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Problem with new steps

emmanewton1emmanewton1 Posts: 6
in Garden design
We're in the middle of redesigning our garden as it was sloping a lot, so we're levelling out the lawn and have built a retaining wall with sleepers. We want to build some steps up the side but they will be against the garage, and we've now realised we didn't consider the damp course. Can anyone recommend a way round this please? The difference between what will be the patio and the new lawn is 50cm in height. What is the minimum recommended gap between the garage (damp course) and the steps if we were to do narrow steps and a layer of stones down the side? I'll upload a picture but I don't know how clear it will be, the blue chalk line in the wall is how we want the steps to go. Open to other suggestions, thank you! 

Posts

  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    I think the recommendation is to leave at least 6" (15cm) below dpc.  I would take the level down about another 3" which will allow for a sub-base and slabs to be laid topping off at that level.
  • emmanewton1emmanewton1 Posts: 6
    Sorry I don't think I've been clear (it's clear in my head!) 
    Where the mud steps up at the moment is where we want the steps to finish so we want this level 50cm above ground (approx 40cm above dpc). So I'm wondering if there's a minimum width we would need to leave between the wall and the new steps in order to comply with any dpc regs (which I can't find online, I can only find info regarding the height). Does that make any more sense? 
  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    edited April 2020
    OH suggests that you could put a damp proof tanking membrane between the steps and the wall. Or a bitumen paint applied to the wall before you build the steps.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Funnily enough I was just reading up on this topic last night. Singing Gardener is right, you just need to put some damp proof membrane between the garage wall and the steps. You will need to get some stainless steel wall connectors (screwed into the wall with expanding masonry bolts (with the damp proof membrane behind it up to the level of the steps and extending under the level of the steps). At every third course of bricks, hook a wall tie onto the wall connector and bed it into the mortar (B&Q Outdoor Living Book). Alternatively if the steps are not very high, it might be easier to paint the garage wall with a waterproof sealant.  Hope this helps.
     I have to say we just live with the damp in our garage seeping in from soil heaped up on the neighbours side.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • emmanewton1emmanewton1 Posts: 6
    Lizzie27 said:
    Funnily enough I was just reading up on this topic last night. Singing Gardener is right, you just need to put some damp proof membrane between the garage wall and the steps. You will need to get some stainless steel wall connectors (screwed into the wall with expanding masonry bolts (with the damp proof membrane behind it up to the level of the steps and extending under the level of the steps). At every third course of bricks, hook a wall tie onto the wall connector and bed it into the mortar (B&Q Outdoor Living Book). Alternatively if the steps are not very high, it might be easier to paint the garage wall with a waterproof sealant.  Hope this helps.
     I have to say we just live with the damp in our garage seeping in from soil heaped up on the neighbours side.
    Great, thank you very much Lizzie. May I ask where you were reading about this please? 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    It was actually in the book I quoted (B&Q) which I've had for several years. It's very good on design and DIY garden stuff - you might be able to find it online second hand on Amazon. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    What are the steps going to made of? It easy enough to construct steps with a gap between them and the garage wall but what is happening around the corner? Will the ground be up against the garage wall there too?
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    Have a look through this page, I refer to it a lot, it might have the right solution for you

    https://www.pavingexpert.com/dpc01
  • emmanewton1emmanewton1 Posts: 6
    wild edges said:
    What are the steps going to made of? It easy enough to construct steps with a gap between them and the garage wall but what is happening around the corner? Will the ground be up against the garage wall there too?
    Possibly sleepers as we have a few left over. Round the corner will be a retaining wall made up from either rocks or sleepers, with a gap between them and the garage. When you say it's easy enough to construct steps with a gap between them and the wall - how big would you suggest this gap is? 
  • emmanewton1emmanewton1 Posts: 6
    GemmaJF said:
    Have a look through this page, I refer to it a lot, it might have the right solution for you

    https://www.pavingexpert.com/dpc01
    This is brilliant, thank you
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