This is the most expensive and finest paving available. It can be found in a vast range of types, colours, shapes and textures, looking superb in any well-designed garden.

As with all surfaces, it should be used within the overall context of the setting. While fine, old, second-hand sandstone flags would naturally look out of place adjoining a high-tech steel-and-glass facade, the same stone would look superb laid as a terrace in a more traditional situation. Read the rest of this entry »

Gravel is a versatile, attractive and relatively cheap paving material. It can look equally at home as the base for a patio in a formal town garden or as a sweeping drive in the country, but correct laying is essential if you are to avoid an uncomfortable ‘treadmill’ effect when trying to cross your path or patio.

Always ensure that gravel is laid on a solid subbase of well-compacted hardcore, the thickness of which should he between 7cm (3in) and i5cm (6in), depending on the underlying soil type and the amount of traffic — either cars or pedestrians. Over the hardcore lay a 5cm (2in) layer of 5cm (2in) diameter gravel and roll this well in. Read the rest of this entry »

Brick paving is extremely versatile. If your house is also built of brick, you can use it in the garden to create strong visual links between the two areas. It can he teamed with another surface if used as panels or contrasting courses, or laid alone to make a superb path or patio. Because a brick is a small module it can be laid to a curving or circular pattern without cutting, making it particularly suitable for the sweeping line of a path or for a strongly shaped patio. Read the rest of this entry »