Happy Friday all!

Speaking to the architect yesterday about wanting a polished concrete floor in the kitchen that then extends out to the patio area, he advised that he had intended for a 150mm step in/to outside rather than it all being level. I was quite surprised given he had put in dual sliding doors in the kitchen which would like nicer with no threshold step.

 

I've then asked what about the front entrance, to which it seems that that is a flush threshold (for accessibility purposes). Now if that is the case, we will have entrances on all four sides:
N: front door
E: annexe entrance (older folk residing)
S: annexe patio (older folk residing)

W: kitchen patio

 

Given this, should I be pushing for flush threshold all around the house? Is splashback from rain etc a big issue? Any significant risks around damp?

 

I am trying to design out issues around accessibility (particularly for older people living with us) and its not just an aesthetics line I am pursuing.

 

Thanks in advance

I'm not a fan of level thresholds. As a minimum, I would want a linear drain where any outside fixture is brought up to the height of the DPC.

4 minutes ago, Big Jimbo said:

I'm not a fan of level thresholds. As a minimum, I would want a linear drain where any outside fixture is brought up to the height of the DPC.

 

I was thinking that if I go down this route then there would be a drain around the majority, if not all, of the perimeter to take any rainfall from brickwork away.

We have 5 access doors to house all are level. You need to understand where water goes and how it travels.

 

Our front door is the assigned accessibility door, but we have a 2m roof overhang plus everything slopes away from house. All other doors are from elevated decking so water can run through gaps in the decking to reduce risk at house edge. But everything was designed that way from the start so it all got thought through.

The 150mm from DPC to ground level wasn't made up for fun. You are asking for some nice damp. Have one level access point for the old duffers.

Our rainfall is getting much heavier in GB. 

You get One chance to prevent water getting into your structure. When you have to have all your patio lowered you will be spending loads of cash, and making a right mess.