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While many owners like the idea of a raised patio area in their garden, the planning stages are vital to the success of their project. Raised patios take on many forms. All types need different consideration, for the stability of the patio, and respect for the surrounding areas, whether this is to be placed against an existing structure, or independently within a garden area.

This article examines the different types of patio, and the planning needed to establish the best results, from the conception to the realisation of the planning stages.

DRAWING UP OF PLANS.

Although you may not be an expert, putting pen to paper helps you to decide the size of patio you are considering. Making plans is not a pointless exercise even if you intend employing experts to lay the patio, since this gives a clear indication of your requirements and helps you to compare these with what is allowed within your geographical area. It also allows you to play around with ideas until finding the one that suits you the best, and is far more practical than just going ahead with hit and miss work which may not conform to building standards. You will also be better equipped to demonstrate your ideas to professionals, who may not envisage the same image that you have in mind without the drawings.

Having established the type of raised patio you would like to install, the planning goes much further and is essential to success. At this stage the following elements should be taken into consideration and consultation of a specialist may seem costly, though could be a very wise move, since installing a raised patio next to a home presents several problems which need to be addressed in the planning stages. If these are not addressed, the risks to the building structure are too great and although many people blindly construct raised patios, there is a protocol to follow to ensure that building codes are met.

*Respect for the law.
*Damp-proofing.
*Circulatio n of air.
*Impact of soil against existing walls.
*Drainage and slope.
*Regulations for walling.
*Costing of project.

Respecting the law.

When considering a raised patio, many areas have restrictions about how near to the boundary of your property you are able to build. These regulations are the first thing to check, since they affect the manner in which the work will be approached, giving attention to the position and restrictions with regard to neighboring properties and the overall drainage requirements set for your area and in particular your particular

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