You don't have to be a professional to build a terrace. Skilled hobby gardeners can also build their terrace themselves. We give you tips for planning and execution.
Many people spend many hours on the weekend, after work or on vacation on the patio. This is where friends and neighbors are welcomed for a barbecue evening, you can sunbathe on a lounger or enjoy your morning coffee in the fresh air undisturbed.
Homeowners almost see the terrace as a must-have that should not be missing in their garden. However, many hours go by before you can enjoy your free time on the terrace, which you have to invest in planning and executing the building project.
We have summarized the important tips for planning and designing a terrace here.
Subsoil and foundation: ensure stability
Wrong foundation
Understandably, many builders lack the knowledge of the interaction between structure, subsoil and foundation. If mistakes are made during planning, the mistakes can usually no longer be eliminated afterwards. The defects manifest themselves as cracks in the walls and, in the worst case, the entire building tilting.
The graphic shows what a false foundation for the house and terrace looks like. It can be observed that part of the house stands on soft ground. Both the foundation pillar for the house and the terrace both rest on the soft ground. This will give way over time and lead to the problems described above.
When creating a high-quality terrace that you can later convert into a conservatory, you need a solid base plate that is also positioned correctly. Builders have to give a lot of thought to the backfilling of the excavation pit. If this is weak, the terrace slab could sag in this area. For this reason, it is recommended to design the terrace slab with two fixed bearing sides as a self-supporting reinforced concrete slab.
Correct foundation
On the side of the house, you can either use the thickened outer basement wall, fixed consoles protruding from the wall or, after the wall has been sealed, in front of it as a supportuse created pillars. With good building ground, you only need a frost-free strip foundation or blocks on the free side of the terrace.
If, on the other hand, the subsoil is unsuitable, for example clay, the foundation of the terrace side should reach through the soil, approximately to the depth of the foundation of the house. This creates a uniform start-up level and ensures stability. Depending on the depth, you can use concrete pillars, microspheres or pillars made of concrete well rings.
Build a terrace: in just 5 steps
Once the supporting foundation is in place, actual deck construction begins. Of course, it depends on what material the terrace is made of. Wooden floorboards or stone slabs? We recommend wooden tiles! Laying wooden tiles correctly is not a difficult task. For this reason, they are particularly recommended for all inexperienced do-it-yourselfers. Laying takes place in a few simple steps:
- Choose wooden tiles
You shouldn't do without quality when it comes to wooden tiles, because it determines the look and durability of the floor. In addition, high-quality wooden tiles are easy to put together and easy to lay. - Prepare the subfloor
Anyone who has previously created a solid foundation can lay their wooden tiles directly without having to level the subfloor. All others should first smooth out any unevenness with a leveling compound. - Use grid system
Wooden tiles do not require a special substructure. However, we recommend buying wooden tiles with a grid system. This system protects the wood from waterlogging and extends its lifespan. - Treat wood
Every wood needs an appropriate treatment to protect it from external influences. Some types of wood, such as teak, are particularly resistant and are very suitable for terraces. (Reading tip: Garden furniture made of wood - 5 care tips) - Laying wooden tiles
After the wooden tiles have been cut to size, you can start laying them. Thanks to the simple plug-in system, installation is child's play.
Extra tip: A patio roof that produces electricity!
The company Solarterrassen & Carportwerk GmbH produces patio roofs made of wood or aluminium, which you can assemble yourself under instructions cheap to install yourself. In contrast to conventional models, these canopies also produce electricity for thedaily consumption in the household.
Get more information about it here
Privacy: Privacy screen against nosy neighbors
If the neighbor is already peering curiously over the fence while the new terrace is being built, nothing will stop him from taking a look at the neighbor's garden later on. People who want to protect their privacy can block the view of the neighbor with a natural or artificial privacy screen.
If you decide to build your own privacy screen, you have several options:
- Visual protection made of woven fence elements
- Garden wall as privacy screen
- mobile privacy screen
- Asian privacy screen made of reed mats
» Tip: An alternative to these artificial variants is the natural privacy screen, for example made of bamboo or hedge plants. Bamboo has the advantage that it is an easy-care, renewable raw material with good durability that also looks good and grows quickly.
Reading tip: privacy screen in the garden: 22 clever ideas
Terrace covering: well protected all year round
For many people, the patio at home is the only place where they can switch off and enjoy their free time undisturbed - if the moody weather wouldn't put a spanner in the works. Fortunately, there is a good solution to the problem: a patio cover that protects the patio and occupants from stormy weather.
Basically, it makes sense to install the patio cover directly when constructing the patio. This saves you money during planning on the one hand, and time on the other, since no further conversion work is required later. However, it is definitely possible to retrofit a patio roof.
» By the way: The patio cover protects the patio from wind and weather. Nevertheless, the terrace needs special care before the onset of winter so that it looks just as beautiful in the new year.
The be-all and end-all of patio roofing is the choice of materials. Do-it-yourselfers who want to lend a hand themselves find it easiest to use wood. This material is inexpensive, easy to process and is also extremely stable. However, wood has the disadvantage that it has to be protected from wind and weather with appropriate care. If you don't want to apply a wood preservative stain regularly, you can use aluminum, glass or metal as an alternative. The latter material is commercially available as a kit system and can be installed quicklybuild up. With glass and aluminum, on the other hand, you have to resort to ready-made solutions, since building them yourself is difficult.
Beautify the terrace: design options
At this point the terrace is already finished. Thanks to the privacy screen, privacy is guaranteed and the patio roof makes it possible to relax even on rainy days. However, the terrace is still sparse and uninviting. We can change that with the following design options:
- Garden furniture
What would a terrace or garden furniture be? A garden table with matching garden chairs, tailored to the size of the terrace, allows the whole family to dine together. In summer you can enjoy the warmth of the sun on your skin on spacious deck chairs. Depending on the size of the terrace, you can also set up a garden bench or seating area. (Reading tip: Garden furniture materials and their properties - small overview) - Plants
Even though there may be enough plants in the garden, some plants should not be missing on the balcony. Depending on how big or small you want the border to nature to be, you can position shrubs, small trees and perennial plants around the terrace so that it is hardly visible. If you want to clearly separate the terrace from the garden, you should choose a few potted plants instead. - Lighting
It's no longer a secret that light affects our mood. The use of different lights can create a nice ambience in the evening. The combination of candles, solar lights and LEDs is recommended. (Reading tip: Garden lighting without electricity - 4 clever ideas for your garden oasis) - Indoors
Comfort is no longer an exclusive feature of interiors. Cosy, robust outdoor furniture creates a cozy feel-good atmosphere on the terrace. - Delicious
Planters with delicious fruit, vegetables and herbs not only ensure a he althy kitchen, they are also beautiful details on the terrace. Many of these plants grow in containers and are really at home on a patio.
If the terrace has finally been embellished with beautiful elements, then the inhabitants of the house can finally inaugurate them.