A patio is only as good as what lies under it. For homes in Monmouth, where period town houses often sit beside generous gardens, we dig out, build up a firm base and lay paving that looks right against the house and stays level through every season of the year.
We handle the whole job ourselves, from marking out the shape to the final pointing. You will not be left with a pile of spoil or offcuts, because we take all the waste away when the paving is finished and the edges around it are tidy.
Monmouth has a lot of older houses with walled or hedged gardens, and a new patio needs to sit comfortably beside them. We look at where the sun falls, where the doors open and how people actually use the space, then mark the outline on the ground so you can see it and walk around it before any digging begins. Nothing is hurried, and you can change your mind about the size or position at this stage.
Mature trees and tall hedges are common in this part of Monmouthshire, so we pay attention to roots near the dig line and to leaf fall, which can leave paving slippery in autumn. Where a tree is close, we adjust the layout or the depth of the dig rather than cutting corners with the base, and we explain why. That way the finished patio stays sound and the tree is not harmed by the work.
The base does the real work. We excavate to the right depth, remove any soft ground and build up a compacted sub-base in layers so it cannot settle unevenly. The slabs then go on a bed of mortar, with a slight fall away from the house so rainwater runs off rather than pooling against the wall. We check the depth again once the first layer is down, because a base that is rushed is the usual reason a patio moves.
With the Wye and the Monnow so close, the ground in Monmouth can hold plenty of moisture, which makes that fall and the drainage underneath especially worth getting right. Joints are pointed neatly once the slabs are set, and cuts around steps, borders and house walls are made carefully so the finish looks deliberate. The result is a flat surface that suits the age and look of the house.
We can lay sandstone-look slabs, porcelain or natural stone, and we are happy to talk through how each one weathers and feels underfoot. A patio next to an old stone house often suits a softer, natural tone. We also cover Rockfield, Dixton and Overmonnow, so wherever you are around Monmouth, we can bring samples to your garden to look at.
A few jobs we have completed. We also work in and around Monmouth.
Patio ConstructionWe cleared the old paving at the back of a Bridgend house, compacted the base and stacked new slabs ready for laying.
See the project →
Patio ConstructionWe laid new grey paving slabs in a narrow Cardiff garden, with timber-edged gravel beds and a membrane-lined side strip.
See the project →
Patio ConstructionWe replaced the front lawn of a red-brick terraced house in Neath with dark grey paving and a pale border of edging stones.
See the project →We work across South Wales. Pick your town to see how patio construction works locally.
Porcelain offers a consistent, low-maintenance surface, while natural stone brings variation and character, and both depend on a properly built base.
Read the guide →The cost of a patio depends on its size, the paving you choose, the ground beneath it and how easily materials and waste can be moved.
Read the guide →
Tree surgery is priced job by job rather than from a fixed list, so this guide explains what moves the cost up or down and how to get a firm figure.
Read the guide →Yes. We set the level so it sits below any damp-proof course and falls gently away from the wall. We take particular care with the edge against the brickwork or stone, and we point it neatly so water is directed away from the building.
They can, so we check before digging. If roots are close to the planned area we adjust the shape or the depth, and where a tree needs attention first, we can deal with that as part of the same visit and then lay the patio afterwards.
We remove it. Old slabs, spoil and packaging all go with us when the job is finished, so you are left with the new patio and a tidy garden, rather than heaps that you would have to arrange disposal for yourself.
Tell us what needs doing and where. We will come back to you, or call 07766 919630 if it is urgent.