Paving dilemmas

The material and cut of the stone you go for will have a huge impact on your garden’s character. Paving can be one of the most costly parts of a garden. Here are some tips...

Which material to pick

Most garden designers use three to four different materials, such as granite, brick and oak, to avoid a look becoming too busy. This makes it easier to achieve design unity. Don’t feel you can’t break up one material for example, knapped flint alongside clay bricks is common in rural gardens. Or use smaller units of the same thing like a ribbon of rough granite setts running through sandblasted granite slabs could subtly delineate a children’s play area.

The paving colour and finish

Shades of earthy brown, honey, dark grey and deep brick red work well with most materials used in British architecture, especially older buildings. Subtle is always best.

The effects of weathering on paving

Appearances are important, but so is performance. Garden paving should be slip-resistant, durable, and require little maintenance. Retaining structures built with bricks, blocks, sleepers or stacked stone should stand firm even if the soil beneath is waterlogged. While good-quality materials cost more, they’ll last longer. Visually, check if a material weathers well. Oak, natural stone and copper improve with age. Concrete imitation paving won’t change; however, for some, that’s the point.

The cost of a job

Research, research, research. Local builders merchants and DIY sheds offer good deals, and using local materials can cut costs . The cost of the patio slabs depends on their design, size, construction, quantity and quality. Then there’s labour and machinery costs to factor in. Always get quotes from at least three contractors.