Hello everyone,
We are currently planning the garden for our newly built semi-detached house.
Our rear terrace is supposed to be level with the house and laid with ceramic tiles.
Unfortunately, it has turned out that the side door of the garage (1 m x 2 m) cannot be opened. The terrace would be 3 cm (1 inch) higher than the garage.
This is a prefabricated garage from Hörmann.
Two options have been proposed to us:
1. The terrace is set 15 cm (6 inches) lower than the house. This would also require installing a step block.
2. The terrace remains as planned, but a lowered area or plateau is made around the garage side door.
We don’t find either option acceptable, as we want a barrier-free access to the terrace. Option 2 would allow this, but water and dirt would constantly collect in the lowered area.
My suggestion is to remove the door frame of the garage side door and set it slightly higher. About 3 cm (1 inch) would need to be milled above the door frame. According to the builder, this is not possible. The manufacturer reportedly said the construction would be damaged. There is steel directly above the door frame.
We paid extra for this garage side door (€850). If we had known about this problem, we would never have ordered the door. We were not informed about this. According to the builder, it was not foreseeable that we would extend the terrace so extensively (by the way, the terrace is small—what else could we have done?). He also suggested buying a new door that is a bit shorter. However, he will not cover the additional costs (about €1000). This is obviously unacceptable, as we have invested a lot of money in the project.
Do you have any ideas on what else we could try?
We are currently planning the garden for our newly built semi-detached house.
Our rear terrace is supposed to be level with the house and laid with ceramic tiles.
Unfortunately, it has turned out that the side door of the garage (1 m x 2 m) cannot be opened. The terrace would be 3 cm (1 inch) higher than the garage.
This is a prefabricated garage from Hörmann.
Two options have been proposed to us:
1. The terrace is set 15 cm (6 inches) lower than the house. This would also require installing a step block.
2. The terrace remains as planned, but a lowered area or plateau is made around the garage side door.
We don’t find either option acceptable, as we want a barrier-free access to the terrace. Option 2 would allow this, but water and dirt would constantly collect in the lowered area.
My suggestion is to remove the door frame of the garage side door and set it slightly higher. About 3 cm (1 inch) would need to be milled above the door frame. According to the builder, this is not possible. The manufacturer reportedly said the construction would be damaged. There is steel directly above the door frame.
We paid extra for this garage side door (€850). If we had known about this problem, we would never have ordered the door. We were not informed about this. According to the builder, it was not foreseeable that we would extend the terrace so extensively (by the way, the terrace is small—what else could we have done?). He also suggested buying a new door that is a bit shorter. However, he will not cover the additional costs (about €1000). This is obviously unacceptable, as we have invested a lot of money in the project.
Do you have any ideas on what else we could try?
pim1985 schrieb:
What is a far-fetched idea? The side door to the garage was suggested by the developer. The terrace extension was proposed by the landscaping company, which works closely with the developer.This is the first time we’re hearing this.
You need to provide information if you want something. Responding little or not at all to inquiries leads to speculation. Do you communicate like this with the construction parties as well?
I think @ypg once had a favorite quote: No hands – no cookies
WilderSueden schrieb:
Only the developer can probably explain the purpose of having two terraces and a garage set far back on a property of about 240m² (2,583 sq ft). I also find 6m² (65 sq ft) a bit small, but paving the entire backyard is not a solution. I would completely omit the front terrace, enlarge the rear terrace to 3x4m (10x13 ft), and set it 1m (3 ft) away from the neighbor’s boundary for a privacy hedge. Then create a path with a slightly steeper slope leading to the garage, similar to what is shown in the picture. However, this path should not be made with large slabs but with small paving stones. Not a bad idea, I will consider it. The privacy hedge is already planned.
May I ask if this property ends right at the back edge of the garage? If so, you wouldn’t have any greenery or garden—just stones and paving. Putting aside whether this is even allowed, do you really want that? It would be like living in a prison. In summer, it would be very hot—you’d feel like you’re being roasted with no natural shade around. The stones absorb heat like an oven.
If it were mine, I would demolish the garage—not because of the door, but to have at least a small garden space.
If it were mine, I would demolish the garage—not because of the door, but to have at least a small garden space.
face26 schrieb:
This is the first time we’re hearing this here.
