Is there any problem with decking up to a house wall. i.e. if I lay
decking on top of an existing patio, the level of the decking will
only be 1 brick below the damp proof course of the house, possibly
less, instead of the 2 bricks that it is presently between the patio
and the damp proof.

Obviously with decking, water will run through the boards and so will
not build up, but should I be worried about rain splash back causing
damp?

What is the usual procedure with this type of work, I dont really want
to rip up all the patio to dig it down deeper before laying the
decking if can help it.

Thanks

Tom

On 25 Jan, 09:58, Thomarse wrote:
Is there any problem with decking up to a house wall. i.e. if I lay
decking on top of an existing patio, the level of the decking will
only be 1 brick below the damp proof course of the house, possibly
less, *instead of the 2 bricks that it is presently between the patio
and the damp proof.

Obviously with decking, water will run through the boards and so will
not build up, but should I be worried about rain splash back causing
damp?

What is the usual procedure with this type of work, I dont really want
to rip up all the patio to dig it down deeper before laying the
decking if *can help it.

Thanks

Tom

Personally, I think the quickest solution to this problem is to
realise that decking is a **** idea which is fundamentally ill-suited
to our climate, and then re-do your patio in something that doesn't
make it look like it's been done over by some terrible 90's garden
makeover programme. But that's just me.

On Jan 25, 11:06*am, wrote:
On 25 Jan, 09:58, Thomarse wrote:





Is there any problem with decking up to a house wall. i.e. if I lay
decking on top of an existing patio, the level of the decking will
only be 1 brick below the damp proof course of the house, possibly
less, *instead of the 2 bricks that it is presently between the patio
and the damp proof.

Obviously with decking, water will run through the boards and so will
not build up, but should I be worried about rain splash back causing
damp?

What is the usual procedure with this type of work, I dont really want
to rip up all the patio to dig it down deeper before laying the
decking if *can help it.

Thanks

Tom

Personally, I think the quickest solution to this problem is to
realise that decking is a **** idea which is fundamentally ill-suited
to our climate, and then re-do your patio in something that doesn't
make it look like it's been done over by some terrible 90's garden
makeover programme. *But that's just me.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the opinion, it was very useful!

Thomarse wrote:
On Jan 25, 11:06 am, wrote:
On 25 Jan, 09:58, Thomarse wrote:





Is there any problem with decking up to a house wall. i.e. if I lay
decking on top of an existing patio, the level of the decking will
only be 1 brick below the damp proof course of the house, possibly
less, instead of the 2 bricks that it is presently between the patio
and the damp proof.
Obviously with decking, water will run through the boards and so will
not build up, but should I be worried about rain splash back causing
damp?
What is the usual procedure with this type of work, I dont really want
to rip up all the patio to dig it down deeper before laying the
decking if can help it.
Thanks
Tom
Personally, I think the quickest solution to this problem is to
realise that decking is a **** idea which is fundamentally ill-suited
to our climate, and then re-do your patio in something that doesn't
make it look like it's been done over by some terrible 90's garden
makeover programme. But that's just me.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the opinion, it was very useful!

It also raises your level so that your neighbours might have less
privacy than before. I wonder how the 6 foot fence limit is affected by
all this. Fortunately my neighbour is fairly short :-)
I also think decking is a very silly idea propagated by the makeover
brigade, who pay no attention to the long term practicalities. Fine for
open, south facing locations maybe, but a bad idea otherwise.

On 25 Jan, 11:47, Thomarse wrote:
On Jan 25, 11:06*am, wrote:





On 25 Jan, 09:58, Thomarse wrote:

Is there any problem with decking up to a house wall. i.e. if I lay
decking on top of an existing patio, the level of the decking will
only be 1 brick below the damp proof course of the house, possibly
less, *instead of the 2 bricks that it is presently between the patio
and the damp proof.

Obviously with decking, water will run through the boards and so will
not build up, but should I be worried about rain splash back causing
damp?

What is the usual procedure with this type of work, I dont really want
to rip up all the patio to dig it down deeper before laying the
decking if *can help it.

Thanks

Tom

Personally, I think the quickest solution to this problem is to
realise that decking is a **** idea which is fundamentally ill-suited
to our climate, and then re-do your patio in something that doesn't
make it look like it's been done over by some terrible 90's garden
makeover programme. *But that's just me.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the opinion, it was very useful!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

My pleasure, and I hope it was. If you are determined to do the
decking despite it being a **** idea, then the easiest course of
action is probably to do what I imagine most people do with decking
installations and ignore the problem.

Seriously, you understandably don't want to have to lower the whole of
your patio. That leaves you with either putting up with less than the
2 course recommended minimum and crossing your fingers, or leaving a
gap or step around the edge of your decking so that you retain the 2
courses at the junction with the house. You could fill any gap with
gravel, which is a common bodge to reduce splashing.

wrote:
On 25 Jan, 09:58, Thomarse wrote:
Is there any problem with decking up to a house wall. i.e. if I lay
decking on top of an existing patio, the level of the decking will
only be 1 brick below the damp proof course of the house, possibly
less, �instead of the 2 bricks that it is presently between the patio
and the damp proof.

Obviously with decking, water will run through the boards and so will
not build up, but should I be worried about rain splash back causing
damp?


Yes. Definitely.

I left some slates lying flat on te gravel that surrounds my house. At
that point,and ONLY at that point the wall painted render over timber, -
got enough water penetration to cause frost damage and chip the surface off.

I had a coule of other places higher up where I had near horizontal drip
boards over windows,lead covered, that did the same. Now treated with
water proofing, and a new coat of paint..



What is the usual procedure with this type of work, I dont really want
to rip up all the patio to dig it down deeper before laying the
decking if �can help it.

Thanks

Tom

Personally, I think the quickest solution to this problem is to
realise that decking is a **** idea which is fundamentally ill-suited
to our climate, and then re-do your patio in something that doesn't
make it look like it's been done over by some terrible 90's garden
makeover programme. But that's just me.


I sort of agree, that decking as such is a bit of a thing that will go
out of fashion. Like avocado bathroom suites and woodchip. But I rather
liked those.. I'd rather have a stone patio myself.

If you must do it, put some sort of splashguard an inch or two from the
wall. and expect rain to driuve in under the french dopors..

And leave the existing patio. Chances are when the decking has rotted,
someone will be overjoyed to discover a 'genuine 1970's period patio'
underneath ;-)

There's nowt as queer as folk..

Thomarse wrote:
Is there any problem with decking up to a house wall. i.e. if I lay
decking on top of an existing patio, the level of the decking will
only be 1 brick below the damp proof course of the house, possibly
less, instead of the 2 bricks that it is presently between the patio
and the damp proof.

First of all, don't listen to the anti decking luddites :-)

Decking is a wonderful surface, much nicer than horrid concrete slabs,
better for the environment & doesn't encourage flooding.

1 brick below damp course is fine, above damp course space the ledger plate
10mm from the wall with spacers.


Obviously with decking, water will run through the boards and so will
not build up, but should I be worried about rain splash back causing
damp?

I've only ever seen one example of splashing causing any kind of damp and
that was easily solved by an application of Thomsons Water Seal. You could
leave a gap & fill with gravel if you want.

What is the usual procedure with this type of work, I dont really want
to rip up all the patio to dig it down deeper before laying the
decking if can help it.

Thats one of the many benefits of decking, no groundwork. Remove a couple
of slabs to affect drainage.

http://www.medwayhandyman.co.uk/decking_faq.htm

If you want any help or advice, just let me know. Happy to help.



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwaydecking.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257