ᐅ Terrace Planning for an End-Row House with a Large Garden – What to Consider?
Created on: 4 Aug 2025 13:41
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Bauherrin123
Hello everyone,
we are now moving on to the outdoor area. We have an end-terrace house with a relatively large garden but a small budget. Still, we want to build a large, beautiful terrace.
We have contacted various craftsmen, gardeners, and companies with offers ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 (or equivalent), so all kinds of quotes.
I need some ideas now:
Below is the sketch: The main point is that I definitely want two terraces: one main terrace along the house in the front, 28m² (301 sq ft), and a smaller one on the side, 12m² (129 sq ft). Now I want to connect the terraces, and I have heard different opinions on this. Some recommend offsetting the terrace stones as a pathway, etc. I have actually decided to close off the corner, meaning to expand the main terrace on the side, creating a corner terrace. Sometimes I worry that it might not look good and I’m unsure. We have a large family; I want large tables with chairs, swings, and more solid surface, but without overdoing it. Also, I don’t want to have to take care of a huge garden, so that would be practical for me. The neighbor was not allowed to build wider or bigger due to property division rules limiting the sealed area, but for Jens, that should not be a problem.
Now my question to you:
How would you plan the terrace? The bigger it is, the more expensive it will be.
What kind of slabs do you have, what material and installation method? I have quotes for 2cm (3/4 inch) slabs set in concrete or 4cm (1 1/2 inch) slabs on a gravel/sand base. I want large slabs.
I would like light-colored slabs with anthracite edging. Regarding roofing, I’m not sure if I’m allowed to build 7m (23 ft) wide and whether I can exceed the building limit line. I would like about 7 by 4m (23 by 13 ft)... but that would be 1m (3 ft) over the building limit. On the side, I have already enlarged the living space with a bay window under a special permit; I don’t know if I can add a roof there too. Now I need advice, ideas, tips—I’m a bit lost about what to consider, etc.
I’m also happy to hear about your experiences with terraces, what mistakes you made, what worked well, what you would do differently. Especially, what did your terraces cost.
Thank you
we are now moving on to the outdoor area. We have an end-terrace house with a relatively large garden but a small budget. Still, we want to build a large, beautiful terrace.
We have contacted various craftsmen, gardeners, and companies with offers ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 (or equivalent), so all kinds of quotes.
I need some ideas now:
Below is the sketch: The main point is that I definitely want two terraces: one main terrace along the house in the front, 28m² (301 sq ft), and a smaller one on the side, 12m² (129 sq ft). Now I want to connect the terraces, and I have heard different opinions on this. Some recommend offsetting the terrace stones as a pathway, etc. I have actually decided to close off the corner, meaning to expand the main terrace on the side, creating a corner terrace. Sometimes I worry that it might not look good and I’m unsure. We have a large family; I want large tables with chairs, swings, and more solid surface, but without overdoing it. Also, I don’t want to have to take care of a huge garden, so that would be practical for me. The neighbor was not allowed to build wider or bigger due to property division rules limiting the sealed area, but for Jens, that should not be a problem.
Now my question to you:
How would you plan the terrace? The bigger it is, the more expensive it will be.
What kind of slabs do you have, what material and installation method? I have quotes for 2cm (3/4 inch) slabs set in concrete or 4cm (1 1/2 inch) slabs on a gravel/sand base. I want large slabs.
I would like light-colored slabs with anthracite edging. Regarding roofing, I’m not sure if I’m allowed to build 7m (23 ft) wide and whether I can exceed the building limit line. I would like about 7 by 4m (23 by 13 ft)... but that would be 1m (3 ft) over the building limit. On the side, I have already enlarged the living space with a bay window under a special permit; I don’t know if I can add a roof there too. Now I need advice, ideas, tips—I’m a bit lost about what to consider, etc.
I’m also happy to hear about your experiences with terraces, what mistakes you made, what worked well, what you would do differently. Especially, what did your terraces cost.
