beam and block raised patio advice needed?

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kazzz

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Hi everyone - trawled for info but finding slim pickings...I need to build an elevated patio behind a house on a hill to allow level wheelchair access out into the garden. It can't be deck (horrible to travel on...shakes all your fillings loose :)!) so i want to lay slabs (probably Indian sandstone or similar). Height to take up is a good half metre...so I'm thinking easiest and quickest way might be beam and block base? What do you reckon - good plan or bad plan? If you have any better ideas I'd appreciate any input! Thanks in advance!
 
iff its to enjoy the outside then its a raised platform and needs to be less than 300mm above ground to avoid the need for planning permission
if its connected to a ramp as a landing then its part off the ramp but will need to in proportion as in roughly something like 1200mmx 1200mm or whatever size a wheelchair needs??
 
Thanks so much for your quick response big-all - yes, aware we are going to have to go down the PP route as theres no choice :(. Garden not deep enough to just have a ramp - it would have to be too steep not to take over the whole plot. Unless anyone can suggest a surface that would be classed as decking but not decking if you catch my drift, so it becomes a 'less permanent' structure so planning doesn't have to be involved?
 
kazzz said:
Thanks so much for your quick response big-all - yes, aware we are going to have to go down the PP route as theres no choice :(. Garden not deep enough to just have a ramp - it would have to be too steep not to take over the whole plot. Unless anyone can suggest a surface that would be classed as decking but not decking if you catch my drift, so it becomes a 'less permanent' structure so planning doesn't have to be involved?
Click to expand...

even with decking planning will be required.
 
pants - oh well, was worth a thought. thanks for that info though
 
If you build an elevated platform and use marine grade ply as the flooring, rather than decking boards, you can lay anti-slip coating on it. Access to the garden from the platform could be via a slope parallel to the platform rather than pointing out from the platform. A picture and some rough sizes/dimensions might help to come up with some ideas.
 
kazzz said:
pants - oh well, was worth a thought. thanks for that info though
Click to expand...

as for your original question, thats a good idea to avoid decking, although it is quite costly.

have a look at composite decking, they do a smooth range and on some types you can have zero gap between boards this will alleviate the wheelchair jiggling/shaking
 
Thanks again. We did wonder about composite but we like the high-end expensive stuff that looks like real wood grain (and I'm not sure I like the idea of the finish scuffing over time like the makers have said happens) and the appeal of low/no maintenance stone slabs really appealed, as aethetics are a big deal as we will be sitting looking at it from the house, hopefully through some nice bifold doors ;)
 
this is the basic idea...excuse the rough sketch. Planned patio approx 2m deep
diynot garden sketch.jpg
 
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