I am planning on renovating our front yard. I think much of it is the same since the house was built back in the Victorian era. I think there will be a few main components:
- A solid surface to cover everything, i.e existing weeds, gravel, old concrete path. My thinking is then it would be ideal for plant pots, flowers etc.
- New wall built where existing fence sections at front and side have fallen down.
- Porch at side of house where existiing front door is.
Here are some pictures of what is there at the moment :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x2teX0fDsjAo8phgKXf2-ZE6NAdQg64s/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gof542c_DkJeQpTy1xRAvPif41HGaBfy/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/106zy-ieNfc17grcafTW7Hgb7kkUThsE-/view?usp=sharing
In terms of a design, I am struggling to understand a few things:
1.) The existing surfaces and front door are currently lower than street level. I know this is not ideal, so I am trying to find the best solution in terms of practicality and aesthetics. In my mind I can imagine two possible solutions:
a.) A surface sloping down gently from street level to the porch entrance. Disadvantages might be it would need some kind of drainage system for collecting water, might look a bit ugly and rubbish and debris blown in from the street would collect in at the lowest point.
b.) A surface between the street and porch entrance that was level, with a step down inside the porch entrance dealing with the height difference. Disadvantages might be that the step would be annoying when coming in/out of the house, could also look unusual/ugly and might be difficult to implement for the builders.
Which solution sounds best? Are there alternatives?
2.) The porch would have to integrate somehow with the existing brick wall shared with the neighbours. How would this work? Would the wall need to be removed?
3.) There is currently a section of drainpipe that is fed from a large section of roof that runs across the boundary with the neighbours and seems to feed into a hole in the pavement. Is this is legal? What would the ideal solution be? The sewer drain is at the back of the house so I think it would be very difficult to feed into this. Would some kind of sink drain built into the ground be a good idea? Should I just leave it alone?
Thank you!
- A solid surface to cover everything, i.e existing weeds, gravel, old concrete path. My thinking is then it would be ideal for plant pots, flowers etc.
- New wall built where existing fence sections at front and side have fallen down.
- Porch at side of house where existiing front door is.
Here are some pictures of what is there at the moment :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x2teX0fDsjAo8phgKXf2-ZE6NAdQg64s/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gof542c_DkJeQpTy1xRAvPif41HGaBfy/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/106zy-ieNfc17grcafTW7Hgb7kkUThsE-/view?usp=sharing
In terms of a design, I am struggling to understand a few things:
1.) The existing surfaces and front door are currently lower than street level. I know this is not ideal, so I am trying to find the best solution in terms of practicality and aesthetics. In my mind I can imagine two possible solutions:
a.) A surface sloping down gently from street level to the porch entrance. Disadvantages might be it would need some kind of drainage system for collecting water, might look a bit ugly and rubbish and debris blown in from the street would collect in at the lowest point.
b.) A surface between the street and porch entrance that was level, with a step down inside the porch entrance dealing with the height difference. Disadvantages might be that the step would be annoying when coming in/out of the house, could also look unusual/ugly and might be difficult to implement for the builders.
Which solution sounds best? Are there alternatives?
2.) The porch would have to integrate somehow with the existing brick wall shared with the neighbours. How would this work? Would the wall need to be removed?
3.) There is currently a section of drainpipe that is fed from a large section of roof that runs across the boundary with the neighbours and seems to feed into a hole in the pavement. Is this is legal? What would the ideal solution be? The sewer drain is at the back of the house so I think it would be very difficult to feed into this. Would some kind of sink drain built into the ground be a good idea? Should I just leave it alone?
Thank you!
