Few gardens in Pontypool are flat. With hillside terraces, wooded slopes and the edge of the Brecon Beacons close by, a patio often means creating a level space where the land does not offer one. That is the kind of job we like to plan carefully, with the right base and plenty of thought for drainage.
We cut the ground back, build a solid base and lay paving that sits square and drains properly, finished neatly against steps, walls and borders. Spoil and offcuts are cleared away afterwards, so you are left with the patio and not a pile of soil at the bottom of the garden.
On a sloping Pontypool plot, the first question is how much to cut and how much to build up. We look at the fall of the garden, where water will run and how the new level meets the house, then decide where steps or a low retaining edge are needed. On steeper plots we may suggest a smaller patio, because a modest level area that is built well beats a large one that has to be propped up.
Older homes and newer ones sit side by side on these hills, so no two gardens are the same. We measure on site and set levels with care, because a slab that is out by a little at one end becomes obvious by the other. Marking the shape out first lets you see the footprint before we dig, and change it while a change is still just a line on the grass.
Sloping ground puts extra demand on the base. We excavate to firm material, build the sub-base up in thin compacted layers and lay the slabs on a bed with a fall away from the building. That keeps water moving and helps the surface stay level instead of slowly drifting out of shape, which a patio on a hillside is more prone to than one on level ground.
Where the ground above Pontypool sends water downhill, we think about where it goes before we lay anything, and in some gardens a drain or gravel channel at the back edge is worth discussing. Pointing comes last. Edges against walls, steps and flower beds are cut and finished tidily, and if you would like a step down to the lawn, tell us before we start.
Wooded slopes mean shade, leaves and damp, so we talk through which paving copes with that, and how often it will need sweeping or washing. Porcelain, sandstone-look slabs and natural stone are all options, and some suit shady spots better than others. We also work around Griffithstown, Trevethin and Cwmbran, and can look at your Pontypool garden whichever side of the park it sits.
A few jobs we have completed. We also work in and around Pontypool.
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 →Usually, yes. We cut into the slope and, where needed, add a retaining edge or steps so the finished area is level and secure. We would look at the garden first and explain what is realistic before any work begins.
We plan for it. The patio is laid with a fall away from the house, and we consider where surface water already travels so we do not trap it. In some gardens, extra drainage at the edge is worth discussing.
Shade and leaf fall can make any smooth surface slick. We can suggest paving with more texture, and regular sweeping helps a great deal. If branches keep the spot permanently damp, we can also look at lifting or thinning the canopy.
Tell us what needs doing and where. We will come back to you, or call 07766 919630 if it is urgent.