ᐅ Terrace Wall Adjacent to Neighbor – What Should We Consider?

You want to add a patio roof. Hopefully, not right on the property line. 😉

[Intellectual:] Put yourself in the position of a middle townhouse resident where just a few centimeters of wall height affect the lighting conditions in the living room. That’s the case. We lived 18 years in a mid-terrace house. These are already quite dark since there are no side windows and the layout is usually narrow and deep.

[Situational:] Understand that living in a terraced housing area, despite having your own front door, means closer coexistence with neighbors.

[Logical:] Accept that if you want peace and quiet, you also have to give peace and quiet at some point.

[Goal-oriented:] Build your own terrace not higher, but slightly lower than your neighbor’s. Then the wall on your side will be higher as well.

and listen to the music:

"Ah, you can't always get what you want, no, no, baby
You can't always get what you want, you can't now, now
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find that you
You get what you need, oh yeah
Ah yeah, do that"

Now the good neighbor came along, wants the wall 5cm (2 inches) higher because he doesn’t know what kind of material was bought for the wall, which he wants to cover on his side, and it is 185cm (73 inches) high!!! He said it had been agreed at 185cm (73 inches), so now the wall should be higher... It only occurred to him when his [Temu wall poster] arrived, where exactly those extra centimeters seem to be missing. I don’t care, as long as it’s resolved.

I cannot build the terrace lower. It will be flush with the window. I have different windows than the neighbor. There is about a 1cm (0.4 inch) difference, not much, but mine will be higher.

So the wall height is sorted, mainly because the other neighbor (schmidt) gave him a piece of his mind, saying that he actually wanted 2 meters (6 ft 7 in), but at 185cm (73 inches) it stops.

Now to the next drama:

It was agreed that a stone cap would be placed on the wall, slightly pointed on top so rainwater can run off. I asked if simple metal flashing wouldn’t be enough, but neighbor Müller said no, he doesn’t want that because it would look terrible on our balcony. (Since I have an end house, I have a balcony with anthracite metal flashing on top.) I find it nice if it serves its function. He wanted stone, neighbor Schmidt also, and my husband as well. Stone was agreed upon. With all this escalation, Müller has now decided in his head that he wants to support something on the wall to cover it. Don’t ask me how or what, he already has a terrace roof which is not that long and ends 50cm (20 inches) before the wall. Anyway, he definitely wants metal flashing now so it’s flat and he can support something on it.

What nobody notices here is that the three of us (all three affected neighbors) should sit down and agree on something, and that he changes his mind halfway through and doesn’t keep his word.

Besides, I also wanted metal flashing because that’s all I know.

My question is: What would be the most sensible technical solution? What is right and good? Does it even matter whether it is metal flashing or stone?

The bricklayer said it has to be stone, is that true? In my neighborhood, as shown in the picture, there are also flat caps like metal flashing. The stone the bricklayer wants to put on is slightly pointed along the middle like a house ridge so rainwater drains off.

If there is no difference, I would just take what the neighbor wants—I’m not familiar with this. I only want to insist on stone if it is clearly better for protecting the wall or for technical reasons. You really can’t see the stone top, so honestly, I don’t care if it’s metal or stone.

And is he allowed to support something on or against the wall? Covering his side with something is fine by me, since it’s his side, his wall, he can stick or paint whatever he wants as long as it doesn’t damage the wall. That’s none of my business, but him wanting to support something on top of it worries me a bit.

Oh, and about the mid-terrace house that someone mentioned: If I buy a middle terrace, I have to know there are no side windows and the walls and fences come from both sides. Then you must be prepared either to pay more for a corner house or build detached somewhere else.

As I said, I have a corner house and paid quite a bit more for it, and because of that I have more light and more windows. I also pay more for that my whole life.

It’s not about shutting in the neighbors, but about reducing smoke and barbecue smell and sitting peacefully on the terrace. We have small children, so at least the noise on the terrace shouldn’t carry over. Also for privacy and visual screening. Furthermore, the neighbor’s house is 7.30m (24 feet) wide, and so is the terrace, so it doesn’t feel cramped. My parents have only 5m (16 feet) and are enclosed on both sides, which is really nice and pleasant for everyone.

Bauherrin123 schrieb:

What would be the most practical solution?

Stone, because then the wall will be higher.
Both options work equally well.
Although... aluminum with a slope on its side (the rainwater has to drain somewhere) isn’t bad either...

Bauherrin123 schrieb:

And is he allowed to lean on or support himself against the wall? I don’t really care if he sticks things on his side, it’s his side, his wall, he can glue or paint whatever he wants, as long as it doesn’t damage the wall.

He can do whatever he wants on his side.
Of course, nothing can be placed on top of the aluminum—maybe just a flower pot. I don’t understand what you mean by “leaning against”?!

Bauherrin123 schrieb:

but to reduce smoke and barbecue smells and quietly sit on the terrace,

Then you need a different house. The wall won’t help much.

Bauherrin123 schrieb:

So the neighbor has paid now,

....he actually seems like a quite nice guy.

And.....please just write in plain German without trying so hard to make it sound "different." Anyone with even a little knowledge of these topics can clearly see that.

Tip from a layperson: Never let yourself be convinced to jointly buy a "Kosakenzipfel," as it poses a serious risk to your life.

Oh, writing in readable sentences is progressing..
I read some posts yesterday and have to say that this is clearly not a given for you.

Is that actually the neighbor who has been helping you, among other things, with ventilation and providing information? I read something about a helpful neighborhood (my interpretation) during construction.

Bauherrin123 schrieb:

As I said, I have an end house and paid more for that, but in return I have more light and more windows. I will also pay more for it my whole life.

But that doesn’t give you any additional rights. You pay more for square meters of living space, windows, and the plot, but not because you have more rights or that the middle house should feel shabby.

Bauherrin123 schrieb:

Here is a picture from the neighborhood where the wall below the floor extends, meaning it is clearly over 180cm (5 feet 11 inches). I should check again, my husband just sent it to me, whether it’s 2m (6 feet 7 inches) or 2.2m (7 feet 3 inches), I’m not sure. And what is the problem with that as a middle house?

Then also look at how the lawn is laid out there, namely as a shared area. As such, this type of terrace housing probably represents a different form of living — probably condominiums divided according to property law or something similar. That is comparing apples and oranges! You yourself finally read your local regulations from Rhineland-Palatinate, so why talk about customary practice now?

Bauherrin123 schrieb:

My question is, what would be the most sensible technical solution? What is correct and good? Does it even matter whether it’s sheet metal or stone?

Stone. And arranged so that a flowerpot can be placed there with agreement.
Sheet metal is just sheet metal: it’s thin and could even cause noise.

Bauherrin123 schrieb:

Now to the next drama:

Seriously?
If such minor issues already turn into a "drama" – then here’s to a good, long-lasting coexistence.
Whatever your neighbor is like – I conclude that he has a pretty demanding neighbor.