Flagstone Patio and Window Wells

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Flagstone Patio and Window Wells

by Dan
(Va.)

I am in VA and am having a flagstone patio installed on a 4" concrete slab.

The patio was initially going to be against the house. However, there are 2 basement window wells there.

I wanted to know if you had any creative ideas to deal with these. Is it best to not bring the patio flush with the house, or is it more stable to do so?

If brought to the house, would you keep the window wells but just face them with flagstone/stone to make them look better, or remove them all together and drop grade so that the window sill is at least 6" above the patio?

trying to find creative solutions.

thanks,

dan in va

ANSWER

Hi Dan,

Here are my thoughts:

1.If you lower the grade 6", you almost have to build a 6" wall from the top of the patio to the bottom of the window sill...and also along the rest of the patio since it will now be below existing grade. I feel this is a lot of unnecessary work and adds on additional costs.

2. I don't think facing the window well with stone will look right. It will look like a stone box..if I am understanding what you are inferring.

3. As far as whether you should bring the patio up to the house (and wells), it doesn't really matter, as long as the patio is pitched correctly away from the house. In your case I would do a minimum of 2% or 1/4" per foot.

So I would suggest not bringing the patio up to the house. There are two ways you could do this. Leave a planting bed along the entire patio length up against the house. Or better yet, create some cutouts around the window wells for plants. Make sure they are just not skimpy beds around the wells, but extend them further on each window well side and also out in front of the wells. Make it large enough to be interesting and be able to add substantial sized plants...18" - 3'. You can use perennials, shrubs, or both.

This gives you the opportunity to create some softness with plants between portions of the patio and house. And just as important, you can choose plants that will hide or camouflage the wells.

This is a good solution, would look great, and also save you money!

Susan

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Flagstone Patio and Window Wells

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Feb 03, 2010

Patio Cutouts and Window Wells
by: Susan

Hi Dan,

I didn't mean for you to come out 5' from the wells. What I envision is a bed in front of the wells which would be a minimum of 18" deep. If you can go wider, it would just give you the opportunity to use larger plants.

I would do the same on either side of the well. The point is to plant around the wells to hide them, by "cutting out" a bed.

If you can't afford to give up that space, I would just ignore the wells altogether. If you have a beautiful flagstone patio, furniture, plantings, etc., the wells will be minor.

I'll try to email you so that you can send me a sketch and I'd be happy to take a look.

Susan

Feb 03, 2010

Ok
by: Dan

I understand what you mean by the wall.

What is a cutout u refer to? If I send u a sketch can u let me know your thoughts?

Feb 03, 2010

Thanks
by: Dan

Thanks for the reply. I am not sure what you mean by having to build a wall? I thought I would remove the wells and excavate so that the patio is 6" below the bottom of the sill and just lay the patio that way sloping away from house. Why is there a wall needed?

My only concern about not connecting to the house and coming 5' out from the house to give space to plant in front of the window well is reducing my backyard size.

If it turns out that I don't have enough space to put the patio 5' back from house, do you have any suggestions on how to handle the wells? Remove them and just place the patio 6" below sill, or make stone window wells possibly doubling as seating if not too dangerous?

If it's easier u can email me.

Thanks

Dan

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Flagstone Patio and Window Wells

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Flagstone Patio and Window Wells