Enjoying a terrace is a simple pleasure capable of both providing soleil in your daily life and value your place of life. Alas, this has a cost and its construction can cause many orders in the beautiful layout of your garden, carefully crafted. However, today there is a solution that limits destructive earthworks and avoid to go through the box “concreting” of your environment.
The terrace on pedestalsis not a miracle solution, but a technique for creating terraces, innovative, simple, fast, clean, proven, aesthetic, durable and within the reach of amateurs.
Advantages of the terrace slab on pedestals
As we have already mentioned, the terrace on pedestal preserves costs, construction constraints, hazards (Cracking, settling, etc.) and the final appearance of a heavy concrete slab. However, nothing stands in the way to s‘to lean on on such an existing structure, even in poor condition. Better, this option does not cause any degradation of the support, reusable as isat any time.
The terrace on pedestal,
- s’adapte perfectly at the gradient of your land,
- does not require, for certain processes, no grouting, screws, nails or glue,
- allows the free flow of rainwater and does not retain, on its surface, any trace of humidity or puddle of water,
- it’s coldat will, precisely up to par access thresholds to housing,
- does not require planing step regular of the support surface,
- accelerate the thermal dispersion solar radiation through the ventilated space, between the floor and the covering, thus improving walking comfort,
- without contact with the ground, the interstice cable and pipe cover unsightly (which remain accessible),
- is compatible with a wide range of materials (stone or concrete slabs, porcelain stoneware tiles, wooden or synthetic slats, etc.),
Disadvantages of the terrace slab on pedestals
The main limit for laying terraces on pedestals, is linked to the soil stability. The compactage of the backfilled surfaces must be particularly cared for. Renting an efficient snow groomer for a few hours represents a low investment compared to the guarantees of stability over time that it provides. The other inconveniences, which are rare, are for the most part attributable to a lack of quality of components or flaws in implementation. In one case, as in the other, the disorders observed over time are always repairable, without damage for the cohesion or aesthetics of the work.
The height influence of the blocks can sometimes constitute a contraindication to the use of this technique.
Principle of laying terraces on pedestals
The principle is extremely simple:
- lay out jacks (the studs), placing them at regular intervals on the ground.
- Embed the terrace covering slabs directly on these infinitely height-adjustable supports.
- Complete the finish fields by blades and angle irons.
Your terrace is ready to use!
This process is disconcertingly simple, but forced, upstream, to make arbitrations on the materials, the finishing coating and the method of manufacture. Each of these choices directly impacts theaesthetic of the terrace, but also the level of difficulty of installation and the end price of the work.
Which flooring for your terrace on pedestals?
In absolute terms, all traditional materials are adaptable to a technique of laying on pedestals. Experience shows that, to benefit from all the advantages of the method, it is important to respect a few rules:
- Each element of the material must be of substantially constant thickness, to maintain a surface without irregularities, harmonious and comfortable for walking. It is also difficult to place furniture and accessories on uneven ground.
- The material must be resistant. It is hardly possible to multiply the number of supports ad infinitum. This excludes, without any specific arrangement, coatings with low mechanical resistance or low thickness.
- The terrace must adapt to climatic variations. By definition exposed to bad weather, the material must resist the aggressions of time.
So many reasons that lead to prefer 3 main groups of materials:
- Treated planed wooden slats,
- assembled treated wood panels,
- self-supporting rectified porcelain stoneware tiles (at least 20 mm thick),
Some rectified slabs of natural rocks ingelives, are usable. However, it should be prudentbecause a large number of them include structural continuity defects or some microfissures not detectable with the naked eye. These products are subject to sudden flex fracture. Consequently, for natural stone slabs, mounting on pedestals must be expressly authorized by the original quarry. Otherwise, spread them without qualms!
Which pedestals for your terrace?
We are not dealing here with cast concrete, prefabricated concrete or wooden (stilt type) blocks. Their implementation is a matter for specialists, out of the question in this article. The synthetic material studsadjustable in height by micrometric means, are more easy to use, plus effectivejust as durables and offer the exclusive particularity of allowing easy disassembly and transport for reuse. The manufacturers of these studs have developed real systems, including supports, structures, a multitude of coating models. Everything is accompanied by a tutorial precise assembly and sometimes a tailor-made service.
important note : to avoid disappointment, only use products from well-established major brands, whose quality and reputation are recognized and attested by compliance with the standards in force and by numerous verifiable references.
The technique of direct laying on pedestals
In this installation option, the slabs rest directly on the pedestals. Each head has a crosspiece, serving both as stopper for corners of slabs and spacer between them. Large slabs require the interposition of intermediate studs, evenly distributed under their surface. It is then appropriate toshave the bracesto provide a flat contact surface.
It is a simple and fast method, but which involves dimensional restrictions and on the nature of the coatings. It is reserved for large slabs or very wide short planks, with high mechanical resistance. Synthetic or narrow blades are too flexible and unstable. This is the preferred mounting mode. thick porcelain stoneware and wood panels assembled.
The structure installation technique
In this method, the tiles or blades are no longer directly resting on the head of the pedestals, but supported by a mesh of joists placed on the studs and sleepers on which the paving rests. Joists and sleepers can be in bois (more sensitive to deformation and rotting), in treated steel anti-corrosion (galva/magnesium) or aluminum alloy. Wooden structures, inexpensive, are mainly intended to support wooden blades or synthetic blades screwed in the traditional way. The metal structures lend themselves to all shapes, accept all materials and guarantee a great stability in time. The coating is no longer fixed, but simply recessed in the structure, which allows a permanent access in the basement of the terrace.