We recommend the use of natural stone for your paving. Now available in many colours and shades, Indian sandstones and limestones are hard wearing and easy to maintain. The newest slabs come with sawn edges and a polished surface to give a clean, contemporary look. From palest beige and cream through yellows, greys and pink tones to deepest charcoal, many interesting effects can be designed to link your house with your exterior seating areas.
Carrying similar textures and tones through contrasting textures in cobbles, shingles and other aggregates, highlights features and links areas in even the smallest garden.
www.pinkshill.com
www.rock-unique.com
At Honey’s we are super fussy about how your paving is laid. What goes under the slab is more important in many ways than the bit you see!
London tends to have a clay soil which is prone to either hold a lot of water or dry out and crack in summer. As many a householder with a bay window knows, subsidence can happen as the ground continually fills and shrinks. Many builders will tell you they can lay your patio; most do not have our expertise in ground work, and while you may be pleased with the initial result you may eventually have problems.
We look at the drainage issues on site, the direction in which the paving needs to ‘run’, and the traffic it will take. We then calculate the optimum base construction to suit your needs. This is typically a concrete screed base with the slabs mortared in place. Sometimes the concrete may need reinforcing with steel mesh, particularly if the area is big. Occasionally we may think that the base needs to be deeper or constructed from what are called ‘scalpings’, a crushed mixture that is compacted to form a base. We discuss the best solution with you to ensure a wonderful result.
For in depth information on laying slabs, have a look at this site which is one we use a lot
www.pavingexpert.com