Patios
Most of the gardens we work on are long and narrow, so the patio has to do a lot: a level place to sit by the back door, steps where the ground drops, and a clean edge where the lawn starts.
Porcelain is what most customers choose now: it does not stain easily and stays the same colour. It has to be laid on a full bed with a slurry primer, otherwise the slabs can come loose, so that is how we lay it.
Indian sandstone suits older houses and front gardens with brick walls. Every slab is a little different, so we lay them out first and mix the colours before they go down.
Where the patio meets a manhole or a drain, we cut the slabs round it or fit a recessed cover so it stays accessible.
Recent patio work includes a patio with a pergola in Hendon and a large paved back garden in Uxbridge.
What's included
- Digging out and a compacted sub-base
- Laying on a full mortar bed, not dabs
- Falls set away from the house so water runs off
- Pointing, cutting round drains and manhole covers
- Steps, edging and the lawn edge finished
- Waste taken away and the site cleaned
Every job comes with a 12-month guarantee, written on the quote.
More of our patios work
Questions about patios
Do I need planning permission for a patio?
Usually not for a back garden patio. If you are paving a front garden over 5 square metres, the surface has to be permeable or drain to a lawn or border, otherwise planning permission is needed. We tell you which applies when we quote.
How long does a patio take?
It depends on the size and the ground. We give you the number of days in the quote, after seeing the garden.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes, 12 months, written on the quote.