How to create courtyard outdoor entertaining area?

[sah702]

I have a little courtyard and I’m struggling to know what to do with it! I want to make it a place where I can sit with friends. I’d love to have bench seating, planter boxes and a dining area. I don’t want to remove the concrete.

I don’t know where to start, but I want to start with the base. Could I build a deck over the concrete? Could I pave directly on top of it?

Any advice would be much appreciated!! 

[JacobZ]

Hi @sah702,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

Before doing anything to your courtyard, it’s important to check the drainage. Concrete areas can sometimes trap water, especially if they weren’t poured with a proper fall. When adding any new surface, you want to make sure water can still flow away from the house and won’t pool under your new structure. Check that the existing slab slopes slightly toward a drain or garden bed, and if not, you might have to consider having some drainage channels installed to carry water away. This step prevents moisture buildup, damp smells, and damage to anything you build on top later.

If you decide to install a deck over the concrete, you’ll need to consider clearance and ventilation. Even a low-level deck needs to sit slightly above the concrete to allow airflow and drainage underneath. Ideally, you want at least 50 millimetres of space beneath the lowest point of the frame so water can run off freely. Looking at the concrete step at your back door, this might not be enough height to install a deck with sufficient clearance. Typically, you need about 150mm of height for a deck frame, so if you don't have this height from the concrete to the top of the concrete step at your back door, it might not be the best option.

On the other hand, you can lay pavers directly over the existing concrete, provided it’s sound and has the correct fall for drainage. The most common method for installing pavers over concrete is to use a thin bed of mortar both to set the pavers in place and account for changes in the height of the slab. This gives a smooth, durable finish without raising the surface too much. Larger format pavers such as these Brighton Masonry 400 x 400 x 40mm Charcoal Mypave Paver work best in smaller courtyards because they reduce grout lines and create a clean, open look.

Of the two options, I think pavers would be better, but if you have enough height, a deck might still be an option.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob