replacing steps with timber decking

climber101

Hi,

patio doors at back of house open onto a small concrete slab threshold and then 3 steps down into garden. Looking to replace all of this with timber decking. Before I go and ask council planning could you give me your thoughts please whether you think i will need planning permission. I'm thinking yes but that's just a guess.

I don't know about how combustible timber decking is but any thoughts also about this with respect to having timber so close to the house?

thanks in advance, cheers

Pinnacle · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:17 pm Post Subject:

You can not have a timber frame or decking attached to the house without a 10mm gap.
The deck needs to be no more than 30cm from ground level (i.e. the garden area) seeing as you have 3 steps I'm assuming that it would be higher than 30cm once finished.

Best phone the planning office and ask if you need planning permission. If they say no, get a refernece number from them so there is no come back later on once it's finished.

With or without planning, you'll probably need building regs. Again best check with them.

climber101 · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:04 pm Post Subject:

thanks for comments Pinnacle, like you say i'll check with planning etc but that gives me some thoughts, cheers

freddymercurystwin · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:31 pm Post Subject:

Its fairly clear what will and will not require permission http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1115316470793.html

climber101 · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:37 am Post Subject:

thanks, i'm believing i will needing planning and building approvals (oh dear again) and will draught out some for submitting. Good site that, interesting, thanks

PS pinnacle looked at a link to a deck you had done - impressive!

mattylad · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:04 am Post Subject:

Can you leave the steps there but give them a decking face? screw the decking direct onto the concrete steps for effect?

big-all · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:45 am Post Subject:

yes make shure you space off the wall by 10/12mm
also overlooking neibours may be your biggest problem with the height affecting there privacy

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Shytalkz · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 12:01 pm Post Subject:

Pinnacle wrote:

You can not have a timber frame or decking attached to the house without a 10mm gap

Why's that? Genuine question.

freddymercurystwin · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:31 pm Post Subject:

Shytalkz wrote:

Pinnacle wrote:

You can not have a timber frame or decking attached to the house without a 10mm gap

Why's that? Genuine question.

I'm interested to learn how you attach anything to something else with a gap between!