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The best patios are boring underneath.Paving & Patios
Porcelain, sandstone or clay pavers: the surface is the easy part. What makes a patio last is what you never see. Dug right, compacted, laid to falls, with the drainage planned before the paving is even ordered.
Rain is the real inspection.
The big photo above was taken in the rain on purpose. A patio looks its best wet only if the levels are right: water sits bright on the surface, then slips away where it was told to go. If the base is wrong you get puddles by the second winter, and no slab in the world can hide that.
So we spend our time underneath. Sub-base compacted in layers, full mortar beds, falls set with string lines and levelling clips, channel drainage where the garden needs it. Then the surface: limestone-toned porcelain for clean modern spaces, riven sandstone where the house wants something softer, clay pavers for paths with a bit of character.
We carry the paving through properly too: side passages, thresholds and steps, so the garden reads as one piece instead of stopping at the corner of the house.
- Porcelain, natural sandstone and clay pavers
- Falls and drainage designed before anything is laid
- Sub-bases built for the ground you actually have
- Steps, thresholds and side passages included in the thinking
- Materials from trusted merchants, including Lawsons
Fair questions
Porcelain or natural sandstone?
Porcelain is crisp, consistent and very low maintenance, which suits modern spaces. Riven sandstone is softer and more forgiving, which suits older houses. We will show you both against your house and tell you honestly which we would choose.
Do you deal with drainage?
Yes, first. Falls and drainage are planned before the paving is ordered, and channel drainage goes in where it is needed before a single slab is laid. There is a whole section on it in the walled garden project.
Do you supply the materials?
Yes. We buy through trusted merchants, including Lawsons, and only lay materials we would put down at our own homes.
How long does a patio take?
It depends on the ground, the access and the size, so we will not pretend otherwise. You will get a realistic timeline with your quote and we keep you posted as we go.
Related: Garden Design Garden Walls & Steps Our Work
Thinking about a patio?
Rough sizes and a couple of photos are enough to start. Free written quote, no pressure after it.
