Paving & Patio Companies Near Me

Paving and Block Driveway Guide

Paving gardens, in part or completely, has been popular in the UK for many years, thanks mainly to the lack of maintenance required, with no more mowing the grass or weeding. Paved areas can also provide a parking space for your car. If you are considering paving your garden, the first stage in the planning process is to define how you will use the area to be landscaped. If you just want to improve the overall appearance of the property, then manufactured patio paving, aggregates, cobbles and circles can be suitable choices. If the paved area is to be used for parking or as a driveway, then concrete block paving is a popular choice.

If you are just looking to tidy up the appearance of part of your garden, then value-range products such as concrete slabs may suffice. If you want to create an external seating or dining area, specific patio paving products are available in a variety of shapes. It is not necessary to limit your landscaping project to just one type of paving product, as it is possible to combine different types, shapes and colours to create the desired finish.

Benefits of Block Paving

The benefits of block paving include durability, an attractive appearance and long-term cost effectiveness. Whether used to create a new path, patio or driveway, block paving can provide a practical and long-lasting surface. Stone flags for paving come in a variety of forms but are mainly classed as calibrated or riven flags with varying thicknesses.

Block Paving, Driveways and Planning Permission

There are rules and regulations concerning paving the front of your home. Planning permission may be required when laying a traditional, impermeable driveway that does not control rainwater running off onto roads if the surface to be covered is more than five square metres. This can apply to new driveways, driveway extensions or driveway replacements.

You may not need planning permission if the surface to be covered is less than five square metres, if the new surface is permeable or porous, or if a traditional surface is laid but the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally or via a soakaway. A range of permeable paving solutions are available to help meet drainage requirements.

Block Paving Driveway Costs and Quotes

Paving costs can vary from around £40 per square metre to over £100 per square metre depending on the materials used, the existing surface, depth of excavation and your location, as aggregate costs can vary across the country. To get a more accurate price, you will usually need a tradesperson to visit your property, inspect the area to be paved and discuss the type of paving or driveway required. You can use the free quote service on this site to have local landscape gardeners and builders get in touch, helping you compare your options without having to ring around individually. Hiring a landscape gardener can also help ensure the groundwork, drainage and paving requirements are properly considered before the work begins.

Choose a landscaper with a track record of patio laying and paving if this is the service you require. Many gardeners focus on particular types of work, so it makes sense to choose someone who regularly carries out paving projects rather than someone whose work is mainly planting or garden maintenance. Ask to see examples of previous paving work before hiring and, where possible, check reviews or references from previous customers.