Residential service
Patios & Pathways
Porcelain, sandstone or block, laid with the right falls and jointed properly — so water runs off the way it should and the edges don't lift a season later.
About Patios & Pathways
A patio is where the garden actually gets used — the spot for the table, the barbecue, the morning coffee — so it's worth getting right. We lay patios and pathways in porcelain, natural sandstone and block, matched to the house and the way you'll use the space, with the groundwork underneath that keeps them flat and safe for years rather than months.
Most patio problems come from the same two shortcuts: laying on dabs of mortar instead of a full bed, and getting the falls wrong so water pools or runs back towards the house. We lay on a full mortar bed on a compacted base, set the falls to carry water away, and prime the back of every slab so it bonds properly — the details that stop slabs rocking, cracking and staining down the line.
Pathways get the same care at a smaller scale: a path that ties the drive to the door, wraps around the house, or threads through the garden, laid level and true with edges that hold. Done well, the patio, the path and the drive read as one considered piece rather than three jobs that happened to meet.
Best for
- Garden spaces that see real use and deserve a surface that lasts
- Homeowners tying a new patio, path and drive together into one look
- Porcelain lovers who want a low-maintenance, stain-resistant, frost-proof finish
What’s included
- A site visit to talk through materials, layout and levels
- Excavation and a compacted sub-base sized for the use
- A full mortar bed — not spot dabs — on a primed slab back
- Falls set to carry water away from the house
- Cutting done by saw for clean lines around edges and features
- Full jointing, brushed or slurry-grouted to suit the material
- The area cleaned down and sealed where the material calls for it
How the job runs
- Site visit and designWe look at the space, the levels and how it links to the house and garden, then talk through materials — porcelain, sandstone or block — and set out the layout and falls.
- Excavate and baseWe dig out and compact a sub-base sized for foot traffic and any furniture, with the falls built in from the start so water always has somewhere to go.
- Lay and cutSlabs go down on a full mortar bed with the backs primed for a proper bond. Cuts around edges, steps and features are sawn for a clean, deliberate finish.
- Joint and finishJoints are filled to suit the material — brushed or slurry-grouted — and the surface is cleaned down and sealed where it needs it. We walk it with you at the end.
Materials & spec
What we build with
- Sub-base — Compacted hardcore sized for the use, with the falls formed in before laying
- Bedding — A full wet mortar bed with the slab back primed — not the five-dab shortcut that leaves slabs to rock and crack
- Paving — Porcelain, natural sandstone or block paving, chosen for the look, the traffic and the maintenance you want
- Jointing — Brushed jointing compound or slurry grout, matched to the material for a clean, weed-resistant finish
- Edging & sealing — Restrained edges to hold the surface, and a sealer on porous stone where it earns its keep
Things worth knowing
Porcelain or natural stone
Porcelain is dense, frost-proof and almost stain-proof — it shrugs off wine, oil and moss, needs no sealing and keeps its colour, which is why it's become the default for a low-fuss modern patio. The trade-off is that it must be laid on a full bed with a primer, because its low porosity means a lazy dab-fix simply won't hold.
Natural sandstone and limestone have a warmth and variation porcelain can't quite match, and suit period and traditional houses beautifully. They're more porous, so they want sealing and the odd clean, and they weather over time in a way most people like. Neither is better — it's a question of the house and how much upkeep you want. We'll bring samples to hold against your brick.
Where we do this
Patios & Pathways across Surrey
We cover the whole county — these are the towns we’re asked for patios & pathways most often.
FAQ
Patios — common questions
Why do some patios rock or crack after a year?
Nearly always because the slabs were laid on dabs of mortar rather than a full bed, or the base wasn't compacted. Voids under a slab let it flex, and flex cracks it — especially with heavier porcelain. We lay on a full bed on a proper base, which is slower and costs a little more, and is why our patios stay put.
Do I need to seal my patio?
Porcelain, no — it's dense enough to resist stains and frost without it. Natural stone, usually yes: a sealer helps it shrug off spills and slows moss and algae, and it's worth refreshing every few years. We'll tell you which camp your chosen material is in and factor sealing into the quote where it applies.
Can you match a new patio to my existing paving?
Often, yes — many ranges are still made, and where an exact match isn't possible we can choose a complementary tone or use a deliberate contrast band to tie old and new together on purpose. We'll show you options at the site visit rather than guess.
How do you stop water running towards the house?
By setting the falls correctly — a patio should always slope gently away from the building, typically a fall of around 1 in 80. We build that into the base before any slab goes down, and add a channel drain where the levels or a step make it necessary.
Can you build steps and raised areas too?
Yes. Steps, low retaining walls, raised beds and split levels are all part of the same job for us, and doing them together means the materials, joints and levels tie in properly rather than looking bolted on later.
More from us
Other services
Block Paving Driveways
A smart, interlocking driveway that lifts the front of the house — laid to BS 7533 on a proper base, so it holds its shape instead of dipping and sprouting weeds.
Get a block paving quote
Resin Bound Driveways
Seamless, permeable and sharp-looking for years. Mixed on site and trowelled by hand — and only ever laid on a base that's genuinely up to the job.
Get a resin quote
Gravel Driveways
The right fit for period and rural properties. Built on a proper base with set edges and the correct depth, so the stone stays put instead of scattering across the lawn.
Get a gravel quote
Driveway Repairs
Dipping, cracked or growing weeds? A drive that's tired in places can usually be put right — patched, re-jointed or re-laid in sections — without ripping the whole thing up.
Book a repair
Need a price for a driveway or surfacing project?
Free, no-obligation quotes. No project too small or too big.