You have to deliver if you want something. Not responding or barely responding to inquiries leads to speculation. Do you communicate this way with the other parties involved in the construction?
I believe @ypg once had a favorite quote: No arms – no cookies. pim1985 schrieb:
What is an absurd idea? The garage side door was proposed by the developer. The terrace extension was suggested by the landscaping company, which works closely with the developer. When making such proposals, you must first point out the risks instead of acting as if the homeowner is to blame. Spare us your stupid subjective claims next time and focus on the facts or better yet, don’t comment at all. As someone else already mentioned, and as I said too: Very sparse information trickling in bit by bit. How should anyone in the forum know that such a situation existed?
And: Just because two trades coordinate (as they should) doesn’t mean they automatically accept any legal or financial consequences. It’s naïve to think that way. YOU (in this forum people use informal address) as the homeowner are an adult and responsible for this (or you have hired a site manager responsible for this, which I doubt).
pim1985 schrieb:
focus on the facts Alright, let’s focus on the facts:
pim1985 schrieb:
According to the developer, it wasn’t possible to know that we would extend the terrace so much (by the way, the terrace is small, what else could we have done). Your developer is selling you a house with a garage. The plans include—among other things—a rear terrace, at least as shown in the building permit / planning permission. Whether it’s a developer or a general contractor, I think this is secondary here, since the plan for the terrace exists. Ideally, whether the builder is the developer or you as the client, that plan should be followed.
pim1985 schrieb:
We specifically paid extra for that garage side door (€850). If we had known about this problem, we would never have ordered the door. According to the building plans, the door is accessible because paving was not originally planned there. So the developer has no obligation or fault in this matter.
pim1985 schrieb:
The terrace extension was proposed by the landscaping company, which is working closely with the developer. What exactly does “working closely” mean? The landscaping company is an external contractor and presumably receives orders by recommendation? Are you paying the landscaper separately? Regardless, they are now faced with your special request as the buyer and have determined that your request cannot be implemented as is. Is that correct so far, @pim1985?
pim1985 schrieb:
If something like this is proposed, one should first point out the risks instead of acting as if the client is at fault. So far, no one is at fault! There is a special request on the table, and now the experts are saying it is not feasible in this form. So as a buyer, you have to make some compromises with your wishes—what’s the problem with that?
pim1985 schrieb:
2. The terrace stays as planned, but a lowering / plateau is created around the garage side door Again: water or debris will not collect there if the paving is done properly and the right materials are used. Debris like leaves naturally gather in corners, such as your garage corner,... but since that area apparently faces south or west, you can assume wind will reduce this issue.
And my personal opinion:
pim1985 schrieb:
Yes, exactly, we extended the terrace. hanse987 schrieb:
Are you even allowed to build such a large terrace on the small plot? What is your floor area ratio, and what’s the allowed ratio? pim1985 schrieb:
I’m allowed to, but that’s not the topic. Actually, it is indirectly relevant, because the approved plan has legal standing, and you want to deviate from it by paving everything over and now indirectly want to blame someone for it. I also believe the developer likely already maximized the allowable floor area ratio with the houses and terraces on the 244.5sqm (square meter) plot.
pim1985 schrieb:
If we had known about this problem, we would never have ordered the door. Have you considered that you wouldn’t have this problem if you hadn’t requested this special change?
Since I assume the terrace’s slope is already included in the landscaper’s calculations, I would let them handle it before the garage structure (the door) is affected. Even with a low step, it is manageable. As I see it, the house including the garage is about 15.5 meters (51 feet) long. Judging by the front garden, the plot ends behind the garage at about 24 meters (79 feet). So no large vehicles or even wheelbarrows will be passing through here... and a proper drainage system for rainwater must also be ensured, so there will be a drainage solution. I don’t see anything against the landscaper’s idea. You can then create a step by the garage door towards the house and slope it sideways for the barbecue to roll on. That also slightly reduces the sealed surface area 😉 Personally, I wouldn’t make a big fuss about it.
P.S. In forums without professionals, people usually use informal address.
ypg schrieb:
Debris like leaves generally gathers in corners, for example in your garage corner... but since the front apparently faces south or west, one can assume that the lack of wind means this does not matter. This terrace only accumulates heat, nothing else.
Please provide us with the floor area ratio for this plot.
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