How to choose the right paving for your garden. When planning your new patio there are many things you need to take into consideration when choosing the paving slabs for your project. Do you have a specific style of paving in mind? Are you looking for a flat, smooth or riven design? Do you have a colour preference? You need to make sure that the style and colour you choose will compliment your home and is in keeping with the style of your home. Paving slabs come in a variety of sizes. You can choose a uniform look having all pavers the same size, often chosen in a modern garden design. Or a mixed size pack which is often called a “patio pack” and has a selection of different sizes. These packs give you the flexibility to create a random pattern unique to your space. A popular trend this year is for large or oversize pavers in limestone, sandstone or porcelain in light, neutral colours. They create an indoor-outdoor effect as they look more like luxury tiling. These can be laid continuous or a broken-up layout. Budget is an important consideration as paving slabs do vary in price so you need to choose the right paver for your budget. Concrete paving is often the cheapest option. These come in a range of colours and are long-lasting and also recyclable. Natural stone like sandstone, limestone and granite are a very popular choice and are a mid-range option. They are hard-wearing and durable and offer a timeless look to your garden. Also available in a large selection of sizes and colours. If you are looking for a low-maintenance paver then porcelain is a good choice. More expensive than a natural stone it is a very hard-wearing paver, which is non-slip and provides resistance to frost, algae and stains. Are there different levels in your garden? Will you need a retaining wall to accommodate these and if so what materials do you want to use for this part of the project. What would look good against the paving, what material would you like to use, what colour, what size? For finishing touches you can choose to install a paving border to your patio in a different colour to provide a contrast to your paving and to add a visual definition to your patio. If you are planning a new patio and would like to discuss how to choose the right paving for your garden please get in touch to arrange a free consultation and quote. Please send an email to office@eastlondonlandscapes.com. We cover East London and West Essex.
Latest Client Review East London
Just received this lovely review from a happy client in Leyton, East London. “C&J Landscapes installed some decking, slabbing and a lawn for me. I had an initial chat with Christian when I was still deciding on a few things, which wasn’t a problem. He talked me though the available options for the materials and provided some samples for the decking and slabbing so I could chose the colour. The work was completed efficiently to a high standard. Very professional and pleasant firm, wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.”
Slate Paving
Slate paving is a hardwearing material which seems to improve with age. It is popular in gardens for its anti-slip properties which are due to it being very dense. It is non-porous meaning that is does not allow liquid to easily pass through and it dries quickly (rather handy in the UK with all our rain!) Being a natural stone it is better to use for the environment than a man-made stone. It is a good choice to bring the outdoors in as you can also install indoor slate pavers in your kitchen to provide a seamless flow through. There are options of a flagstone or a paving slab. Flagstones have a more natural and weathered look suited to a traditional garden. Slate pavers suit a more modern garden by providing a crisper look. Slate paving comes in many shapes and sizes and works in both traditional and modern gardens. Different sized riven paving works well in a cottage garden and more standard sizes work well in contemporary spaces. Slate paving is ideal if you are looking for a darker blue or grey colour paver which provides a good background for your plants and flowers. Regarding maintenance it should be given a thorough clean two or three times a year and regular sweeping to keep the area clean. If you would like to discuss a paving project please email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com to arrange a free consultation with one of the team.
