Why raise a patio
Raising the paving can bring the sitting area level with the house floor, so doors open straight onto the terrace without a step down. On a sloping garden, a raised platform creates a flat area where none existed. Both reasons are common in and around Southampton, where many gardens fall away from the back of the house.
The structure underneath
A raised patio is a structure, not just paving at a height. The retaining edge, whether brick, block or sleeper-faced, is built on proper foundations and holds back the compacted fill behind it. The fill goes in layers, compacted as it rises, so the paving above does not settle. Heights beside the house must respect the damp-proof course and air bricks, exactly as they would at ground level.
Drainage on and under the platform
Water has to leave a raised patio just as it does any other. The surface keeps its fall, and the water it sheds is directed to a suitable destination rather than over the retaining edge onto a neighbour's side or back against the house. Drainage is planned before the fill goes in, because retrofitting it means taking the platform apart.
Planning permission and height
Raised platforms can affect neighbours' privacy, and as a general guide platforms over 0.3 metres may need planning permission because of overlooking. The rules depend on the property and the position, so check with your local council before the design is fixed. It is far easier to adjust a drawing than a built terrace.
Edges, steps and balustrades
Every raised edge needs a safe finish. Garden steps connect the platform to the lower garden with even, comfortable rises. Where the drop is significant, a balustrade, wall or planting edge keeps the terrace safe without closing it in. The edge detail is also the visible face of the structure, so materials are chosen to sit well with the paving above.
Raised patios and retaining work
A raised patio and a retaining wall solve related problems, and larger gardens sometimes need both. Taller or heavily loaded walls may need an engineer's input, and that advice is taken where the height or ground conditions call for it rather than assumed away.
Enquire about a raised patio
Send your postcode, the change of level you are working with and the size of terrace you have in mind through the quote form. Daniel is based in Sholing, Southampton, working within about 30 miles, and will assess the structure your garden needs.
Frequently asked questions
Does a raised patio need planning permission?
Platforms over about 0.3 metres may need permission because of privacy and overlooking. It depends on the property and position, so check with your council before fixing the design.
Can a sloping garden take a raised patio?
Yes. A raised platform is one of the standard ways to create a level sitting area on a slope, built on a retained, compacted structure.
How is a raised patio drained?
The surface keeps a fall and the water is directed to a planned destination. Drainage is designed before the platform is filled, not added afterwards.
What affects the cost of a raised patio?
The height and length of the retaining edge, the volume of fill, the paving choice, steps and balustrades, and access for materials all change the cost.