Building Patio and Back Step - What About the DPM??

[Screwed]

Hi there,

We recently had our extension finished...well nearly finished! The builder didn't build us a back step as it would have cost another 500 quid to which I laughed at.

As the weather is starting to get a bit better I am in the mood to start thinking about building this step (or steps) myself and also laying our patio.

My first question is, I am aware that patio's must be at least 6 inches below the DPM but what about the back step as it is quite a drop at the moment and I would like to build the Steps as shallow as possible to the back door??

Secondly, how do I go about this, do you have to lay some sort of foundation for a large step? I am going to use breeze blocks faced with bricks and topped with the same stone as the patio - am I right or completely wrong in this approach?

Lastly - I am assuming I build the step first and lay the patio around it? A friend has suggested laying a concrete base for the patio and cementing the stone directly to this, is this correct for a large patio?

Many thanks for your help!!!

 

[noseall]

As a step generally occurs outside a door, then rain splash will only effect the door. Many have canopies in conjunction with a step also.

If we are slabbing then we tend to leave out the slabs where the step is going. This recess can then be filled with concrete and a single course engineering brick laid, then slabs on top, allowing the slabs to over-sail the bricks slightly.

The brick + slab is usually the right amount of rise as to halve the step down from the door threshold. If it is a tad more of a drop then the bricks can be laid on edge.

N.B. All the above is based on the patio finishing 150mm down from the dpc.