with so far in theory were U-profiles with a stainless steel or cast iron grate placed on top, such as ACO or a special part with particular ventilation as shown in the attachment.
Is your design simply using some kind of angle bracket to support the grate?
Thank you very much for your answer
Manu
One question about the section drawing itself: The gutter is attached here around angled pieces to a kind of curb, or is that how I should understand it? (sorry, but this component is not labeled)
Do you possibly have a product suggestion for the gutter/grate? The gutters I have worked with so far in theory were U-profiles with a stainless steel or cast iron grate placed on top, such as ACO or a special part with particular ventilation as shown in the attachment.
Is your design simply using some kind of angle bracket to support the grate?
Thank you very much for your answer
Manu
M
Maulwurfbau14 Dec 2025 14:27Ultimately, everyone has to decide for themselves how much it is worth to them.
For me, the extra effort involved in hours of research and the discussions with the landscaping contractors was enough. They don’t always know exactly how to implement everything either.
But as I said, we did everything on our own through what you might call neighborly help...
If you hire a professional company that knows what to do, it’s certainly not an issue. Of course, this comes with additional costs, as you might expect. Just the extra materials alone will cost a few thousand euros.
For me, the extra effort involved in hours of research and the discussions with the landscaping contractors was enough. They don’t always know exactly how to implement everything either.
But as I said, we did everything on our own through what you might call neighborly help...
If you hire a professional company that knows what to do, it’s certainly not an issue. Of course, this comes with additional costs, as you might expect. Just the extra materials alone will cost a few thousand euros.
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