Patios, Paving and Block Paving

If you’re looking to improve your outside space a well designed patio area can transform your garden, turning it into an oasis; a place that offers quiet relaxation or the perfect space to entertain friends and family once the warm summer months descend. 

Typically a space that adjoins a property, any paved area located between the home and the garden is referred to as a patio. They are constructed from durable materials, which vary considerably but they can include block paving, slabs (also known as flags or flagstones), tiles, slate and granite.

Flagstones are commonly used to create patios

Many standard patios are created with the familiar grey stone paving slab, traditionally known as ‘flagstones’ or simply ‘flags’. These are usually made from pre-cast concrete and are rectangular or square in shape in most cases, although there are other geometrical shapes available. There are three main types of slab available, riven, textured or decorative. There are also various ways in which a patio can be laid and these methods are mostly mortar pointing, polymeric pointing or sand pointing.

Riven flagstone mimic the appearance of old stone slabs and there is a vast range available. The cheapest of these are the cheap and cheerful 99p slabs sold by DIY stores but for better quality you may wish to go to a specialist supplier instead where top quality and highly accurately reproductions are sold. Mixing different sizes of slabs can help to reproduce the look of an old stone patio. The problem with cheap riven flags however is that the cement content tends to be fairly low. They can also be very thin and prone to fading under the UV rays of direct sunlight. It is therefore more worthwhile to go to larger suppliers to obtain better quality products, even though they may be more expensive. Most riven flags need to be mortared as dry sand pointing will not hold them in place.

Textured and decorative paving

Textured paving consists of surfaces that have been specially altered to produce course textured finishes, smooth ground surfaces or natural aggregate. As with most other types of flags, there is a wide range of colours available.

Decorative paving can include particular aesthetically pleasing surfaces such as cobbles, old bricks, railway sleepers or decking. It is quite often a good idea to combine different types of flags and surfaces to produce shapes and patterns and particularly pleasing designs such as winding pathways, circular areas and diamond patterns as well as the usual ‘checkerboard’ approach.

Other materials available

There are a variety of alternative materials available beside flagstones. Other options for example are block paving, slate slabs and tiles. Tiling for example produces a pleasing terracotta effect. There is enormous variation in pricing and so in order to get a good idea you should really decide what kind of design you want to create and then consult local suppliers.

The benefits of adding a patio

• It will improve the look of your home and make it more attractive to the eye.

• A professionally installed contemporary patio area will add value to your home.

• A patio allows you to enjoy the outside space adjoining your home in comfort.

• It will give you a stylish and comfortable area to entertain family and friends.

Block paving

Block paving uses bricks and can incorporate a variety of different colours, patterns and designs and patterns. Typically block paving is used to create driveways and are a great choice if you’re looking to create a front of house display that has the wow factor. It’s  certainly more pleasing to the eye than the traditional asphalt and concrete surfaces, although block paving techniques mean it’s a more expensive option in comparison.