[anon]

I am looking to get a simple rectangular 2-level raised patio installed in the backyard of my house - new contruction. I would like the 2 levels to vary along the length of the house.
The grade is pretty much all flat and the kitchen french door is about 24" above grade.
I want the size of the patio to be about 38' (along the house dimension) x 15' .
Ideally I would like to step out from the kitchen french doors on to the patio (maybe about a 6" step down).
I would like half of the patio (19'x15') to be at this level and the other half of the patio another 12" below this level with 1 step (2 risers) between the 2 levels.

What is the best way to do this.
1)Build perimeter walls up from below grade , fill the center with compacted base and install pavers.
(or)
2) As suggested by a local landscaping company, build a berm along the perimter of the patio to save on wall costs and fill the inside with compacted based and install pavers.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[Fine Edge]

I would keep Door #2 closed and open up Door #1.
It sounds like this is going to be a decent sized project and , if done properly, will add value to your home. We build all of our raised patios with the proper wall size and would never think about trying to add a berm to build upon, especially at 18" - 24" above grade. Seems like a major instability issue in the coming years.
Plus, at 38' long, I would imagine you would probably want a set of steps near both ends and I just can't envision a 2' high raised patio with a set of steps stuck into the berm.

Keep us updated!

[anon]

That is exactly what I thought. But this local landscaping company is pretty big (I saw at least 8-10 trucks in their office lot) and I am not exactly a landscaping expert.

If you are going to build a 2' raised patio on completely flat grade I would have thought you would need stone walls all around instead of walls made of packed soil (berms).

[Hamons]

What you may find - I know its true in my area - is that the biggest companies are NOT the highest end companies. Bigger companies ten to service low profit - igh volume accounts and smaller ones can focus on high end jobs.

[Raj Venugopal]

Post some pictures.

Picture's worth a thousand words.

Depending your location, perhaps a GTX professional is in your neighbourhood!

[Fine Edge]

Don't be fooled by the 10 trucks and 40 guys. From my standpoint, it doesn't mean anything except that they must have their hands extremely busy to keep that many people working.
I try to analyze ( not necessarily criticize ) all other service businesses that we come across as we are working and I have come to a basic conclusion:

The service industry in this country stinks!!! It's always go - go - go for me too but I still make the time to do it right.

[agla]

I would be much more concerned with what is happening along the 38' of the house than whether it is sloped away or walled along the outer edge.

Do you have a plan to keep your siding and sill from rotting and to not have a termite express route?

[anon]

The idea to have the patio level 2" below the sill.
Siding is all brick and Sill is stone.

I was thinking of using some sort of a water barrier between the house and the concrete base fo rthe patio.

[agla]

"Ideally I would like to step out from the kitchen french doors on to the patio (maybe about a 6" step down)."

This was the source of my concern.

[anon]

Sorry Agla for sounding dumb.

What is the concern here? Is the 6" drop too deep?

[agla]

The concern was that I assumed conventional framing which would have about 12" of wood between the floor and the top of foundation and then most building codes require 8" between the wood and surrounding grade.

Your situation is obviously different.

[anon]

Agla,
I still dont get what you are saying.
I am attaching a picture of the home and outlined the 2 level patio I would ideally like to have. Hope this would clarify things.

[AZTLANLC]

That is a nice house.
I can't tell from the pictures where the fundation starts or stops.
But if it were my house I would rather have couple of steps in front of the door and make a big patio all at the same elevation.
Unless that step down has a special purpose like a hot tub.

[agla]

I have some confusion because I thought that anon replied to me about it being a brick house on a granite sill, but now I don't see that reply and it does not show up as a private message in my box.

Obviously I have confused two posts.

My concern about the patio against conventional framing remains. This is not a good situation for a homeowner. I would also suggest that It is wiser to have steps down to the patio and not risk damage to such a large length of the house.

What is the preparation that has been done along the sill and foundation? Was it done by a professional?

[GLAN]

What about deck from french doors to the left.....stairs down to a nice paver patio?






Jacuzzi in there some where