Indian Sandstone Paving
When choosing paving slabs for a garden project Indian Sandstone is very popular and is chosen by many of our clients for their paving projects. It is available in a riven or a smooth sawn surface. Indian Sandstone is a natural, quarried rock that is cut and shaped into paving slabs. As it is a soft rock it is easy to cut and shape to create a curve or a specific design for a patio. It is a good quality paver and comes in a variety of colours and sizes. You can choose to have one size paver for your patio or a combination of the sizes. For maintenance of your paving sweep the patio regularly to remove any debris and wash with soapy water. Try to avoid using any cleaning products that contain acid as this can create rusting on the slabs. If you would like to discuss a paving project please email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413 to arrange a consultation with one of our friendly team. Our landscaping services cover East London . If you get a moment take a look at our website www.eastlondonlandscapes.com
Garden Redesign South Woodford, East London
Our latest project was a garden redesign for our clients in South Woodford, East London. Our clients had recently had an extension to their property and their back garden was left in a mess and was pretty much unusable for them. After creating such a beautiful home they wanted to create a beautiful garden to relax in. They were looking at a low maintenance garden and had ideas of what they wanted to achieve. We started off with an initial consultation to discuss ideas and products to use in their garden. Our consultations are free where we provide a quote for the works. We then showed them samples of paving and decking options for them to choose. There are many different types of paving materials and different size options to consider. For the decking we looked at hardwood and softwood options and discussed costings and the difference in the materials. There were various levels in the garden so we installed Indian Sandstone paving to incorporate these with steps going down to the bottom level with rendered columns. We lay softwood decking and installed the rope handrails. We built the raised beds ready for planting, together with a rendered bed and surrounded these with decorative stones and stepping stones. We installed feather-edge fencing at the bottom of the garden with horizontal slatted fencing at the top. This garden gave our happy clients everything they were looking for. If you would like to discuss a project please email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413. We cover East London . Our experienced teams specialise in decking, paving, fencing, brickwork and turfing.
What to Consider When Planning a New Patio
Here we look at what to consider when planning a new patio. When planning a new paving project in your garden there are many things to take into account, your budget for the project, ensuring you have the correct drainage. the type of paving you would like to install, the colour of the paving, the size of the pavers, the layout of the pavers. Also what you are hoping to achieve with your new patio, what you are looking to use the new area for and the best location in your garden to install this. Patio Position Before installation take a good look at your garden space and work out the best place for the patio. Where would you get most use out of it. Do you have a really sunny corner that would work well or would you prefer to have the patio straight outside of your property making it easy for entertaining. Think about the best position to ensure privacy. Size Think about the size you would like your patio space. Take into account the size of the space that will fit well in your garden. Also the amount of people it needs to accommodate, maybe a cosy seating space or a large entertaining area for friends and family. Think of the furniture you have in mind for the area and ensuring that there is enough space around the furniture to walk around comfortably. Budget Plan your budget for the project and try to stick to it. Speak to professionals to discuss your project and get a quote for the work. Find a contractor you feel comfortable working with. Style There are many options available with pavers so carry out online research to find out which colour, paving material and style works well with your property and with your project. Think about the layout as the pavers can be laid in different patterns. You can also choose to have all the paving slabs the same size or there are mixed sized packs available to create different designs. Also what works well within your budget as prices can differ between different types of materials. Drainage Drainage is a very important factor when installing paving. If you use a contractor for your project they will be able to bring their expertise in that area to your project and ensure the correct drainage is in place. If you are thinking of what to consider when planning a new patio and have any questions or would like to discuss a paving project please get in touch. We provide landscaping services in East London and specialise in paving, decking, fencing, driveways and turfing. Please email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413.
Latest Client Review
Here is the latest review from Fiona, a happy client in East London, where we carried out a complete garden redesign for her. “So pleased with my new garden thanks to Chris and his team. Very friendly and professional service, and they managed to transform my messy garden in just 2 days. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend C & J Landscapes.“ If you would like to discuss a landscaping project please email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413. We specialise in decking, paving, fencing, driveways and turfing. Our friendly, experienced teams cover East London and West Essex.
Latest Client Review
Here is the latest review from a happy client in East London where we installed a new patio for them. “Couldn’t be happier with the new patio, friendly team, very knowledgable and good attention to detail. Recommended.” If you would like to discuss a landscaping project please email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413. We specialise in decking, paving, fencing, driveways and turfing. Our friendly, experienced teams cover East London and West Essex.
