What is the ground level, our front door opens to the ground level, the living quarters are on the same level, the balcony platform is on the same level.
from our kitchen steps we go down another level to our garden, so is the level of our garden the ground floor or is ground level where our living quarters are.
Sorry but I have had various versions, anybody have the definitive answer or documents to view.
I'm really confused why you're having a tough time understanding what the ground is?!?!
In a building you might start with a space below ground - say a basement or cellar. This is lower than the ground level.
Then you have the ground floor. This is the same level as the ground.
Then the upper floors, starting with the first floor, then possibly a second floor and so on. These are above ground level.
You might then have a space within the roof, either a loft space or attic. Also, above ground level.
Outside the building, the bit that you might walk on (the garden, paving slabs, driveway etc) is the ground. If the ground is at the top of a hill, it's still the ground, if it's at the bottom of a hill it's still the ground - this is the 'ground level' and it's important to establish this level in comparison the the finished floor level of the proposed new development. Your ground floor has a finished floor level of 150mm above the ground level (or thereabouts, could be more if on a slope) so therefore a first floor level might start at 150mm (FFL) + 2400mm (to ceiling) + 250mm (top of first floor), so 2800mm above the ground level but only 2650mm above the ground floor.
A balcony is an enclosed area that's entered via an upper floor. If you have a balcony on the rear of your property is must mean that the ground level is below this otherwise you might call it a terrace - which would normally be at ground level (but could also be at the top of a building).
If the front of the house is at ground level but the back of the house needs steps to get into the garden, then the lower part then becomes the ground level. If you build directly above that, say putting a shed up in the garden, then you'd put it at ground level. If you put the shed on stilts so that it was level with the ground 'floor' of the property then it would be an upper level, therefore not at ground level.
If you're planning to put a conservatory on a balcony then this is on a raised platform so then you'd need to apply for planning permission.
*phew*
