Get the bed and levels right
I’m Johnny Stott. I work on my own from Ingbirchworth near Penistone, taking on patios, flagstone work, slab replacement, repointing and edging. If the slabs rock or water sits where it should drain, I start by looking at what is underneath them. Replacing the visible stone alone can leave the same problem waiting to return.
Paving laid on small spots of mortar or straight onto soil can move as the ground changes. I lay flags on a full bed, set the levels so water runs away from the house and hold the edges. Those are parts of the work you cannot see once it is finished, but they need agreeing just as carefully as the pattern of the paving.
Your existing flags may be worth keeping
The before-and-after photographs show a path I lifted and relaid. The flags had dropped and moved apart, with weeds in the gaps. The stone could be kept. I lifted it, put the bed right and reset the levels. The photographs are the same path at different stages, with different camera positions.
If your flags are sound, relaying them can avoid buying a whole new surface. Broken or unsuitable slabs may need changing. I will tell you which route I think is sensible after seeing the paving. Send a wider photograph of the path or patio and a closer photograph of the area that moves, cracks or holds water.
Planning a new patio
Tell me what you would like to use the space for and how it joins the rest of the garden. A seating area outside a door, a path along the house and the edge of a lawn all bring different details to discuss. I look at access, ground preparation, levels and where the water will go before the laying starts.
Concrete slabs, natural stone such as Indian sandstone, and porcelain have different appearances and installation needs. I can talk through the options for your job. The patio cost guide explains the main decisions without treating one garden as a price for another. Check the chosen product’s care advice when deciding how you want the surface to look over time.
If fencing or decking is part of the same garden work, mention it when you get in touch. I also take on fences and gates and deck repairs and rebuilds. We can look at the relationships between those parts of the garden while agreeing the scope.
Driveway repairs and smaller paving jobs
I take on driveway repairs as well as patios. If part of the drive has sunk, cracked or lifted, send me a photograph and tell me roughly how large the affected area is. I come and look before giving a price and explain whether it looks like a local repair or more involved work.
You can also ask about replacing a slab, renewing joints or putting edging right. Describe what has changed and where it sits in relation to the house. For any proposed changes to front paving, drainage, a listed property or a conservation area, check the relevant council’s requirements before proceeding. The quote needs to be for a layout you can go ahead with.
Agree the work before I start
The amount of preparation, old paving removal, material choice, shape and access all affect the job. Let me know about narrow passages, steps or materials that need carrying through the house. Those practical details help me explain the work and make the written scope useful.
Quotes are free and there is no obligation. I quote a fixed price in writing for most work. If something underneath turns out to be different, I talk to you before doing anything extra. I clear up after myself. See more of my work, read the full customer testimonials and check the areas I cover before sending your enquiry.
