Service
Patios and paving
Porcelain, York stone, limestone and Cotswold-stone patios laid on a proper base, with the levels and drainage right.
In short
What does Gardenscape mean by patios and paving?
Porcelain, York stone, limestone and Cotswold-stone patios laid on a proper base, with the levels and drainage right.
A patio laid to last
A patio is only as good as what it is laid on. We design and lay patios in porcelain, York stone, limestone and local Cotswold stone, on a properly built base, with the levels and the drainage right. The finish is the part you see; the groundwork is the part that decides whether it still looks right in ten years.
The groundwork is most of the job
Most patio problems, the sinking, the rocking slabs, the standing water, come from the base, not the stone. We dig down to firm ground, build a properly compacted sub-base instead of cutting corners, and set the falls so water runs off the surface and away from the house rather than pooling against it. On the heavy Oxford clay of the vale around Chippenham that drainage detail matters even more, because the ground holds water and moves as it wets and dries. We build for the ground we are on.
Materials chosen for the house and the setting
The right material depends on the property and how you want the space to feel. Porcelain gives a clean, low-maintenance, contemporary finish and does not need sealing. Natural stone, York stone and limestone, brings character and weight that suits period and stone properties. Around the Cotswolds, matching local stone keeps a patio in keeping with the house and the village. We help you choose, and we lay it with the cuts, the pattern and the pointing done properly.
Laid by people who care about the finish
The detail is where a patio is won or lost: tight, consistent joints, clean cuts around features, falls you cannot see but that work, and a layout that suits the space rather than fighting it. That is the part cheaper firms rush, and it is the part we will not.
Designed into the wider garden
A patio rarely sits alone. We design it as part of the garden, with the steps, walls, planting and lighting that turn a slab of paving into a place you want to sit. Because we design and build as one firm, it is drawn to suit your levels and your house from the start.
Talk to us about your patio
Tell us about the space and how you want to use it, and we will recommend the material and the layout that suit it. Arrange a consultation to start.
Within this discipline
Related work
Porcelain patios
Porcelain patios laid on a full adhesive bed by installers who lay them properly, because we will not warranty slabs we did not lay.
Indian sandstone patios
Indian sandstone patios laid on a full mortar bed, with the riven character that suits a period garden.
Natural stone patios
Natural stone patios in sandstone, limestone and Cotswold stone, laid to make the most of the stone's character.
Cotswold stone patios
Patios in local Cotswold stone, so the new work sits as though it has always been there.
Pathways
Garden paths in stone, gravel and porcelain that tie the garden together and last.
York stone patios
York stone patios in genuine riven Yorkshire sandstone, a timeless, characterful surface that suits period and country property.
Limestone patios
Limestone patios with a soft, natural finish that sits beautifully with the local stone and period property.
Related services
You may also want
- 01
Porcelain patios
Porcelain patios laid on a full adhesive bed by installers who lay them properly, because we will not warranty slabs we did not lay.
Read - 02
Garden design and build
One firm to design your garden and build it, from survey and drawings through to the finished space.
Read - 03
Cotswold stone patios
Patios in local Cotswold stone, so the new work sits as though it has always been there.
Read
Cost context
Indicative ranges
Figures are relative, not quotations. Each scheme is priced after a survey of access, levels, drainage and finish standard.
| What changes the cost |
|---|
| sub-base and groundwork |
| material |
| laying pattern and cuts |
| levels and drainage |
| site access |
Source: Gardenscape. Figures as of 2026-06-02.
Recent work
Projects in this discipline
Common questions
Common questions
It depends on the house and the look you want. Porcelain is clean, contemporary and low-maintenance with no sealing. Natural stone such as York stone and limestone brings character that suits period and Cotswold-stone properties. We help you choose to suit the setting.
Almost always the base. A patio laid on a weak or poorly compacted sub-base will move, especially on clay ground that holds water. We dig to firm ground and build the base properly, which is most of why our patios last.
Yes. We set the falls so water runs off the surface and away from the house rather than pooling, and we plan for the ground conditions, which matters most on the clay of the vale where water sits.
Usually not for a ground-level patio in a back or side garden. It can change if you raise levels, build retaining, or you are in a conservation area or the Cotswold National Landscape. We check it with you first.
Yes. We source and lay local stone to keep a patio in character with a period or stone property, so it sits with the house and the village rather than standing apart from it.
Arrange a consultation
Send a few photographs and a sentence about the site. We will reply personally.