Landscape Design and Construction
RAISED CONSTRUCTIONPATIO
All photos and graphics provided by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute.
raised patio is to allow movement from the house to the front or back yard. Sometimes this is achieved using patios that have multiple levels.
A Planning Although this article isn't about design, that's
the start of homeowner discussions. Develop an overall plan and obtain agreement with the home- owners. Do they want to integrate landscaping? If so, where? If it is behind the wall it may affect the drainage design. How many stairs and where? How about accommodating seating, hot-tubs or fire pits? Past projects can provide design ideas for the homeowner, but establish a budget at the out- set of the conversation. A key consideration is the local building code
requirements regarding elevated patios. Almost all jurisdictions require permits for projects that in- clude raised patios and steps. Permits almost always require drawings that are typically created by the
14 Landscape and Irrigation September 2012 Typical raised patio cross section. www.landscapeirrigation.com
s a complement to — or replace- ment for — wood decks, raised patios create functional and at- tractive outdoor living areas. A primary reason for building a
