Making terrace/patio safe.

8 years ago

Here are some pics of our patio at the back of our house. The drop is quite dangerous, and the terrace along the back of the house quite narrow.

I have 3 ideas

1. Put a retaining wall around the whole edge, which would be a wide planted bed, so people won't tread through it to walk off

2. Put a flight of steps in the middle of the wall, aligning with the lower steps, then a free standing raised planter on each side.

3. Some kind of fence.

what are your thoughts?

susanna_thomas's ideas · More Info

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Comments (5)

pannacotta
8 years ago
From what I can see it looks as if some wide steps aligned with the lower set would work well, perhaps combined with raised beds either side and hand rails for safety.

Perhaps you could lose the existing steps into a raised bed.
pannacotta
8 years ago
Hard to give advice without seeing the site and a full photo of the side elevation of the house, do you have more photos?
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special morning
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you for your response. Its quite hard to attach the plans as they are huge and not quite accurate.

If I were to go for a balustrade/fence, what style would work?

I think I'm leaning towards that option, as it leaves open more for the future when we have a bigger budget to replace the lower terrace.
pannacotta
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I think the idea of a border next to the raised patio would look better than a fence or railings, partly because I don't think a fence would be a nice view from your patio doors. I would have railings to the side of the steps only, perhaps simple cast iron.
This isn't a great photo (fifth photo along) but it shows steps going down with planting either side which I think would look best

http://www.stephenlacey.com/uk-garden-design.htm
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Patricia Tyrrell Living Landscapes
8 years ago
I think broad steps with a long tread the full length of the terrace would look best and suit the style of the house. Any kind of fence wall won't work visually.

Making terrace/patio safe.

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Making terrace/patio safe.

Comments (5)

pannacotta

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pannacotta

Patricia Tyrrell Living Landscapes

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