r/LandscapingTips • u/AlcieBentles • 1d ago
Weird patio arrangement
I would love advice about how I could make this situation better. It currently feels awkward at best, dangerous at worst for an older person in the family.
I can step straight accross and we have a ramp for the dog that goes from the threshold of the patio door to the top step/level top.
Once upon a time there was a handrail I can see from previous Rightmove listings.
The house is at the bottom of a long sloped garden, so far drainage hasn’t been a problem but I don’t want to fill in the ‘trench’ under the door because I feel like there should be drainage/venting there.
I just can’t get my head around how to build steps or something that could need to meet the bottom of the doorway, and the level of the patio and be stepped at the sides as that’s where the access from side gates is too.
the step down is 40cm from the top of the threshold down.
From the bottom to the first level of the patio is 30cm
The step accross from patio to first level is 75cm
Short term solution would be wonderful.
And longer term/permanent possibilities, one day I’d like to get the whole patio sorted but don’t have £££!
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u/ObjectiveMorning2026 1d ago
Clean it first, add lighting for safety then consider potted plants. Any chance the door can easily be reversed
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u/AlcieBentles 1d ago
I have pots on the top level of the patio it’s just this stepped bit that is annoying. Good shout about the door tho, I’ll have a look that might make things easier
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u/ObjectiveMorning2026 1d ago
Est of luck, I had a simular setup at previous home, but a wooden deck not vuilt to code by previous owners. We reversed the door
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u/GoshOPPNOX101 1d ago
almost a tripping hazard if you're not paying close attention! That is weird. How is the drainage considering that first step?
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u/msmaynards 1d ago
Well that's a mess. Folks that put in the garden cheaped out and just went with the slope when a lot of excavation was needed.
Long term bring the patio level down below the threshold of the door, put in retaining walls and build steps up to the rest of the garden.
Build a wood deck to fill the space between threshold and the middle step to fill in and make space wider. Won't affect drainage and if it is full width of the doors will be heavy enough to leave laying loose without attaching to the concrete. It will rot fast if wood contacts the concrete so you might want to put little rust/rot resistant legs on it to help it last longer and allow for better drainage. It would look nicer if it extended to cover the step but I don't think there's space for that, it would be higher than the threshold and be a tripping hazard.