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Lenny197821 Apr 2020 17:47Hello everyone,
I am planning to renovate our old patio made of paving stones and build a wooden deck on top of it.
This raises some construction-related questions, and I hope that some of you with expertise might be able to help me.
Here are the key details:
The patio (3 x 6 m (10 x 20 ft)) is – as mentioned above – made of paving stones and is 30 years old.
The patio is very low (settled?). The gap (see photo) from the door threshold to the paving is a full 15 cm (6 inches). This needs to be bridged to create a level, ground-level deck. Additionally, there is a depression on the patio several centimeters deep where water collects during heavy rain and takes a long time to drain. (see photo, where I placed a wooden board over the depression for illustration.)
Also, the light well concerns me when planning (see photo).
So here are my questions:
I would really appreciate your answers.
Good luck
Lenny
I am planning to renovate our old patio made of paving stones and build a wooden deck on top of it.
This raises some construction-related questions, and I hope that some of you with expertise might be able to help me.
Here are the key details:
The patio (3 x 6 m (10 x 20 ft)) is – as mentioned above – made of paving stones and is 30 years old.
The patio is very low (settled?). The gap (see photo) from the door threshold to the paving is a full 15 cm (6 inches). This needs to be bridged to create a level, ground-level deck. Additionally, there is a depression on the patio several centimeters deep where water collects during heavy rain and takes a long time to drain. (see photo, where I placed a wooden board over the depression for illustration.)
Also, the light well concerns me when planning (see photo).
So here are my questions:
- Is it generally possible or advisable to install the wooden deck on adjustable pedestals in this case? The stability of the substructure would certainly be ensured this way, but the unevenness (especially the depression mentioned above) is quite significant. Or would the paving stones need to be removed first? I’m not too keen on that.
- Does the depression pose any risks during rain? I understand that the substructure cannot be standing in water and it certainly wouldn’t if built on pedestals. But what about rainwater that flows through the gaps in the deck into the depression? It would probably take a long time to drain. Would this be problematic? Or would most of the rainwater run off the deck? Not much water should reach the paving through the gaps, right?
- The light well (30 years old) has an unusual width of 112 cm (44 inches). I have read about light well extensions, but they all come in standard sizes. Would it be too simple to just build the wooden deck over it and then install a second light well cover? But how? Cutting into the substructure would damage it. Modifying the light well? Wouldn’t that jeopardize its structural integrity?
I would really appreciate your answers.
Good luck
Lenny
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nordanney21 Apr 2020 20:13Lenny1978 schrieb:
Is it basically possible or advisable to install the wooden deck on adjustable pedestals in this case? The stability of the substructure would certainly be ensured that way, but the unevenness (especially the depression mentioned earlier) is quite significant. Or would the paving have to be laboriously removed? I really have little to no desire to do that.No problem at all. Use freezer bags and moistened screed/concrete (bagged). This is also a common pragmatic solution used by landscapers.Lenny1978 schrieb:
Does the depression pose any risks during rain? I understand that the substructure must not sit in water. It certainly wouldn’t with adjustable pedestals. But what about rainwater that seeps through the gaps in the deck into the depression? It would probably take a long time to drain away. Would that be problematic?No, it's fine as it is now.Lenny1978 schrieb:
Or wouldn’t most of the rainwater run off over the deck? Not much water should flow onto the paving through the gaps, right?Most of it flows through the gaps.Lenny1978 schrieb:
The light well (30 years old) has a strange width of 112cm (44 inches). I have read about light well extensions, but these all come in “standard sizes.” Am I oversimplifying by just building the wooden deck over it and then installing a second light well cover on top?Do you really need the light well? Just covering it should be fine.Lenny1978 schrieb:
Just build the wooden deck over it and then install a second light well cover? But how? Cutting out the deck would damage the substructure, wouldn’t it? Remodeling the light well? That would surely raise questions about load-bearing capacity, right?Put the extension on top and build the deck around it. That’s no problem either.“Adjustable pedestals” on budget (Bongossi substructure):
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Lenny197821 Apr 2020 22:08nordanney schrieb:
No problem at all. Use freezer bags and damp screed/concrete (bagged material). That’s also a common practical approach used by landscapers.
No, it’s fine now.
Most of it flows through the gap.
Do you really need the light well? Just build over it and that’s it.
Place a riser on top and build the terrace around it. That’s also no problem.
“Pedestals” cheaply (substructure Bongossi):
Thank you very much for the feedback.
So I do need the light well. Unfortunately, there is no riser available in the right size. Therefore, it’s still unclear how to solve this problem. Should I lay the entire terrace and then cut out a second light well cover? If yes, can I leave out the substructure for this area (112 x 40 cm (44 x 16 inches))? Wouldn’t that be unstable and would make the light well cover a “no-go area,” right?
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nordanney21 Apr 2020 22:25Nonsense. You simply build the terrace around the light well. There is no problem with that.
Get a metal grate or similar from the metalworker and place it on the substructure.
Get a metal grate or similar from the metalworker and place it on the substructure.
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Lenny197822 Apr 2020 13:10nordanney schrieb:
Nonsense. You simply build the terrace around the light well. There is no problem.
Get a metal grate or something similar from a locksmith and place it on the substructure. R
Rob_Baumeister29 May 2020 22:51Hi Lenny, have you managed to solve the issue with the light well by now, or have you already built the terrace? I have exactly the same problem and am considering how to proceed. If you have finished and could share a photo, that would be great! Thanks in advance!
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