Building a terrace: what better way to enjoy the garden in fine weather? Project preparation, choice of materials, implementation, budget: we have prepared a complete guide to make your project a success with your eyes closed!
Do you already dream of basking in the sun, a cold beer in your hand, surrounded by a few friends on your freshly finished terrace? Well. But before we get there, there is still a bit of work and reflection!
Do I need a permit to build my patio?
- NO, if your outdoor terrace is built on one level and does not exceed 20 m².
- YES, if your terrace is raised from a certain surface:
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- From 5 to 20 m²: prior declaration of work
- more than 20 m²: building permit
However, the notion of “heightening” can be subject to interpretation: it is, therefore, preferable to contact the town planning department of your municipality of residence to avoid unpleasant surprises. And besides …
- If you are a co-owner, you must obtain the authorization of the Trustee.
- The installation of a guardrail is mandatory if the fall height is greater than 1 m
What is the ideal location?
Depending on the orientation of your house and the garden space you have available, the location chosen for your terrace is decisive.
- THE ORIENTATION No: west or south of preference, to enjoy maximum sunlight and prevent mold growth
- The wind exposure: If your garden is in a particularly windy area, you will likely anticipate adding a wall or a fence around your terrace
- The slope: to promote the flow of water, a terrace must have a 1.5% inclined plane. If your land slopes towards the house, you will need to provide drainage or an elevation of your patio. It is essential to check the stability of the ground: it will be decisive for the choice of the type of installation of your terrace.
What is my budget? Calculate the price of your deck
As with all development or renovation work, the budget you can devote to your project will be decisive. To evaluate it, you will need to know the surface of your future terrace as well as the type of coating desired. The price of the terrace can then experience significant variations depending on the particular constraints of your site and, of course, the quality of the coating materials used.
Installation and realization of the terrace
The type of installation depends mainly on the coating chosen for the finishes of your Terrace:
- Tiles and natural stone Concrete screed
- Granite pavers, interlocking pavers, cement slabs, gravel slabs Laying on the sand
- Wood or composite boards Installation on a pedestal, installation on joists
- Installation on joists and joists
Create the foundations
As with the construction of a house, the creation of a terrace begins with the realization of the foundations. We start by delimiting the excavations with a line, allowing a space of 20 to 25 mm for the formwork. To calculate the depth, know that the finished level of the terrace must be 2 to 3 cm below the threshold of the door. The foundations are therefore about 30 cm and include:
- The bottom layer (rubble, stabilized by a mixture of sand and gravel): 8 to 10 cm
- The reinforced sole (8 to 10 cm)
- Screed and decorative covering (3 to 5 cm)
The concrete slab
To make the ground load-bearing and stabilize it, we then pour a reinforced sole, generally in two stages:
- The first layer of 4 to 5 cm
- Installation of the reinforced mesh
- The second layer floated immediately
The formwork will be removed after complete drying, approximately 1 week. You will then have to wait another month before laying the final coating. A double gluing is preferable to ensure the good fixing of the tiles.
Laying on sand
The foundations are then dug to a depth of 30 to 40 cm with a slope of 2 cm / m to allow the water to drain. The sand bed is then deposited on the bottom layer, consisting of rubble or bricks. The finishing coating can then be laid on a layer of approximately 8 cm of sand / cement mixture.