Steps down from Bifolds

2 months ago

last modified: 2 months ago

We have bifolds installed on our extension. This has a raised patio straight outside the doors. The patio is around 3 slabs wide then has around 5 steps down to the garden. We are looking to drop the height of the patio immediately outside the doors by a couple of steps then continue with the patio at a lower level and then have the remaining steps at the end. We'd therefore like to have one or two steps immediately outside the bifold doors.

Are there any planning restrictions for this? when the doors are open to one side the steps will be shallower than the doors as they hang over the newly formed steps. One landscaper mentioned this might be a problem but the other didn't mention it at all. Does anyone know? Any advice appreciated! Thanks

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

minnie101
2 months ago
There are regs re height and uniformity etc as I had to look recently myself. I thought this link would be easier to read than the regs

https://www.pavingexpert.com/featur01
0
renniac thanked minnie101
PRO
Black and Milk | Interior Design | London
2 months ago
Modifying an existing patio usually falls under permitted development, so planning permission shouldn't be needed. However, re: building regulations there are rules around step height, depth and handrails (needed if the total rise is more than 600mm, about two steps). The tricky bit might be the bifold doors. Building regs might require a minimum space to step out comfortably. If the steps are too shallow near the doors, they could be an issue. Also when you are designing the steps, make sure they're deep enough to step out safely while still meeting the regulations. I would always suggest chatting with a building inspector or a builder who knows their regulations first before doing anything.
0
renniac thanked Black and Milk | Interior Design | London
Related Discussions
Step up to lawn or not?
Q
Comments (1)
Hi, I think your original post was meant to read 'just laid a new patio' rather than 'new lawn'? Assuming that's the case I would be inclined just to gently slope the lawn down to the patio rather than building a step. In part because you'll end up with water pooling on the patio with nowhere to soak into. Also because as others have said steps can be trip hazards.
...See More
Open Plan Kitchen & Living Area Advice Please...
Q
Comments (4)
A few things I would change from experience...instead of a single and double door I would spend the extra money and put in a bifold corner section...would open up the space so much more. as for the kitchen...completely flip your design...put your breakfast bar closer to the window...make it large and multipurpose with the hob in it and then put your main band of cabinets either left, right or behind? We have recently restructured our existing cabinets to this layout and put in new countertops and it works far better than before!
...See More
Recessed Floor Mat?
Q
Comments (2)
This is the hall as it looks now, it will be repainted, a radiator cover must be put in place and the wall hangings will be changed. We had been looking at an extra long wide plank beige grey laminate but we've been recommended to go with a solid wood oak herringbone.
...See More
Venetian white v elephants breath - or in-between
Q
Comments (1)
hi, I'm getting my house repainted. the kitchen and living room are open plan but with a step down into the living room for a feel of division. we currently have the whole kitchen and living room painted venetian white by dulux with the wall surrounding the large living room window elephants breath. I feel the venetian white colour is not as warm in the living room due to all the windows as I would like it, Can I paint the living room a separate colour to the kitchen even though they share the same wall? how do I separate the living room from kitchen without it being an obvious division? is there a colour that would do the whole kitchen and living room between elephant breath and Venetia white? I've these tiles in part of the kitchen, between the worktop and cupboards. the hall is also open plan into the kitchen and I'm going to go colour trend aged vellum. sorry for the glare in the living room pic!
...See More
Isla Cherry
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
We had bi-fold doors at an extension we built and I have 5 sets of them now. They all stack outside and the step down to the patio is about 100mm. I have never seen them with steps down leading to a lower patio. There must be a reason for this. I think it would look very odd to have 2 or 3 door wide steps down to the patio and the folded bi-folds swinging above the patio which would be much lower. In an ideal world the closer your patio height is to the inside the more it unites indoor and outdoor. I would seek advice from a decent architect.

This is a far better detail.

https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/wine-country-modern-contemporary-veranda-san-francisco-phvw-vp~468586
0
renniac thanked Isla Cherry
Sonia
2 months ago
Not ideal. Steps immediately outside a doorway, any doorway, is clumsy and could be a trip hazard, I feel. Far better to keep the raised patio as it is and have the steps down further on. Or create a smaller patio by the bifolds and step down to another further on. This sort of thing looks dodgy. One of my relatives has similar steps and the older folk really struggle with them.
0
renniac thanked Sonia
Isla Cherry
2 months ago
This is a different situation. Those are sliders which are entirely supported by the frame when open. Bi-folds would hang over the step and could be caught by the wind especially if stacked outside. They normally all stack to one side to the outside too. They are much heavier doors. We still get strong winds together with sunshine.
0
renniac thanked Isla Cherry

Steps down from Bifolds

Comments (5)

minnie101

Black and Milk | Interior Design | London

Related Discussions

Isla Cherry

Sonia

Isla Cherry

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US