Getting Your Patio Ready For Summer
We can feel the days getting hotter so our thoughts turn to our gardens. One of the jobs to be done is to get your patio area clean and ready for the Summer. Below are some tips for getting your patio ready. Remove everything from the area, all chairs, BBQs and plants and pots to create a clear space to work in. You can’t do a thorough job moving around objects. Then give the area a really good sweep. Making sure you get into all the corners and remove any leaves or debris that have accumulated. Remove any weeds that have come up over time. Try to get the root out or as near to the root as possible. If you have sand filled joints and the weed takes some sand up with it remember to replace the sand. Do not leave this partially filled. Alternatively use a weed killer to remove. One of the quickest ways to bring your patio back to life is with a jetwash. This provides a really deep clean and will bring up the colour of the paving beautifully. However if you don’t have one of these a good old bucket of water with some paving cleaner or washing up liquid and a stiff brush will work wonders too. If using a paving cleaner always check that it is suitable for the paving so that you do not damage the stone. Apply a sealant if needed. Take care to use the correct one for your pavers. There are many options available in the DIY shops and garden centres. You may need to repoint between the paving stones. If this job is needed it will be worthwhile as it will really refresh the look of the paving. Give all your chairs and tables a good clean before returning them to the patio area. Rinse and wash your garden umbrella as it has probably accumulated some dirt and grime and probably bird poo! Firstly rinse with a hose, give it a good wash over with some cleaner then rinse off and lay out to dry thoroughly. Now the fun stuff. Buy some new planters and some new plants to welcome in the Summer. Might be time for some new furniture to freshen up your look. String up some outdoor string lights to create the perfect atmosphere for relaxing and unwinding. Remember that as with your house your garden needs regular maintenance to keep it in tip top condition. In particular for your patio keep brushing regularly to avoid dirt, moss or weed build up. If your patio is past just a spring clean it might be time to look at repairing or replacing it. If this ends up being the case you could look at a different type of paving for a totally new look to your garden or a complete overhaul and replacing it with decking instead. If you would like to discuss a project please get in touch via email to office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call our office on 020 3633 6413.
How To Plan A Garden Makeover
Carrying out a total garden makeover is a very exciting and important project for your home. Take your time to think and plan what your dream garden will look like. What look would you like to achieve? Think about what you need your garden to be? Somewhere to relax, somewhere for the children to play? Take into account the size and shape of your space when planning. Do you like a traditional garden or a more modern contemporary look? Think about what would work well with your style of home. Carry out some research by visiting garden centres, open gardens, garden magazines and online and even the gardens of your friends and family for inspiration. A garden makeover can take place any time throughout the year. In the Winter the plants are dormant and so it is easier to work around the garden, or the Summer when you get the opportunity to really understand how to make the best use of your space. If you choose to carry out the work in the Winter this enables you to have your garden ready for when the Spring arrives to get the most use out of it throughout the year. In the Winter you may be able to negotiate more with your landscaper than in the Spring or Summer. Which hard landscaping do you want to introduce into your project? Do you want to be relaxing on a patio or decking area? Would you like a large lawn area to spread out on in the Summer and for your pets to have space to run around? Once you decide then carry out research on what materials you want to use for your project. There are so many options available so make sure you look at as many as possible. Carry out research online and also go into the local garden shops to take a look at samples. For decking do you want wooden decking or composite decking. If wooden do you want hardwood or softwood decking. Which do you prefer the look of, also what budget do you have for this part of the project as hardwood decking is slightly more expensive. Carry out your research to find out which type of decking suits your project and budget. There are many choices of wood available for both options. If you choose softwood decking we regularly use a decking board that allows you the choice to have a grooved or smooth finish so a further decision to make. What shape do you want your decking to be, do you want a curved finish or a standard rectangular shape flush to your home. Do you want to make additions to the decking by adding spindles and handrails, lighting, seating or storage. These additions can really make a difference to the overall project. They can always be added at a later stage if your budget doesn’t allow at the time. For paving there are many different designs and products. Which type of paving slab do you like the look of, which would work well with all the other materials you have chosen for your garden makeover project. Is it one patio needed or maybe two, one outside the back door and one at the end of the garden where the sun trap in your garden is with a path connecting the two. Then you need to decide which way you want to lay the paving as that can create a totally different look too. Do you want a square or rectangle patio or a circular one. Maybe one area of the garden as a patio and a decking area as well. Fencing plays a large part in the look of your garden so consideration really does need to be given to this area of the garden. Do you like the traditional fencing or the contemporary look of the horizontal slatted fencing. Which would work best with your overall design. There is also the choice with the traditional fencing of whether to go with concrete or wooden posts. One area that might not be considered is waste costs for the project. If you require a skip will you need to contact your local council to purchase a skip permit and do you also need to include bay charges if there are parking restrictions in your area. Do remember to include waste removal costs into your budget. If you would like to discuss a garden makeover then please get in touch with us to discuss and we can arrange a consultation to talk through your project. Email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413.