Thank you
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nordanney22 Nov 2025 16:32Bauherrin123 schrieb:
So what you are showing me in the picture didn’t look like that. It looks more like slurry in your case. That is tile adhesive.
Bauherrin123 schrieb:
My adhesive was white when it was mixed and you can see that white color in the photo. In the picture you showed, the tradesperson is using Sopro Classic plus – SC 808. That is a normal gray tile adhesive. It should not be white. Who knows what “white” product they used.
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Bauherrin12322 Nov 2025 20:00Hello, you are right, after I googled it, it has to be gray. However, he used white adhesive. I just checked the picture again, and at delivery there was indeed still half a bag. The photos clearly show “The White – Flexible Natural Stone Adhesive” – a white, flexible natural stone adhesive (C2TE, DIN EN 12004).
I uploaded the picture to Chatgpt, and it analyzed that this has to be it. Then I went out to the garden and saw that it actually was. Sorry for confusing you.
Attached is the picture. The bag was half full, intended for 6m² (65 sq ft), but he laid 10m² (108 sq ft) with it, even though the bag was not full, so that already means too little adhesive.
According to Chatgpt, you shouldn’t use this for large tiles. GREAT. The landscaper will continue on December 1st, I have the day off, my husband too, we will watch. But it’s unbelievable and rude that he secretly used leftovers from another construction site, even though I explicitly said please use only good materials.
I uploaded the picture to Chatgpt, and it analyzed that this has to be it. Then I went out to the garden and saw that it actually was. Sorry for confusing you.
Attached is the picture. The bag was half full, intended for 6m² (65 sq ft), but he laid 10m² (108 sq ft) with it, even though the bag was not full, so that already means too little adhesive.
According to Chatgpt, you shouldn’t use this for large tiles. GREAT. The landscaper will continue on December 1st, I have the day off, my husband too, we will watch. But it’s unbelievable and rude that he secretly used leftovers from another construction site, even though I explicitly said please use only good materials.
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Bauherrin12322 Nov 2025 20:03Now he is using different adhesives, which is really annoying. I would prefer to have the 10m2 (107.6 sq ft) torn out... but that would cost too much again. So for the remaining area, I am paying close attention to everything. The question is what to do about the area that has already been installed.
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Bauherrin12322 Nov 2025 20:19I think he didn’t properly mix the gravel with the cement; it was grainy, meaning individual grains were still tangible rather than forming a solid mass when poured. That’s why there were individual grains visible on the backside as well...
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nordanney22 Nov 2025 21:28Bauherrin123 schrieb:
It is grainy, meaning individual grains were still noticeable, less like a solid mass. The material will not become more solid. The purpose is precisely that individual grains stick together. Not a "mass." Otherwise, it cannot serve its drainage function.
Whether there was enough cement included cannot be judged from a distance or because we were not present. But the appearance was as planned.
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Bauherrin12323 Nov 2025 10:55nordanney schrieb:
The aggregate won’t change either. The whole point is that individual grains stick together. Not a “mass.” Otherwise, the drainage function can’t be fulfilled.
Whether there was enough cement can’t be judged from a distance or since we weren’t there. But the appearance was as planned.Alright, I double-checked it just as you described, and it does seem to be good. What I just thought of is that we wanted a geotextile fabric under the gravel to prevent weeds, but he didn’t install it. Now the gravel is compacted.
There’s already a lot of weeds growing, which was a concern for us. Of course, 30cm (12 inches) of gravel and 7cm (3 inches) of mortar won’t let everything through, but over time, more will grow than if there had been a fabric, right?
Hmm, 3mm (0.1 inch) gaps and 120 by 60cm (47 by 24 inches) slabs.
I also want expansion joints; he didn’t want to include them. I’ll discuss this with him once work starts. The fabric is really annoying. Is there a better joint material that can be applied afterward? Something water-permeable that won’t soak weeds?
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